This entire spring and summer we have daily seen a flock of about 15 pigeons (rock pigeons) perched on the wires from early morn to dusk. They are always perched in the same spot all day long. They are of various colors, but one that really stands out is the all-white pigeon. These birds are perched a couple of yards over from our back yard and they never visit our yard. The photo below shows a crow perched amongst the pigeons. I found it quite strange and amusing. Shortly after I took this shot the crow started harassing a couple of the pigeons. Too bad that photo didn't turn out.
But I sure do get my fill of mourning doves visiting my yard. They are so good at cleaning up spilled seed on the ground. They have help, too, from the juncos and California towhees. This year I have had as many as a dozen mourning doves at one time in my yard. And this year, for the first time, I have had them visiting the feeders. Note the photos below. Can you believe what you see here? A mourning dove in my window feeder. And this has happened repeatedly for the past two weeks. I tend to think these goofy birds are juvies. When a couple of doves started to visit my platform feeder I thought it was amusing. And it was understandable that they could easily "fit" at that feeder. But once they started to figure out how to "fit" themselves into my window feeder I thought it was hilarious.
And two weeks ago I found a new visitor at my platform feeder. A black-headed grosbeak. This is a first for me. I saw a black-headed grosbeak perched on the wire above my backyard last year about this time of year, but it never came to visit the feeders. This year I had as many as four of them at one time. Again, I think these birds are juvies. They visited my yard for only a week, but it was a thrill to see a new species in my back yard. I did not see these grosbeaks all week this week, so I guess they have already migrated.
I do hope they will come back next year. I wonder what other migrants I might see yet this year. What have you seen so far now that fall is upon us?
9 comments:
How funny to see that mourning dove cram itself into your window feeder!
Nice post. My mourning doves also squeeze into the tightest places. I haven't seen any migrants lately, but I am watching for them. My blue jays and nuthatches have made their return recently though.
Mary, that is indeed a juvie Black-headed grosbeak. How fun that they are coming to your feeder, even if only for a day or 2. Migration is happening here also and the purple martins have left only to be replaced by the rock wrens. I'm still learning what to expect around here and, of course, part of the fun of migration is that you get the unexpected! Good luck to you. Nice shot of all the pig-ons on the wire.
Mary, I like the photo of birds on a wire. You couldn't find another matched up so perfectly!
I haven't seen much migration yet. I'm looking, though. Maybe you just have to be in the right place at the right time.
Nina, would you believe that was only a few of the birds perched on the wire? I cropped the photo to focus mostly on the white pigeon and the crow.
Hi Linda. I'm surprised you haven't seen much yet in the way of migrant birds. Have you seen any of the hawks, etc? I think you're right about being in the right place at the right time.
It is fun to see an unusual bird at the feeders in the spring and fall. I am not home during the day and must miss some. I had a yellow warbler in my yard last week, and have had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at my peanut feeder. We had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak stay for 3 days in the spring.
Hi Ruth - I'm sure I miss quite a few birds at the feeders, too, while I'm at work. I usually see them while I'm getting ready for work or just after I get home -- and most of the time it's on weekends. I'm glad you got to see the Yellow-bellied and the rose-breasted grosbeak. I guess grosbeaks don't stick around very long either in your area or mine. Oh well, at least we appreciate their presence when they do stop by.
Birds can be entertaining, for sure. That over sized bird stuffed on the plastic window feeder makes a great photo. I didn't know birds line up on the power lines in favorite positions.
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