Feb 27-Mar 5 2005

Field and Swamp: Animals and Their Habitats

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2005: Feb. 13-19 Feb. 20-26 Feb. 27-Mar. 5 Mar. 6-12 Mar. 13-19 Mar. 20-26 Mar. 27-Apr. 2 Apr. 3-9 Apr. 10-30 May June July Aug.-Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2006: January February March April May

Bird Blog: February 27-March 5, 2005

March 5, 2005


Yellow-rumped Warbler waiting in line for the feeder.	Carolina Wren at NC Botanical Garden (woodland trail), Orange County, NC, making quite a racket.	Same bird, about to take off.	Usually Tufted Titmice have me where they want me, so it feels like an achievement the few times I get to confuse them. This bird just couldn't figure out where I was,	looking to the right,	then to the left,	then deciding to go to the birdfeeder.

Silly Cardinal joke: How do we know that Northern Cardinals are obsessed with eating? Because they're always saying, "Chew, chew, chew, chew!"


This Dark-eyed Junco was one of four I saw on the deck at a time eating dropped seeds.	White-breasted Nuthatch peeking around the feeder.	Interesting crest behavior in a female Northern Cardinal: first it stands up,	then it goes down some as the cardinal gets another seed,	then it goes completely flat.	One last Tufted Titmouse visit. This bird sat on a birdfeeder fake branch for a very long time, in contrast to its usually elusive behavior. Maybe it's just trying to confuse me!

March 4, 2005


Downy Woodpecker. What a relief, too, not to hear that pecking on the side of the house!	Tufted Titmouse. I thought I had the local birds of this species all figured out until I saw this bird today, which let me take numerous photos while it sat at this feeder.	Also without feeding, it's looking the other way.	Finally it takes a seed.	This Yellow-rumped Warbler was waiting in line to go to the feeder.	So was this Tufted Titmouse.	Two White-breasted Nuthatches were on the deck together, but not for long!	Near Jordan Lake: This looks a lot like a Downy Woodpecker, but the yellow on the head is a mystery.	Rear view of the bird on the left.

March 3, 2005


Northern Mockingbird, seen on a walk around the neighborhood.	Male Yellow-rumped Warbler, on a nearby branch. The yellow crown spot seems a little bigger.	Closeup of (part of) a Tufted Titmouse.

March 2, 2005


Tufted Titmouse waiting to go the feeder. The wind is blowing its crest around.	Same bird giving me a beady eye from behind the feeder.	Same bird with seed, still giving me a beady eye!	Up in the tree: after breaking open the shell, this bird is eating the seed.


This Carolina Wren was picking a seed out the suet.	The yellow crown patch on this male Yellow-rumped Warbler is still pretty small.	This White-breasted Nuthatch is about to leave the feeder.

March 1, 2005


Carolina Wren. This bird descended to the deck to find seeds.	Yellow-rumped Warbler waiting for a Carolina Wren to finish eating the suet.	This Carolina Wren obviously isn't daintily picking seeds out of the suet.	This Carolina Wren couple broke what seemed to be an established rule and worked on the suet together.	Male Yellow-rumped Warbler.	Male Northern Cardinal at the feeder.	White-breasted Nuthatch.


This same bird is apparently daintily picking seeds out the suet.	Last step in the process.

February 28

A banner day for birdfeeder visits! The birds are getting bolder and perhaps ten at a time wait in the branches of nearby trees or on the roof. The weather was cold and wet, with frequent showers.


Male Northern Cardinal, with seed.	One of the two male cardinals I saw this morning. All of them have grayish feathers on their backs, which I never see in the books.	Yellow-rumped Warbler: Note the yellow spot on the crown.	Red-breasted Nuthatch	Same bird.	Female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). Very similar to the Hairy Woodpecker, but smaller and has a bluish breast and a shorter beak.	Same bird.


Tufted Titmouse waiting for mate to finish at feeder.	Tufted Titmouse about to depart from deck.	Tufted Titmouse at feeder.

February 27


Red-breasted Nuthatch?, It looks like something in between that and a White-breasted Nuthatch.	Brown-headed Nuthatch	Same bird.	Male Northern Cardinal	Yellow-rumped Warbler.	Same bird: Note the yellow patch on the crown.


Same yellow-rumped warbler.	Tufted Titmouse in flight. These birds have become very adept at picking up seeds from the birdfeeder in a matter of seconds.	Carolina Wren. The big face-down! Note the suet pieces on the beak.	A cautious return of attention to the suet.	Getting a beakful.	Same bird, processing suet.	Male Dark-eyed Junco waiting on the roof.	Same bird.