the storm / May 31

Well, it's been another day of heat, around 30C, feeling like around 37C with the humidity, breezier than yesterday, and sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, until about 20 minutes ago.  A few minutes before 6pm, the wind picked up rapidly, clouds moved in, and it started to rain.  I've also heard some thunder and expect more.  Hopefully this will break the humidity.  It's been too stuffy outside for gardening, but I have been watching.  I've seen two male goldfinches chasing each other, two male and a female house finch, starlings feeding their fledglings, a woodpecker on some dead branches of the apple tree, and a hawk overhead.  Oh, I also saw a swallowtail butterfly (likely Eastern Tiger swallowtail). 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), starling (with young), house sparrow (possibly with young), house finch (pair), downy woodpecker (male), goldfinch (male), robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

May 30th / the heat alert

A heat alert was issued today - 6pm and still 30C outside, feels like 37C with high humidity and possible thunderstorms this evening, though it's been clear most of the day.  The birds have been showing off today.  The grackle was displaying to another, and the starlings already have fledged young and were feeding it/them.  Two birds were flying high overhead, I'm sure they would have to be hawks.  Sometimes they sit high in the evergreen over the back fence (where the crow was the other day), which gives me a much better view of them.

My cat took herself for a walk around the garden yesterday evening, she doesn't go outside much as she's a bit old.  The cardinals and red-wing were making quite a fuss over it, but she was more interested in chewing the grass. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), grackle, starling, mourning dove, house finch, robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

the humidity / May 29th

The weather started out overcast, has gone through patches of sun and raining a few times, and is currently sunny.  Because of all the rain today and yesterday, and the rise in temperature (mid 20s today), it's also very humid.  I put a fresh fat block in the feeder this afternoon, it's been sitting empty since Friday.

Common birds: cardinal (pair), starling, house sparrow, robin, goldfinch (male), downy woodpecker (female), grackle, mourning dove

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

May 28 / the rain

There has been a light fall of rain most of the day, and may be thunderstorms overnight and tomorrow.  I think most of the birds found dry places to sleep, but the snails are enjoying it. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, starling

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

the squirrels / May 27

I took my coffee onto the back deck this morning, and watched 5-6 squirrels chasing each other along, and up and down, the fences.  One ran under the deck, and the one following ran up the steps, saw me, and scurried away.  It's also been such a nice day out.

Common birds: mourning dove, starling, grackle, house sparrow, house finch (pair), robin, blue jay, gold finch, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (male)

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (male), baltimore oriole (male)

Not quite sure: Something that has me stumped - streaky brown, not unlike a female red-wing blackbird, but it had a yellow patch on its chest.  Also, a little sparrow I didn't get a good look at - probably the song sparrow.  

May 26 / the noise

It's been warmer, sunny, and breezy outside.  I planted some poppy seeds, and tended to things planted a few days ago.

Earlier this afternoon, there was a bit of a face-off between a crow on one side, and several grackles with two blue jays on the other.  Over the back fence, there is a tall evergreen tree.  I watched the crow get chased in that direction, and as it landed on the very top of the tree, it was flown at by the other birds in turn.  It flew off after a few minutes, and I have no idea what started it all, but it was quite entertaining.

Common birds seen today: crow, blue jays, sparrows, cardinals (pair), mourning dove, robin, starling, grackles, gull.

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow.

stealth / May 25 birds

That black and white cat was at it again yesterday - this time I saw it go into the bushes with a bird in its mouth.  The feathers left behind tell me it was a mourning dove.

The weather was sunny, somewhere in the mid-teens, not as warm as I would like it to be, but nice.  Likely to be much the same today.

Common birds: robin, house finch, cardinal (pair), sparrows, mourning dove, grackle

Spring birds: red-wing blackbird (pair)

May 24 / the feline

Today I didn't see birds that I don't often see, but I did see something happen to one.

I was looking out the window at the right (or wrong?) moment, and saw a sparrow on our rose of sharon bush.  Next to this is a patch of day lilies, which was concealing a black and white cat, and said cat jumped into the air and caught the sparrow. I love the birds, but I am a cat owner too, and this is just what cats do naturally if they get a chance.

Common birds seen today: cardinal (pair), house sparrows, goldfinch (pair), starling, grackle, robin, mourning dove, blue jay

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird (female)

Seen overhead: red tailed hawk

Previously spotted...

It's only morning, so I haven't completed today's list, but I thought I would add a list of some of the birds I've seen already this spring, before beginning this journal.  I've omitted from this list the most common ones.

Over the winter, we get juncos, which summer further north, so they leave this area in early spring.

Since early April, and in no particular order, I've seen blue jays, goldfinches, chickadees, house finches, downy woodpecker, red tailed hawk.  These are not uncommon.

More seasonally, I've seen both golden crowned and ruby crowned kinglets, an ovenbird (mid May), a brown creeper, red breasted and white breasted nuthatches, baltimore oriole, white crowned sparrow, and what is most likely a least flycatcher (mid May) - though there are a couple of other flycatchers/phoebes that are similar. 

I also think I've seen a couple of warblers, but did not get a good enough look to be sure, or to tell what kind they might have been.  One was possibly a palm warbler, which I've seen in previous years, but the chipping sparrow has a similar chestnut cap on its head so without a better view of it, it's possible that's what I was seeing. 

Birds of the Day / May 23

We spent much of today outside, planting, pruning, moving, weeding and seeding.  Good thing many of the birds don't seem overly intimidated.  The weather today has been more humid, partly overcast, with short periods of rain. 

Common birds seen today: sparrows, grackle, robin, mourning doves, cardinals (pair), house finch, starling, downy woodpecker

Spring visitors seen today: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow, cowbird (female)

Heard: blue jay

Seen overhead: gull (I am unfamiliar with what types we get here), two red-tailed hawks

May 22 / the warbler

I've noticed that I am seeing fewer migrating songbirds than I was this time last spring.  In 2012 & 2011 there were lots of warblers around by now.  That said, I am seeing some, and this morning, I saw one I don't remember seeing in my yard before.  There's also one I can't quite figure out yet.

Common in my garden: cardinals, sparrows, grackles, robins.

Spring visitors: baltimore oriole, red-wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird.  A heavily streaked sparrow with a central/chest spot - probably song sparrow. 

New today: common yellowthroat (warbler)

Not quite sure: there's a little bird, creamy underneath and taupey/olive on top, no wing bars, black eye bar.  I think it's most likely a philadelphia vireo, could possibly be an orange crowned or tenessee warbler. 

In one of my posts to come, I'll also note some interesting birds I've seen so far this spring, before beginning to write them down. 

International Day of Biogological Diversity

It's only a coincidence that I start this blog on the International Day of Biodiversity.  This is something I've been thinking about for a while.  My suburban garden either contains or is surrounded by a mixture of trees - spruce, crab apple, maple, cedar, apple, cherry, to name a few.  It also has two bird feeders, seed in one and fat blocks in the other.  Combined with the plants, both intentional and incidental, it seems to attract a fair bit of life - butterflies, rabbits, raccoons, a possum or two, and lots of birds.  I'm a bit obsessed with butterflies, so I'm sure I'll mention them on occasion, but it's the variety of birds, and when in the year I see them, that I want to explore here.  My goal is to keep track, daily if possible, for a year, of the birds I see, even if I only post the lists weekly.  Just to clarify, I won't be spending half the day every day staring out the window, usually just a few minutes, longer only if there's something really exciting.  My sightings will be mostly in my own yard, and some from the bits of my neighbours' yards I can see from my own window or garden.  If I find myself away from home, I'll try to note what I see wherever I am. You should also note that I am not an experienced birder, just a curious girl with a pair of binoculars and a guide to birds book.