The elusive Summer Tanager

I *think* I saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at our feeder over the past few days. They are a migratory bird here so hopefully will be able to snag some photos of it before it's too late. It's so colorful around here!

Another elusive bird that likes to tease us is (possibly) a Summer Tanager, a breeding visitor to our area. David attempted to snap a photo the other day, but the little scamp was nearly out of the bottom frame, but he does resemble the photos from last year (see below):

Last year around May 29th, David was able to get these photos in one of our nearby trees; it certainly fits the Summer Tanager's description. They are 6 - 7 1/2" in length with a yellowish bill; male red; female yellowish green above, yellow below. They enjoy woodlands; in uplands, drier forests of oak, hickory, or pine.

An American Goldfinch is finding its way to one of the new hanging feeders we put up:

 

 An Eastern Bluebird is resting in the nearby Bald Cypress; the bluebird pair have been building a nest in a box we have attached to the trunk. (note: Sadly, we saw an egg that resembles that of a bluebird on the ground today. We admittedly considered attempting to incubate and hatch it, but after reading about the unlikelihood that it is still viable, and the even more unlikely result of providing the correct temperature and its other needs before and after hatching, we had to accept reality.)

A male Cardinal relaxing:

Our Eastern Kingbird is still hanging around our property. Breeding visitors here (they spend their winters in South American forests), they are 7 - 9" in length and are blackish above, white below; dark tail with prominent white band at tip; flies with stiff, shallow wingbeats from a high perch. They enjoy forest edges; woodlands and open areas with some tall trees.

 

Certainly not faint of heart, they are fearless in defense of their territory. It will attack flying from above, pecking and pulling out feathers and may even land on the intruder.

 

Reggie, the Red-headed Woodpecker (and new member of our family) chilling out:

 Our Eastern Phoebe was having quite a preen! They can sure contort themselves:

It's difficult to believe I have written as many posts over the past couple of weeks and have yet to talk about....deer!!! Pope County being the Deer Capital of Illinois, they are definitely abundant around here. While they are seen more around dusk, one must always be alert for them. They are difficult to see at the best of times and can jump out into the road (and in front of you!) very quickly. They're also known to stop just after coming in to the road...the saying "like a deer caught in headlights" was started for a reason!

 

We've seen this young deer alone quite suddenly, however, when it was with about six others recently. It seems fine and healthy, but we haven't seen the others about for a little while.

 

Until next time....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodpecker Storage Wars

Before I regale you with my story about the woodpeckers, look who is here! Our Indigo Bunting is back! I had just posted a couple of days before I lost our internet and whined about not seeing one yet. Awwww, what a beautiful bird and I am so glad to see it.

Here it is scouring the ground by the feeder with another of our favorites, a male Cardinal:

 It looks as if it found some!

We lost our internet on Friday afternoon, May 3rd and just got it back yesterday, so need to catch up over a couple of the past rainy-ish days around here.

Oooh, the Orchard Oriole; I posted a (I think) non-breeding male recently...

David was able to get a few more photos of one of the neighborhood beavers, down by the creek. Fascinating creatures!

Around here, of course, a couple of our "pet" darlings made appearances, now that we have some natural patches of wild flowers and grasses (known to the untrained eye as "weeds") near the forest that we are "taming" for our little furry shy friends, so that they have some cover to hide in. I can't blame them for being shy, seeing the large birds of prey that are about!

Dylan, the rabbit, is enjoying David's nature-friendly landscaping so he can sneak out from the forest and grab some seeds from the ground and munch on some greens.

 I absolutely love Dylan's mouth in this picture (below), as he's munching.

Another of our friends, Percy the Possum.

 No, he doesn't use hair gel, it was rainy.

 He also loves seeds, but needs a napkin:

Now about those woodpecker storage wars...

 Reggie, the Red-headed Woodpecker, has been seen around here, but always at a distance...until recently! He has now given in to temptation and coming to our feeders for some scoff!

I'm thrilled to see it nearby now, and they are year-round residents here. The are 7 - 10" in length. They have a red head and neck; mostly black and white, with large white wing patches. Seeing it in flight is nothing short of stunning, especially watching it fly into the forest...you can't really see the black as it's soaring, but you see all this white floating in the sky from its body and wings.

 

Several species of woodpeckers have a habit of storing food for future consumption; our Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers both share this trait. It all got rather interesting when I noticed Reggie, the Red-headed Woodpecker, take to the other feeder and find what appears to be a favorite spot for storing some seeds, right here, under that part of the feeder that is separating from the base:

 

See him doing it for yourself, in this video:

Cyril, who has been living with us for some time with Sylvia, our Red-bellied Woodpeckers, enjoys this particular spot for his food storage (which happens to be holding the seed tray that Reggie above is pictured on).

Yesterday afternoon, what did I witness but Cyril scampering up the post after Reggie left the area, to Reggie's favorite storage spot and stealing his seeds! He ate some and also took them down to his own favorite spot and hammered them into the crevices.

 

Apparently, Reggie is no dummy however! This morning I saw him scurrying down to Cyril's favorite spot and doing the same to him! But...I guess it's not stealing if you're getting your own stuff back! Cyril caught him red-handed (or would that be red-headed?) though and gave him a telling off, sending him on his way...for now!

 

Until next time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First canoe trip after shoulder surgery

A fine day today in the 70s, but it is getting cloudy and it's forecast there will be some rain late tonight and tomorrow more than likely in our neck of the woods.

David went to Metropolis yesterday for his second physio appointment. While there they discussed the motion of rowing so David asked if he could try a trip out on the canoe. The therapist told him he could try it so he did so later. But, first, our obligatory stroll around our yard.

A Blue Jay grabbing a snack:

 A male Cardinal checking if there's anything left:

 A Mourning Dove hanging out with the Cowbirds. I see them together quite a bit.

 A male American Goldfinch posing in a tree:

Here, I think, is a non-breeding male American Goldfinch (???)

 Male Cardinal hanging on:

 Turkey Vulture, our neighborhood garbage cleanup:

 A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird taking a probably much-needed rest in a shrub:

 They like to perch on all types of things, especially when they are guarding their new territory!

 A Chipping Sparrow bellies up to the trough:

 

 Ah, here's Sylvia, our female Red-bellied Woodpecker; I mentioned the other day it wouldn't be long before you met her.

 David put some seed in the hole for them to dig out:

 A female Cardinal and male Cowbird having a chat.

 An Eastern Kingbird in one of our trees: 

Tufted Titmouse having a look around:

 The Mourning Dove, without the pleasure of the Cowbirds' company this time:

 The Eastern Bluebird enjoys perching in the pine tree:

 A Cedar Waxwing!

Even further distant, a Red-headed Woodpecker perched in a tree. We hear him hammering away at those trees all the time.

 And, now for David's adventure in the canoe. He went to nearby to the flooded field again (that was dry and is now flooded again).

He saw a Beaver near the boat launch; there are several hanging around there.

 A closer look:

Now for some views along the way; it's great to get photos from such a different perspective:

At least David didn't hurt himself! He's not sure the motion is quite what he's after to help with his physio, but he's glad that he went out and tried it.

He also shot a few short videos while out in the canoe; below is one with swallows that are near the bridge by Barren Creek: 

Gar Pike swimming toward canoe:

Twirling a bit in the little whirlpool:

A lovely view from the canoe:

Silver carp spotted:

With that, it's time to call it a day! Until next time...