The (Almost) Daily Bird has packed up and moved …

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Follow me, I’m over here now: www.almostdailynews.com/.

 

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Reader Submitted Photos: Of Snowy Owls, Herons & Wood Ducks

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Dawn McHugh visited Ocean Shores and the Nisqually area recently and has been kind enough to share her photos with us. I am ever so jealous of these shots!!

The following photos are hers, and I have included the email she sent along with them:

Kimberly: We went to Damon Point at Ocean Shores.  We had to walk about 2 miles on the beach to the point.  It is on the backside of Ocean Shores.

It was so much fun and a very lovely beach … lots of big logs and interesting driftwood.  We were there for about an hour.  The younger owls seemed to be more weary of people and flew away.

Someone actually brought their dog with them [editor's note: For shame!!] and I am sure the owls were frightened of it.  The real white owl allowed people to come closer.

We were about 30 feet away when we took the pictures.  The lens was a 60 by 200 zoom on my Nikon camera.  I want to take a photography class now as I want to learn how to use the camera and make adjustments.

I have never seen them before.  I think I read in the Seattle paper that they were last here in 2006 and come every 5-6 years.  I had never seen them before.  It was WAY FUN!

Heron pictures were taken at Luhr Park which is just west and a bit north of Nisqually.  It faces Anderson Island.  It took my friend Kelly and I a good hour to find it because we did not have a GPS.

We originally went there in search of the snowy owls which a friend of hers had spotted on the Nisqually Reach from Luhr Park.  We saw the heron, a huge eagle sitting on a post and lots of gulls and ducks.   However, no snowy owl.  My friend had a scope and we could see the eagle so well with it.  I would like to get one.

Dawn (McHugh)

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Of Wood Ducks

I’d like to see a show of hands: how many of you have Wood Ducks as regular visitors to your bird feeders?

Richard Hendricks have a full brace of regularly visiting Wood Ducks. Way cool.

(I want some! Seriously! Come to my house, heeeeere, ducky ducky ducky!)

Posted in Birds, Great Blue Heron, Reader Submitted Photos, Snowy Owl, Wood Duck | Leave a comment

Walkabout on a Sunny Afternoon

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

I started from the front porch. This little Pine Siskin was the only one hanging around the bird feeders — and that’s when I realized that it was TOO quiet outside. The birds had stopped chirping. Was there a predator bird hanging about? I went out to see …

A few steps past the barn, on the heap of sticks piled up back there, sat an American Kestrel. Blast, dagburnit and darn.

“During winter months, (the American Kestrel) hunts throughout daylight hours and eat small mammals, birds, and amphibians.” ~iBird phone app

I chased him around the old horse field from perch to perch.

Normally I do not chase birds around, not like that anyway, but I didn’t have much sympathy for this one. I don’t know for certain that he is one of the birds of prey that has been preying on my poor little siskins, but still, I wish he would prey somewhere else.

This is a male American Kestrel, it is easy to tell the male and the female apart: the males have slate-blue wings and black-spotted underparts, females have rusty brown wings, narrow tail bands, and rust brown-streaked underparts.

None of my photos of the little bird eater were very clear, but they are clear enough to make a positive ID on the criminal, er, I mean, on the bird.

I then walked down to the South Pond, flushing what I believe to be the also evil (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know they gotta eat too, just not at my place!) Sharp-shinned Hawk. But I was too late in bringing my camera up to my eye. All I have is a shot of his backside.

I spotted a couple of interesting holes in a few snags along the edge of the pond. I’ll be keeping my eye on them as nesting season comes into full swing.

A pair of Black-capped Chickadees stopped in to see what I was doing, a Pacific Wren, teased me with a couple a glimpses at him from behind cover, and a Song Sparrow sang to me from a short snag sitting in the middle of the pond.

On the walk back I watch a Common Raven fly from the tree farm to the forest and stumbled over a hairy pile of coyote poop (not literally :) ).

Back at home again, my little Pine Siskin was sitting prettily on a branch near the feeders, the wind blowing in his face, ruffling his feathers, and the setting sun painting him in orange tones.

Last stop, the back porch. There I found a moth who seemed to be so new to the world that his wings were not yet dry.

I waited and watched while he flapped his velvet gray wings. Then when he seemed stable, I held him up to the light to get a closer look.

I don’t know what kind of moth he is, but I DO know that he is a HE from his feathery antennae.

He was sprinkled in a glitter of gold dust, the first time I have ever seen a moth with such an elegant dusting.

I’m looking forward to finding new moths this spring and summer, it looks like the season has begun!

Posted in American Kestrel, Birds, Black-capped Chickadee, Insects, Moths, Pine Siskin | 3 Comments

New Birdfeeder Begins to Build Customer Base

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

I bought my daughter and her family a bird feeder for Christmas. They live just north of Centralia and have that kind of large, lovely, shrubby and slightly messy garden that birds love so much. She is surrounded by mixed forests and there is water nearby. The birds have found her backyard and make regular visits to her feeders.

A lovely reign of Golden-crowned Sparrows have discovered the feeder. They are one of my favorites here on the the farm.


Golden-crowned Sparrow peeks over the edge of the feeder at a Spotted Towhee.

I have never seen one of my own Song Sparrows at the suet feeder. Interesting! This one took several bites before he perched on the fence below, watching my every move. With each click he cocked his head from side to side or stretched out his neck, trying to get a better look at the strange creature making strange noises.

What a lovely start to a backyard full of birds.

There is a nuthatch (or three) who have been visiting, although not while I have been there. On the next sunny day (this day of shooting wasn’t as well lit as I would have liked), I’m going to make another visit and see if I can spot my first nuthatch.

P.S. Hey, Miss Tara, better refill your suet!! :)

Posted in Birds, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee | 1 Comment

Pine Siskin (Rolled in Butter) & Evening Grosbeaks

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Although it rained most of the day, I still made an attempt to capture my little (possible) Green-morph Pine Siskin. I think this is the same one throughout all of the photos, but these little tweeters move so fast that I’m not sure.

He looks rolled in butter to me on the underside, then smeared with pond scum on the top.

He is one of my handful of bold birds that don’t mind hanging out while I fill the feeders.

Here you can see his little butter butt peeking through.

Here you can see a “normal” (but fluffed up) Pine Siskin, just for comparison.

I had no shortage of Evening Grosbeaks today … that is, until the couple from Texas showed up, Michael Delesantro and Renee Rubin from Weslaco, Texas, the Birding on a Budget travelers I had invited to my place so they could finally add the Evening Grosbeak to their list before heading back home … but that’s a story for another time.

The lady above looks as though she’s rolled herself in a little butter too, don’t you think?

I had read that the Evening Grosbeak can eat up to 95 sunflower seeds in one hour. Today I took a little video (sitting just 6 feet from the seed bowls) that proves it: Evening Grosbeaks Chow Down at Thistledown Farm

Posted in Birds, Evening Grosbeak, Green-morph Pine Siskin, Pine Siskin | 1 Comment

Reader Submitted Photos: Song Sparrow, Snow, Varied Thrush & Townsend’s Warbler

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Beckie Daniels lived just up and over the hill (as the raven flies) from my house. Last night she heard the call of an owl in her backyard, after checking with the All About Birds website and listening to the sounds, she determined it to be a Great Horned Owl.

Perhaps we are sharing this bird and hearing the same one. It’s an interesting thought that brings a warm feeling of community into my heart. I’m so glad she shared her experience with me.

That same day, she ventured outside to take pictures in the snow. It was such a beautiful day.

The Song Sparrow is a bird I have chased around and about my backyard, trying to get just one decent photograph. I’m still working on it, but I did find a Song Sparrow of my own on the same afternoon. He is shown on my other blog, prayers for an oft traveled road.

Those of us who live in the east end of the county woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow and bright blue skies. It was a stunning day.

Beckie found this interesting community of crystallized snowflakes.

“How much snow can one blade of grass collect??” she said in her email. “I love this!”

I love it too, Beckie.

Jeanette and Daniel Brewer, of Chehalis, sent these photos after I had mentioned not having any Evening Grosbeaks at my house (I spoke WAAAAY too soon, now I have enough to share!) and no Varied Thrushes.

These photos were taken through a window, which is a great way to document a sighting without scaring or stressing the birds.

“We have been seeing as many as 8-10 all at once at our house at our feeders since January 1st,” Jeanette said in her email.

I have seen a Varied Thrush in my backyard, but never closer than 100 yards away from my house and always perched high in a tree.

I am more jealous of her and the Varied Thrush visits than I care to admit.

“The best clue to this bird’s presence is usually its song, which often seems to emanate from the forest itself, and is generally unhelpful to observers wishing to locate the singer.” iBird West, iPhone application.

Carroll Hill shared these two views of a bird I have never seen before, a Townsend’s Warbler.

“We have had a daily visitor, along with his mate, to our suet for the past few weeks and thought you might find these photos interesting,” said Carroll Hill.

“He seems to come about 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, after the Red-wings and Starlings have left. Last year we had a Tanager and a little Bluebird for a while,” said Carroll.

If you could see me now, you would all know that I am almost as green with jealousy as the color on that warbler’s back, but I’m so very glad y’all are sharing your photographs with me!

If you have a photograph to share, email me at kim@almostdailybird.com. As long as it has to do with the local Outdoors scene (hiking, birding, skiing, walking, hunting, fishing, etc.) OR a local Lewis County area person in an Outdoors scene on vacation, I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to share a photo with just ME, and not with the rest of the world, or would like to keep your name or location a secret, I promise to honor your requests. I always ask before I share.

Posted in Birds, Reader Submitted Photos, Snow, Song Sparrow, Townsend's Warbler, Varied Thrush, Weather | 2 Comments

Snow, Salmon, Starvation, Skunk Cabbage, a Story of Early Spring Salvation & Reward

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

My son Stosh and I took an hour and a half hike through the backyard today, walking out to see what we could see.

When I came across this Skunk Cabbage (aka Swamp Lantern), my spirit immediately felt the light of its warm, golden glow.

“Spring is on it’s way!” declared the bold hooded spike.

Although snow covered most of the trail, we saw many more plant, vine and tree buds and leaves pushing thru the ice crystals along our way, announcing Spring’s imminent arrival.

When I arrived home, I looked up Skunk Cabbage in Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (Lone Pine) and found an interesting tale:

In the ancient days, they say, there was no salmon. The Indians had nothing to eat save roots and leaves. Principal among these was the skunk cabbage. Finally the spring salmon came for the first time. As they passed up the river, a person stood upon the shore and shouted:

“Here come our relatives whose bodies are full of eggs! If it had not been for me all the people would have starved.”

“Who speaks to us?” asked the salmon.

“Your uncle, Skunk Cabbage,” was the reply.

Then the salmon went ashore to see him, and as a reward for having fed the people he was given an elk-skin blanket and a war-club, and was set in the rich, soft soil near the river.

(Kathlamet story, related in Haskin 1934)

The leaves of Skunk Cabbage were used as wax paper; for lining baskets, berry-drying racks and steaming pits. It was rarely used for food by the northwest coast peoples, except during times of famine. They steamed or roasted the plant before eating.

Posted in Plants & Trees, Skunk Cabbage | Leave a comment

Green-morph Pine Siskin (Yes? No? Maybe?)

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Is this a “Green-morph” Pine Siskin? Can anyone tell me?

“Rarely Pine Siskins occur in a more richly colored form, often called the ‘green morph’. This is characterized by more intense yellow and green plumage tones, and often reduced streaking below.” ~ Birds of North America Online

This bird is one of my “regulars.” These are birds that have been hanging around long enough that they are used to me and know I’m there to feed them. They aren’t a bit bothered by me or my camera. And they are always the first ones to fly in as I step out onto the porch to refill the feeders, often flying to the rail to watch as I pour seed.

And this particular bird is extraordinarily feisty and full of himself. Is it the extra dash of color he wears in his feathers? Do the girls all swoon over his bold appearance? Is that why he’s so full of courage?

This fella had just shooed a Golden-crown Sparrow away from “his” dish when two female Evening Grosbeaks fly in. He makes a threatening move, opening his wings wide, lowering his head and opening his beak.

“Is he for real?” the lady on the right seems to say.

He continues to his aggressive stance and picks up a seed while the girls ignore him.

Is it bravery? Or stupidity? He doesn’t stop trying to scare them off.

Those ladies almost seem to be smiling at him, “Awww, isn’t he cute?”

To give you something to compare it to, the following is a shot of a “normal” bird next to the “abnormal” bird, only a few moments later.

Posted in Birds, Evening Grosbeak, Green-morph Pine Siskin, Pine Siskin | 1 Comment

Pine Siskins: Boy or Girl?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

Maybe, probably, could be, most likely a female Pine Siskin -- notice the white wing bars without a trace of yellow.

Earlier this week I posted onto my Facebook page a collage of a series of photographs I had taken of a pair of Pine Siskins sitting on a branch together, illustrating my idea of the conversation they were having together.

One siskin was fat, the other thin. I imagined Martha telling George that she thought perhaps he should cut back on the seed.

I didn’t know how to tell a male from a female Pine Siskin at the time (and I’m still not entirely sure I’ve got it right).

I suppose it was my own prejudice against men that made me choose the fat one as the over-eater my little scenario (I am a woman, after all, but don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against the brutes, I love ‘em — besides, I need somebody to clean the fish! ;) ).

The Birds of North America species pages for the Pine Siskin says: “Sexes not reliably identified by plumage characters or size, though greater amount and brightness of yellow may distinguish approximately a third of males … “

So, the boys (usually) have a bright yellow wing bar, the girls carry white wing bars.

So ... is that a female on the far left (wings outspread), a male sitting on the edge of the dish next to the (female) Evening Grosbeak, and a male (with wings outspread) on the far right? I wonder ...

In honor of my new knowledge (and also in the interest of at least attempting to keep up my learned facade), I have switched the birdy roles of fat and thin to a Fat Martha and Skinny George in my little scenario …

George clearly carries bright yellow wing bars.

And, in the interest of fairness to the sexes, here is the old, incorrect version of the tale …

 

Posted in Birds, Pine Siskin | Leave a comment

Holy Evening Grosbeak, Batman!

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Kimberly Mason

I haven’t gotten around to finishing my blog post for days three and four of the GBBC, I’ve been too busy counting Evening Grosbeaks!

While counting up all the bird species and numbers for the GBBC results story (The Chronicle, Feb. 23, 2012), I had wondered if there were so many grosbeaks in my area because we were all counting the same flock of 20 birds.

Today, I know different.

There were 212 grosbeaks counted over four days on 12 lists in the Silver Creek/Cinebar area. That’s a lotta golden yellow tweeters!

Here’s the mob scene yesterday at my porch feeders (photo taken through my front window). I have added an extra plate of sunflower seeds so the birds aren’t as crowded.

I apologize for the quality of the photographs, but it’s a gloomy day out here in Cinebar.

But here’s a pretty fella to look at, this photo was taken on Monday, Feb. 20.

Posted in Birds, Cinebar, Evening Grosbeak, Great Backyard Bird Count, Lewis County, Silver Creek, Washington State | 1 Comment