Still cold

Overnight dropped below freezing and the pepper plants were outside.  Again the mockingbird was an early, and very puffed up, visitor.  A myrtle warbler ate jelly.  A row of ruddy ducks floated past.  Many cormorants fished and I saw a pelican go by.  The gulls were back too.  An egret prowled the shore.  I saw shoveler drakes again on the lake.  

Gone fishing

A Carolina wren greeted the morning. One junco was still foraging with the white throats.  A goldfinch visited the seed feeder and ran into trouble with the aggressive butterbutt.  I only saw one mockingbird, or maybe one at a time.  The Baltimore orioles were unhappy that the jelly dish was on the ground.  We don't know how that happened.  The male oriole checked the ant moat since it is also red.  Today was so much colder -- 31° when I got up -- that I was unwilling to deal with the dish feeders.  Anyway, there were starlings.  A white breasted nuthatch got some seeds. 

At lunch, the red belly returned.   A wren wanted to share the suet.  I could see hoodies and ruddy ducks on the creek but foliage kept interfering with the camera focus.  One hoodie hen got a fish.  A pine warbler was bullied by the butterbutt.  A bluebird watched for a long time before landing on the feeder. 

I saw more gulls today than all winter.  A young eagle snatched a fish in front of me.  A great blue heron watched.  A few cormorants dived after fish.  I spotted a shoveler on the lake.   Even a crow got a fish but I think another bird dropped it.  Something zoomed around on the surface of the creek and the eagle went after it.  

Daffodils

It was a lovely day to finish the GBBC, though a lot colder and still windy.  A female oriole greeted the dawn.  White throats got up on the furniture.  A pelican flew upstream over low tide.  A myrtle warbler was puffed up very round.  It came for a drink in the birdbath.  Bluebirds posed.  A solitary junco joined the white throats.  A squirrel tried to rob the seed feeder.  The female pileated woodpecker ignored a starling while eating suet. 

At lunch the suet was gone and the male pileated was disappointed.  A mockingbird wedged itself onto the seed feeder perch.  A wren poked into everything.  A ruddy duck floated by.  Then a small flock of hoodies went past in the opposite direction.  Nuthatches came for lunch, both kinds.  A downy woodpecker ate seeds but a red belly left in disgust.  Bluebirds ate seeds too.  A song sparrow showed up after months of not seeing one.  Then a red winged blackbird visited all by himself. 

Daffodil sprouts emerged from the mulch in several spots and one clump even had buds.  In the late afternoon, I saw two hoodies on the creek.  A large buff-colored bird flew past which I believe was a Cooper's hawk.  A great blue heron crossed the creek and four egrets flew North.  Cormorants began to head home.   

Gray day

The sky was overcast and the temperature rose.  I submitted two more checklists for the GBBC today.  I was glad to include some birds that don't show up every day.  Of course I bribed them with food.  Bluebirds repaid my generosity.  A myrtle warbler and blue jays were pleased too.  At lunch, a little flock of hoodies passed by several times pursuing fish.  I under-counted them, alas.  I also saw a pelican.  Both male and female orioles came for jelly.  White throats were joined by a junco.  A light rain began mid afternoon.  Toward evening ruddy ducks fished in a rain mist and cormorants flew to roost.  

 

Great Backyard Bird Count

We had a bright sunny, but much cooler, day to start the GBBC.  I filed two checklists, one for breakfast and one for lunch, because I had meetings in between.  The creek glowed at dawn.  Blue jays were early.  So were starlings.  A Carolina wren worked on the suet while an oriole female took a drink above.  Then they shared the suet.  A myrtle warbler watched.  A downy woodpecker wanted a turn with the suet.  White throats minded their own business on the ground.  At some point the suet cage chain came unhooked but the hook caught and kept it from falling.  Instead it swung madly with every movement of a bird.  A cormorant, a hoodie, and a ruddy duck fished on the creek.  A pine warbler got seeds.  

Peek-a-boo sun

At first, surfaces were still wet from yesterday's rain but the air was warmer.  Birds showed up in waves, bluebirds, two kinds of nuthatch, two kinds of woodpecker, and two kinds of warbler.  There were some disputes over possession of the seed feeder perch.  White throats ran around as usual.  Starlings didn't give up on the suet but they had a hard time eating any.  A Carolina wren had no problem.  Every once in a while, sunshine got through the clouds. A bird climbed the pine trunk but flew just as I clicked the shutter.  I thought it might be a brown creeper but I can't be sure from the blurred photo.  Two Carolina wrens split up, one to the seeds and the other to the suet.  

A pelican glided in low over the creek and then swooped up to land on the boathouse.  Meanwhile a crow prospected along the shoreline.  A great blue heron fished below the dam.  I caught another pelican flying downstream.  Ruddy ducks fished in the middle of the creek.  They and buffleheads seem to avoid going close to either shore, unlike hoodies.  

Sunshine

The sun shone on drips from the overnight rain.  A brown headed nuthatch rose early for seeds.  A myrtle warbler surveyed the choices from the top of the post.  Then the male red belly arrived to eat suet.  His red head was very shiny in the slanting sunlight.  

At lunch, I put out a fresh helping of barkbutter balls.  Bluebirds had a bit of everything except jelly but blue jays were loyal to the BB balls.  A few ruddy ducks  and female hoodies fished on the creek.  A myrtle warbler tried to hover under the suet.  It was thirsty work.  In fact, the bird needed a bath.  

Gloomy gray

Because of the pesky starlings, we hung the suet horizontally with the plastic packaging still on the upper side.  A pine warbler soon figured it out.  A brown headed nuthatch only cared about seeds anyway.  I spotted the male red bellied woodpecker in the trees.  Expecting rain, I did not refill the barkbutter dish which disappointed a myrtle warbler.  A junco hopped around the patio.  Bluebirds ate seeds since there was nothing in the barkbutter dish.  The male red belly figured out the suet.  Alas, so did a starling.  A white breasted nuthatch was content with seeds.  The starling brought friends including a female cowbird and a red-winged blackbird.  A Carolina wren took a turn with the seeds.  A downy enjoyed the suet.  White throats hunted fallen seeds.  A goldfinch got a drink and then hung out on the seed feeder with another.  One of them was curious about the suet.  The other attempted to bully a titmouse but the titmouse just sneaked up behind.  A very little rain spattered the window.  There were ruddy ducks on the creek but the light was too bad and they just blended in with the gray water.  

Springlike

Creek reflections at breakfast shimmered with light bouncing off the trees before the sun was high enough to shine on the water.  The female red belly got an early helping of seeds.  A mockingbird arrived early enough to get some barkbutter balls.  A downy tucked into the suet.  The temperature rose into the low 70s though there was a definite windchill.  Despite the warmth, we had sunshine.  White throats foraged.  Titmice visited all the feeders but by then the suet cage was empty.  

I went outside but didn't stay long because of the wind.  A myrtle warbler posed on an oak limb.  I could hear a woodpecker scolding.  The crescent moon had risen above the trees.  I saw pelicans and a kingfisher, but only got pictures of ruddy ducks, one hoodie drake, and a cormorant.  Bluebirds  stayed in the trees till I went inside.  

A male red belly wanted barkbutter balls and displayed his red belly while hanging on the feeder.   A starling tried to dislodge him but failed.  A male oriole found the jelly.  A pine warbler got a turn with the barkbutter balls.  Red-winged blackbirds ate seeds and BB balls.  On the front patio, the hanging potted plant that blooms in the winter was covered with yellow flowers. 

Warm and wet

It was raining when I got up.  A downy mourned the lack of suet and ate a few seeds.  A couple of white throats ran around.  A myrtle warbler perched on a chair arm, maybe to remind me about empty feeders.  Mallards collected on the dock.

Sunshine appeared around lunch time so I refilled the barkbutter dish.  That brought bluebirds, blue jays, a myrtle warbler, and a female oriole. A pine warbler became interested in seeds.  The wind became very strong.  I noticed that the camellia buds had survived last week's freeze and were blooming.  A pair of ruddy ducks bobbed in the water beside the dock.  

Rain returned in the night.  According to the weather report, we were one degree shy of the record high for the last day of January.  However, the month was unusually dry. 

Quiet

A few ruddy ducks fished the creek and a handfull of mallard drakes paddled around.  I saw a mockingbird, warblers, and blue jays on the barkbutter dish.  White breasted and brown headed nuthatches got their seeds.  A warbler ate some jelly.  A junco popped up in the mulch.  Of course there were white throats and starlings.  

 

Pelicans & ruddy ducks

A mockingbird was not pleased to find only dust in the barkbutter dish.  White throats pecked through the mulch and leaf litter.  A Carolina wren joined the search. 

Most of the action, however, was on the creek as the weather continued warm and windy.  A raft of at least 15 ruddy ducks floated and dived.  An egret monitored the lake.  Toward evening, the tide was very low.  A pelican landed near a ruddy -- what a contrast in size.  I spotted one hooded merganser female among the ruddy ducks paddling away from the pelican. 

Hazy

The creek was at last free of ice.  Pelicans fished throughout the morning.  They may have been avoiding the wind over more open water.  I saw quite a few buffleheads on the water.  Titmice were up early.  A mockingbird checked the barkbutter dish but found only dust.  Starlings raided the suet and fought with each other.  A myrtle warbler noticed there was water in the birdbath.  The male red bellied woodpecker came back for suet and argued with the mockingbird.  

We had nuthatches at lunch, first the white breasted, then the brown headed.  A pine warbler noticed that I refilled the dishes.  A very determined squirrel tried to break into the seed feeder.  Two others chased each other.  The sky was blue but hazy.  A whole flock of ruddy ducks paddled downstream, diving along the way.  

And cold again

Overnight, the temperature dropped back below freezing.  The sky cleared and the chill brought out birds.  A Carolina wren joined the white throats in the mulch.  The creek was still ice-free and a mixed flock of buffleheads and ruddy ducks paddled swiftly downstream.  I wonder if I missed a fish drive?  Bluebirds, blue jays, and warblers came for lunch. 

Crossing the HRBT, I saw a couple of gulls.  Further up the Peninsula, a hawk (I think) was perched in a tree.  It had a dark head and a cream chest and belly.  Another hawk-size bird flew across the road.  Several vultures soared on the road thermals.  

Very warm and cloudy

Because there was drizzle at dawn, K left the dish feeders covered. The sun soon lit up the creek.  Mallards glided through reflections.  A bufflehead drake fished.  Egrets and pelicans cruised over the water.  One pelican plunged with a huge splash  The ruddy ducks were back.  The temperature rose to the upper 60s, maybe higher.  The sky grew milky blue, then gray-white. 

The female pileated visited.  Pileated woodpeckers and starlings dropped a lot of suet crumbs which white throats gleaned from the steps.  I uncovered the dishes when I saw the oriole fussing because she couldn't get jelly.  Fresh barkbutter balls brought blue jays, starlings, and a mockingbird.  Warblers made the rounds.  A Carolina wren took a bath, interrupted by a squirrel. 

Much the same

The weather was about the same as yesterday.  The songbirds were excited to find all the feeders full at breakfast.  They emptied the jelly and barkbutter balls.  First the female, then the male pileated showed up.  A pelican made a U turn over the creek but behind too much vegetation for a decent photo.  Blue jays were their usual greedy selves.  So was a starling that sat on the barkbutter balls.  A myrtle warbler worked on the suet when the woodpeckers left. 

Four ruddy ducks slept on the creek  I thought I saw a ruddy duck with the hoodies yesterday but I wasn't sure.  Pine warblers and the oriole eventually arrived.  A mockingbird kept an eye on the feeders.  The female pileated returned for the rest of her interrupted breakfast.  

Gone fishin'

The sun was back but there was a brisk breeze.  Apparently it was good fishing weather.  Pelicans, cormorants, hoodies, and the ruddy duck thought so.  There might have been a grebe as well.  A couple of blue jays followed each other through the trees. 

February scorcher!

I saw 81 on the thermometer and the National Weather Service claimed a record.  The Southwest wind kept the humidity low and raised worried about wildfire.  More hyacinths bloomed.  So did a leucojum - will I ever finish pulling them up?  The dog sniffed a squirrel and sent it up the oak.  Later he rolled over in the grass which I thought he'd gotten too old to manage.  A blue  jay scolded from the fence line. 

The wind may explain why pelicans came up the creek despite the warmth.   Next I spotted a ruddy duck, maybe the same one as a couple of days ago.  A hoodie drake paddled upstream and a female headed in the opposite direction.  The kingfisher was back.  I think I saw a muskrat or nutria leave a wake as it headed toward the dock across the creek.  The turtles were out enjoying the tropical day. 

A flock of small birds flew over the dam in the evening.  The leonine cat sprawled on the dock like a dead thing.  Then it lifted its head so that's one worry removed.  A mystery animal's wakes made strange patterns in the water. 

A day late

The pileated woodpecker that was missing throughout the GBBC returned today.  And I saw the first ruddy duck of the winter hanging out with a mallard and a grebe.  A couple of female hoodies paddled by. 

The dog put on a concert of growls and howls at nothing in particular.  The yellow rumped warbler exhausted itself chasing pine warblers, displaying its buttered butt, and trying to eat suet while hovering.  Must be something in the air, which rose over 70^o!  

After lunch, I saw three female orioles, a red winged blackbird, juncos, a song and a white throated sparrow, bluebirds, and a blue jay.  

Later on the creek, an egret flew in.  Turtles soaked up the sun.  Pelicans passed and one landed to swallow a fish.  A couple of female buffleheads flew in.  The kingfisher was back on the bench but without a fish.  A great blue heron flew over and the kingfisher disappeared. 

I left for a meeting at sunset and got to see the new moon's crescent trailed by a bright planet.  I didn't have the camera with me but here is a diagram.  According to EarthSky, the planet must have been Venus, though Jupiter was supposed to be in the neighborhood.  I hope I can watch tomorrow when they should be even closer.  

Drama on the creek

I was afraid the warm spell a few days ago meant the end of winter waterfowl, but the creek was busy today. At breakfast it was calm but later wind roughened the surface.  Mid morning, a bufflehead drake escorted two females downstream.  Around lunch time, I spotted two ruddy ducks, the first this winter.  One ruffled its feathers oddly.  

Then a pelican crashed into the water and the ducks disappeared.  The pelican was an adult in breeding plumage.  It turned in slow circles and then grabbed a huge fish.  For some reason the bird then left the fish floating on the surface.  A short while later a juvenile pelican spotted the fish and landed beside it.  It got the fish into its pouch and seemed about to swallow.  But the adult pelican returned and slammed into the juvenile's back, apparently dislodging the fish.  The juvenile sulked at a distance while the adult seemed to meditate over the fish.  Finally the adult got the fish mostly into its pouch and drifted behind a dock where I lost sight of it.  The juvenile gave up hope and flew away. 

A pine warbler came early again for suet.  Four crows explored the patio.  Turtles piled up on the lake, shells shiny in the sun.  And egret stalked below the dam and later another rested on a dead limb above the turtles.  A female hooded merganser fished near the returned ruddy ducks.  Two more paddled past.