It felt wintery in the sit spot this afternoon. I have sat there and felt more comfortable at lower temperatures. Nothing of note happened.
Merlin Identified 18 species. I saw 9 species.
The birds activity can vary so much. What actually is baseline behavior? I don't think I saw a bird in The Little Forrest for the first half an hour. In the summer an hour after sunrise the birds would be everywhere. Activity seemed to pick up about the time the sun started to reach the forrest floor. I sit down in the Fall Brook Valley with tall trees all around. I suspect that the birds are conserving energy by not being in the colder spots. I will see birds sometimes in the sunny areas around the buildings and then nothing in my sit spot. There are many variables that I do not know or understand yet. I am still learning. An hour of observation at a time.
I brought peanuts down with me. The first birds in were the Blue Jays. They brought a Tufted Titmouse with them. (above) Again the ones from the north and west took a more circuitous route to the feeder. The ones from the east were more direct. A couple of times the eastern ones flew really close to my head. It was turned away from their flight pattern. It is a fairly large bird! They cleaned the peanuts out faster today than yesterday. I wish I had time to observe the behavior after the nuts were gone. Or lack of behavior. When they were really feeding, robins and a cardinal came in to observe. Also, when the nuts were gone the a jay made a call that sounded specific to the nuts are gone. Sounded a bit whiney. Another landed in the basket the nuts were in and made the same sound. Observing and learning.
Merlin identified 14 species. I saw 7 species. Pine siskin has come up a few times lately. It would be nice to see that migrant bird.
It was quiet for the first twenty minutes or so. Lots of crows about when I left my home. They have not really been in The Little Forrest in a while. Something was up. At one point they came down in the valley from the north then down the brook and started a ruckus south of me. My guess is there was a hawk, eagle, or raven they were none too happy about. What actually happened will remain a mystery.
the Blue Jays came into the feeder first today. It is usually the chickadees. However, they spotted the peanuts. Jays make a bit of noise when they are on the feeder at Number 2. However, with me sitting not to far away, they are stealthy. I have yet to identify individual birds. I did notice different behavior. The Jays coming from the east across Fall Brook made long straight flight paths. Mostly directly to the feeder. No stopping on the branches near by before going for the peanuts. These birds are more comfortable with me. One left the feeder on a beeline for me. We both flinched! After a while a group came from the west. These stopped up high for a bit then slowly moved towards the peanuts. Always keeping something in between us. I saw one bury a peanut, come back for another before disappearing. Lots of new and interesting behavior.
Something large was moving on the other side of the brook. It was definitely larger than a squirrel. It was hard to tell more than that. I was hoping for a bear or moose. Highly unlikely, however there a=was a bear in a parking garage in downtown this year. So, not out of the realm of possibilities. Also, several years ago one of my neighbors got a picture of a moose in front of his condominium! Another mystery.
Merlin identified a mystery amount of species. (my guess 20) If the battery on your phone dies, merlin does not save the recording. I saw at least 10 species. It is hard with out the list.
How much do I miss? I could have easily missed this Pileated Woodpecker. I usually am looking over The Bog and not across Fall Brook. I do spin around from time to time. Today, I saw this beauty. I saw it fly onto a tree and was just in awe. This picture really do not do the bird justice. It was there for maybe a minute. Moved to three or four trees and was gone. No calls or songs. Merlin was none the wiser. It is amazing what can be missed while still being fully present.
I brought peanuts down for the Blue Jays. Today, they saw them almost immediately. I sit with a bush in between myself and the feeder. It was interesting to watch the different flight paths they took to the feeder. Quite a few flew below the island. Down low in the dry run. They were mostly out of sight on this path. Most flew around and behind trees to the Buckthorn and then down to the feeder. The Tufted Titmice also came in for the peanuts.
I was able to get some good views of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. What a beautiful head they have. Birds were active for most of my time in The Little Forrest. So much going on. At the end of my sit the squirrels were calling alarms across the brook. Who knows what will come next.
Merlin Identified 19 species. I saw 9 of those. Plus I saw the Pileated Woodpecker. I think the mallard was a false reading. It identified a Snow Bunting. A little early for them. Who knows?
Yesterday was the first time in a good while that Merlin did not hear Carolina Wren. What a difference a day makes. I got some really good looks at a pair of them this morning. They were just on the other side of Fall Brook. A month ago I doubt I could have seen the wren on this dead tree. There would have been too many leaves in between. Also, On the way out I saw one way up the gulley, near where I used to sit. It is the first time I saw one up there. it will take a lot of time to learn the movements and habits of my more than human friends.
I sometimes confuse the calls of the White-breasted Nuthatch with the Tufted Titmouse. They both have very guttural sounds. Today I heard a tufty call and new it. Then saw a bird fly from across the brook, over the bog, and up to the feeder at Number 2. I new it was the tufty. Confirmed on the feeder. A small victory! I love the little moments were I know I am right and then get actual confirmation. It just takes time and paying attention. Practice makes progress.
I have come a long way since I read Jon Young's What the Robin Knows. I have learned a lot by sitting and paying attention. What I have learned the most is just how much I do not know. Maybe I do not realize that I know less than that!
Merlin Identified 20 species. I saw 9 of those. I also saw a Northern Flicker and a hawk. I believe it was a Coopers Hawk. Flying fast over The Little Forrest. It must have landed not to far out of sight judging by the Blue Jays calls. They were none to happy with a hawk being there.
What do you know for sure? I had myself convinced the Blue Jays were scouting for peanuts. I brought peanuts today. The jays did not come into the feeder for them. I still believe they have checked for them. It has been a week or so, since I brought some.
Felt a little quiet this afternoon. Lots of jays flying about. A flock of Robins were around the entire time. Some Black-capped Chickadees came into the feeder. However it was not a whole flock of them. It is something when a large flock comes in. Sometimes they are referred to as a banditry of chickadees. When a large group of bandits raids the feeder it is wild!
Merlin Identified 18 species. I saw 9 species. I definitely saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler. I have been pretty sure before. It was across the brook and mostly behind leaves. White-throated Sparrow above.
