Recent Yard Visitors - 12 Jun 2016

Robin and I have been enjoying some nice visitors to the yard this spring. As I write this a Common Yellowthroat is singing daily (all day) from the hedge line just outside the back door. A Yellow Warbler joins him for several minutes a day, and its a joy to hear them both.

I haven't been hearing any American Woodcock out back since about the first of June.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been slow to arrive, but are now daily visitors to the feeder since about June 1st. I've been attempting to capture some images of the male when he makes a 3-second visit every 20 minutes or so.

I hung an orange ant-moat above the hummingbird feeder and filled it with jelly. The Baltimore Orioles have been making regular visits and providing some nice portraits from the back window.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have also been making regular visits to the feeder.

A Gray Catbird has been singing since early May, and is most vocal during the early hours of the day. It has been seen attacking the suet feeder, and even enjoys the jelly feast over the hummingbird feeder!

House Finches have thinned considerable since winter, but a family of 5 have stuck around and squabble over sunflowers.

A Song Sparrow enjoys gleaning the ground for several minutes a day.

Eastern Towhees are heard singing daily from the woods out back, and occasionally make an appearance.

Blue Jays are active at the feeders. They, along with the Common Grackles and family of European Starlings, empty the suet feeder every day. I'm having to replace suet daily this late into the spring/summer season.

Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and Mallards are seen daily.

Oddly, no Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawks have been seen all spring.

The Black-capped Chickadees fledged several chicks, but have not been seen since the young left the bluebird box. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds were heard yesterday, so I'm hoping they find the now-empty bluebird box.

On the critter side we're enjoying up to 3 Chipmunks visiting the feeders daily. Bunnies are showing up, as well. A Raccoon has been raiding the sunflower feeder nightly, and I can tell because it spins the feeder around so it can feed from the snag nearby.

Brownton Abbey, 26340 Higgins Way, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jun 12, 2016 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Yard
18 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  2
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  6
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  4
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  4
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S161449172

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)