Light rain

The rain fell all morning and off-and-on through the afternoon.  I hope it soaked in, even though it was light, because the year has been very dry so far.  At breakfast, the catbird returned with another.  They didn't seem very fond of each other.  A mockingbird was next.  It checked out the fresh suet.  I saw a Carolina wren but it was faster than my fingers.  

Mallard drakes paddled on the creek, leaving all the incubation to the females.  Bluebirds visited the seed feeder in the rain.  (K had covered the dishes.)   They hurried to grab a seed and go back to whatever they were doing.  Cardinals continued their courtship.  

 

Catbird!

The catbird chowed down on the aged, desiccated grape jelly.  I had no idea that jelly would interest a catbird.  Then an actual cat sauntered past.  It was the yellow long hair.  After it was gone, a mockingbird fed from the dish of barkbutter & mealworms.  A blue jay, and the male red belly stuck to the barkbutter mealworm mix.  Later the catbird returned and tossed mealworms everywhere.  A squirrel thought about raiding the dish but decided to go elsewhere.  Bluebirds showed up at mid day.  

Something sat in the top of the hackberry and preened.  It turned out to be a freshly bathed blue jay which really fooled me.  Lots of butterflies came out even though it wasn't quite 70°.  I saw a tiger swallowtail, a silver spotted skipper, and some I couldn't identify.  A downy rejoiced in a fresh suet block.  

Spring

The last day of April and the white throats and butterbutt were still here.  The male red belly hit the seed feeder.  This made a male cardinal unhappy.  He wanted a goodie to take to his mate.  He settled on a barkbutter ball.  Later, a titmouse took over the seed feeder.  A couple of mockingbirds argued about the barkbutter balls.  The short-tailed squirrel got a drink and some mealworms, I think.  It was very skittish around other squirrels.  There was something in the water but it never showed itself.  K hung a fresh suet block and a downy started eating it.  

 

Feeder fun

I missed a shot at a white breasted nuthatch but I got the butterbutt.  Blue jays, bluebirds, and a mockingbird visited.  A titmouse was eager for seeds.  A squirrel raided the barkbutter dish, but there was some left for bluebirds and the butterbutt.  A mockingbird didn't find much left.  There was more sunshine than predicted.  I need to replace the suet.  

 

Migrants

There was sunshine but not much blue sky and it was not warm enough to lure me outside.  A bandit-faced yellow rumped warbler paused on its migration to stock up on barkbutter balls.  I believe it must have wintered farther South because it has been weeks since I saw the ones that wintered here.  Anyway, its summer plumage was evident.  The white throats lingered.  

Blue jays, bluebirds, the red belly, and a mockingbird couldn't stay away from the barkbutter balls, even when I covered them with mealworms.  Even the cardinals succumbed to fast food.  The poor squirrel with the ruined tail came back.  It didn't behave like its tail hurt, as far as I could tell, but it did seem anxious around other squirrels.  

Bright again

Sunshine returned but not warmth.  A cardinal sampled the jelly.  I missed a blue jay and a bluebird but the red belly cooperated.  White throats were still hanging around.  A squirrel had a badly abused tail, probably from a mating competition.  

The female pileated came back for the suet remnant.  Her crest was up, whether because the suet was almost gone or some other reason.  She seemed to freeze for a while on the post so maybe there was a raptor around.  

 

 

 

 

A cabbage white flew despite the wind but that was the only butterfly I saw.   A white breasted nuthatch came for seeds.  

Dank

Rain fell overnight and the day's temperature flatlined in the mid 50s.  A strong breeze made the temperature feel even colder.  Cardinals continued courting.  A bluebird ate seeds.  A brown thrasher tried to get some suet though it was almost gone.  White throats foraged in the wet mulch.  A blue jay was disappointed that the barkbutter balls were covered.  We kept the barkbutter dish covered till lunch because of the chance of morning rain.  

There wasn't any more rain but the day stayed dark.  A bluebird sat on the barkbutter hanger looking sad so K opened it and the bluebird returned immediately.  I saw but didn't get a picture of the red belly going after a seed.  A Carolina wren also prospected for a seed.