I’ve really been enjoying my backyard bird cameras. I can put them up close to feeders to monitor who is coming and going. That’s how I know I have at least two hummingbirds this year – both male and female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. :)
Living in Florida, the heat spoils the nectar quickly, so I use small feeders that I refill often. I need to find one with a bee guard, though. The hummingbirds are fighting for access to the nectar – and it looks like the bees are winning.
I had my first-of-fall American Goldfinch in the backyard last weekend. It was so good to see one of my favorite birds! I’m hoping that these cold fronts bring a few more of his friends. If you have a goldfinch feeder with some fresh nyger seed, now’s a good time to put it out!
American Goldfinch
The Painted Buntings have been back for around 6 weeks now. The yard is alive with birds these days – the buntings, Tufted Titmice, warblers (Palm, Pine, Prairie, Orange-crowned, Yellow-throated, and Yellow-rumped), Gray Catbirds, Blue Jays, Cardinals, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Common Ground-Doves, and Red-winged Blackbirds. Plus at least two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds! Despite the icky rain lately, I love this time of year.
Painted Bunting
I put out the millet for the Painted Buntings in a cage feeder. It keeps the “piggies” (doves, pigeons, etc.) away from the seed, and gives the buntings shelter while they dine.
One of the most frequent questions I get on my site is “doesn’t that cage bother the birds?” It really doesn’t. To give you a bird’s-eye video, I put one of my birdcams inside the cage. You can see how easily the birds come and go. It does not, however, prevent the birds from squabbling over the seed!
Regular as clockwork, our winter birds returned to the backyard in the first weeks of October. The post-Idalia Painted Bunting didn’t stick around, but now his friends are here to stay. The Palm Warblers are shaking their tails on the lawn, the Gray Catbirds are meowing for beautyberries, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nectars from my honeysuckle. I’m still loving my Blink birdcam, and as the temperatures continue to drop, it will be time for the Beast to make a comeback!
