November 15, 2011
We’re all delighted that the hummingbird still here. It visits the yellow blooms of the Salvia Madrensis in the afternoons…and doesn’t seem to care for any of the other plants or the nearby feeder.
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November 3, 2011
A First At Missy’s!
An American Redstart was caught hiding in the bushes by the BirdCam that was set up to (hopefully) catch the hummingbird.
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October 5, 2011
The hummingbirds that spent the month of September dining at Missy’s have continued on in their migration. Missy hosted a Palm Warbler the other day, and may have heard the returning House Wren this morning.
The following video is of one of the September hummers at the feeder.
[jvid link=”http://www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/HummerAtFeeder.wmv”]
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September 19, 2011
There are still many doves at the feeders in the morning as well as a family of six blue jays. The cardinals are mostly around at night. Unfortunately, there are a lot of house sparrows around too–they do eat garden pests but tend to clean out the feeders trying to get only sunflower seeds. Missy has begun to see a grackle or two, as well as one or two red-winged blackbirds.
The excitement hasn’t faded with the continued visitation of migrating hummingbirds. These two chased and chattered at each other guarding the feeders and favorite flowers.
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September 16, 2011
At least one hummingbird is still here. It’s gaining a lot of weight, so Missy doesn’t expect to see it for much longer. She knows that nature urges it to begin it’s winter migration when it is ready.
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September 7, 2011
There are now a couple of blue-gray gnatcatchers in the neighbors oak trees. Missy was horrified as the little tiny birds flew at and poked our neighborhood hawk (pictured in August 22 post below.) The hawk ignored the birds! Missy worried about the regular customer’s safety all night. While she’s not much of a photographer (her whiskers keep catching in the view-finder) she enjoyed watching a now-regular guest hummingbird flare it’s tail as it enjoyed the salvia at 7:30 this morning.
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September 3, 2011 – Visiting Hummingbird
The BirdCam snapped a picture as the hummer nectared from one of the native salvias. ‘Not a sharp close-up, but proof this juvenile or female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was here.
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August 22, 2011 – WANTED!
Suspect is accused of kidnapping a White-Winged Dove while it was eating and then causing the dove’s untimely death. Suspect may be dazed and slightly injured from the fall between two fences that happened while committing its unspeakable act of normal bird behavior.
August 13, 2011 – A Hummingbird!
It sampled the volunteer zinnias and the David Verity variety of cuphea before finishing the meal with a drink from the feeder.
July 15, 2011 Pair of Swallow-Tailed Kites
Today was a clear and sunny morning, and a pair of Swallow-Tailed Kites circled overhead, looking for breakfast below. These are amazing birds to watch as they twist and turn their bodies and tails in order to change directions, rarely flapping their wings.
Notice the position of the tail on the bird in the insert.
July 10, 2011 Brown Thrasher Nest
A pair of Brown Thrashers has nested in the Treasure Tree. The nest is partially hidden by the foliage of the orange tree, but at the right angle, it’s possible to see the bird incubating.
Brown Thrasher nest
June 3, 2011 Downy Woodpeckers
After hearing them in the oak tree, it was fun to watch PaPa and baby Downy fly over to the orange tree and to see PaPa feeding baby…until the youngster got too impatient that is!
It is interesting to see how many male birds help raise their young.
April 18, 2011 Missy’s Hosts House Finches
Someone ought to make a camera that can overcome the difficulties of taking photographs through a window…but a less than good picture is better than none at all! These two House Finch migrants waited patiently for their turn at the feeder…the doves tend to monopolize the food supply these days.
April 11, 2011 Residents and Migrants
The Brown Thrashers have returned and judging by the worms and bugs they sometimes carry in their mouths, there are little ones in a nest nearby. They really enjoy their baths and fluffing up afterwards.
There has been a male Painted Bunting at our feeder for a day or two. We wonder if this is the same bird that visited with us a couple of years ago.
Missy also serves nectar at her diner. This Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has enjoyed both the feeder and the nectar plants that are around.
2 thoughts on “Missy’s Diner – 2011”
We have a dove-napper in the neighborhood? Great pictures
The hummingbird was cool
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