Early on i was alerted to something on the deck by both Chester and Shadow getting all agitated at the sliding glass door. Sure enough, there was a tiny Black-capped Chickadee sitting on the deck in an obviously stunned state. It must have flown into the glass next to the door trying to make a shortcut to the front feeder. (The door still has it's screen in place.)
I went out and carefully picked it up and put it on the rail of the deck. (Just in case one of the semi-feral cats around here happened to visit.) It sat there for five minutes or so and then disappeared.
We have, on average one bird a week try the same stunt. Usually it's the Chickadees or maybe a Dark-eyed Junco but last week it was a Tufted Titmouse and a month ago we had a White-breasted Nuthatch. The Mourning Doves are frequently hitting the window but they usually start from the deck and have attained very little velocity when they contact the glass. They'll usually hover in mid air and maybe even try again.
Last winter when we had a Sharp-shinned Hawk visit the yard for several weeks (he must have thought it was the local deli and always showed up for lunch), we had nearly as many birds strike glass as we lost to the hawk. These included some Common Redpolls as well as a Hoary Redpoll.
Okay, back to the bird pictures....
When the Dark-eyed Juncos come in to feed on the tray. It's usually one at a time. That's not because they come in, grab a seed and flit away to the trees like the Chckadees or Nuthatches. No, it's because they are bullies.
When one Junco takes over the feeder...it takes over the feeder! It might share with other species but never with another Junco. This is mildly surprising because to watch them on the ground or along the field and forest edge, the Dark-eyed Junco seems the most social of birds as they travel in flocks that may number 30 or 40 individuals. Get them on the feeder (and it needs to be a tray because they don't do no stinkin' perches) and it's a regular King of the Hill situation. As the Highlander said: "There can be only one!"
About the only bigger bully in birdland is the Blue Jay. Not only will he chase away members of his own clan, he chases away everybody. Sometimes he does so with a raucous call and a physical display of intimidation. And sometimes he scares the bejesus out of everybody with an imitation hawk cry. While everyone heads for the woods, literally, he'll stroll in and have a leisurely feed.
American Goldfinches were abundant yesterday and again today in the sloppy weather. Perhaps they were looking for an easy meal and figured my feeders fit the bill.
The Goldfinches were joined by their good friends the Pine Siskin (called a Goldfinch in camo by some). The Siskin is new to the feeders this winter (or, at least, I didn't notice them the last two years). Their behavior is exactly like that of the Goldfinches with whom they flock and they have a bit of the yellow of the Goldfinch on their wings but that's all. The Siskin's got a fairly well striped pair of flanks (the camo) and more pointy beak.
A couple of Mourning Doves bided their time on the electric wires. The only bare path of soil is under the deck and I've flushed several dozen Mourning Doves from that cozy little dust bath on occasion when I step outside.
The side yard feeders had their share of visitors including Cardinals and Nuthatches but the only photo I have is of Purple Finches helping themselves to some seed
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Just as I was stepping out the door to head to the lumber yard, a Pileated Woodpecker flapped off from the Sumac berries along the driveway. It didn't fly far and allowed me to take one photo before it departed down the hill.
Looks like Woody Woodpecker's gone punk.
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