Sherrill's Birding Blog: March 2015

My bird feeders were a much welcomed distraction during the long snowy winter. I had many fine feathered friends visiting regularly and few surprises.

One of the highlights was a pine warbler

who showed up during the first blizzard (these pix were taken on that day )and stayed around for a few weeks. I fear he did not last the winter. We last saw him right at the start of the 4th storm though he failed to show up the next day. I find it unlikely that he would have left a reliable food source during such a cold snow storm after having hung out with us for a few weeks. It was the first time a pine warbler had been seen our your in the 23 years we have been here. Yard Bird #103.

A cluster of bluebirds was a delightful surprise in late February after storm #4. It was a bright sunny day when the 6 bluebirds visited the feeders, mostly interested in the suet. Since then we have had pairs of Bluebirds visiting a few times a week for very brief moments to grab some suet.


waiting for their turn at the suet feeder

Apparently word got out to the hawks that there was a lot of little bird action in my yard.

A Cooper's Hawk, a red-shoulder hawk, and a red-tailed hawk (no photo) frequently buzzed the feeder. I could always tell when the hawks were around as the birds would scatter, sometimes hitting the windows in their haste, and remain motionless in the bushes until the coast was clear. I witnessed the Cooper's hawk in a high speed dive in chase of smaller bird who outmaneuvered the hawk and got away.

Have you ever heard of an un-tufted titmouse?

We have Downy woodpeckers and Red-bellied woodpeckers in our yard year round. A gorgeous Flicker became a more regular visit in early February followed by a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers in mid-February.