Busy as ...Birds!

On both of the past two days, I've spotted over 15 different kinds of birds in my backyard. It's like an oasis for the migrating warblers and other songbirds passing through the area as they head to their summer homes.

The regulars turn up every day - downy and hairy woodpeckers, the red-bellied woodpecker, blue jays and cardinals, mourning doves, house sparrows, house finches, and goldfinches. Some others have become regulars - like the pine siskins (how much longer will they stay before they, too, head north?), the male and female cowbirds and red-winged blackbirds.

But the new visitors are ones I look for each spring, knowing they will be here for a short time only. Regular as clockwork, once juncoes are gone the chipping sparrows return. These tiny LBBs are easy to spot because of the tops of their heads are rusty colored.

Another visitor had me really confused for a while. At first, I thought was still seeing juncoes (which I hadn't seen since Sunday, May 5). Hopping around on the ground were small birds with grayish heads - but using binoculars I noticed black stripes on the wings and yellow near the tail. The location of the yellow was the clue - I was seeing yellow-rumped warblers (formerly known as myrtle warblers).

Another visitor was a large reddish-brown bird. It stayed on the far side of the fence in the backyard and kept going in and out of the brushpile. Secretive, but not rare - here was a brown thrasher. Its yellow eyes gives it an intimidating gaze, but the bird seemed more concerned with looking for insects than in establishing territory.

The last of these current visitors came as pairs. The female was easy to overlook because it resembles a sparrow. A really big sparrow with a big beak. Her partner is striking - black and white wings and a blood red patch on its chest. Yes, the rose-breasted grosbeaks are back.

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I know they won't stick around - even with the variety of foods available in my backyard. But it is exciting to spot them and know spring is happening. (Even after getting another burst of snow today - yes, snow - on the 11th of May.)