Dinnertime is "Bird Time"

Date: August 20, 2007
Time: 5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Location: The back yard of our home in the upstate New York city of Rochester.

Bird Species/Markings/Features: A number of different birds made appearances during dinner this evening--One male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). Knowing the difference between the sexes proved helpful in identifying it as the male… he is the first we have seen after many visits from what appears to have been the same female over the last four weeks.(Female has black plumage on the back of her head, while the male has red.) The photo below does not reflect the hue of the plumage as much as I had hoped...


One male Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). I was once again surprised by the size of the Bird, especially in comparison to the other birds around the tree at the time.


The male White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) also returned. Anne and I were excited to see this little fellow return as they are a joy to follow as they hop up and down the length of the trunk.


A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) also stopped for some suet but I was unable to capture her image (poorly) before she flew away.

Sights/Sounds/Activities: All four birds appeared both individually, and finally, as a group together. When I did get outside with the camera I did not hear a lot of bird chatter, as one might expect from the Blue Jay, but all birds, except the Northern Cardinal were relatively approachable. Surprisingly, neither the Nuthatch or Woodpecker flew away but I was able to watch them from close proximity as they made their way back up the tree...

Notes: I certainly am grateful that Anne suggested the suet feeder this summer! The number of interesting visitors we've had recently to the feeder has made for a fun post-dinner diversion nearly every evening. I need to get more suet today while I am out and about...