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Fourth Year In A Row
Many days ago a friend let me know that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were migrating through. I’ve been watching for them ever since. Today, finally, I spotted one or more females. Several times at the feeder. Each time a single female. I’m delighted to see them. Now if only a male would show up. As is so…
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The Journey
Imagine you are a winged, feathered creature, just 3 inches long, weighing in at 0.1 to 0.2 ounces. Imagine too that you spend the summer months in Canada and other parts of eastern North America, and you spend the winter months from southern Mexico southward across Central America to Panama. That’s what Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)…
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The Last One For This Year
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). It was while I was eating lunch. October 4th. The last one came through. I still waited. I left the last feeder out thinking there might be one more straggler. One more late little clown coming through. But it didn’t happen. At least not that I know. The feeders are all…
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Black-throated Blue Warbler
Stopping by for a meal on the way south. A Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) enjoys the seeds of Purple Coneflowers that I’ve left for the travelers. My gardens may look untidy, but they are a way of welcoming these birds as they pass through. Birds that are migrating long distances during the dark of…
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Summer Resident Has Arrived – Indigo Bunting
I’m delighted! This morning I spotted my first Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) in its brilliant garb. It didn’t look tired in the least, although it has just completed a trip from northern South America. Using the stars in the night sky to navigate.
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Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). It’s no secret that I am totally crazy about winter. The black and white, pen and ink landscape takes me back to my childhood. Add a male Northern Cardinal to that beautiful landscape and you’ve got the perfect image. The female Cardinal has her own beauty. Soft tawny brown with subtle…
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Dark-eyed Junco
I’ve always lived in an area where Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are called snowbirds, since they migrate to the area for the winter. I had a surprise back in the summer 2014 when I went just a short distance from my cabin, up the mountain, to Shenandoah National Park and saw Juncos enjoying the warm…