REMEMBER to turn your clocks BACK 1 HOUR tonight!
29 October 2005
Happy Halloween!
Watch out for that frost on the pumpkins. We've come real close to seeing it here. Have a safe and sane Halloween and save some candy for tomorrow.
New sightings. Our first Dark-eyed Junco showed up yesterday. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. It seems so early but he is a welcome sign of the cooler weather. Also, a male Lesser Goldfinch came to the thistle feeder. I've put out some dried cranberries for the fruit eaters but so far only the House Sparrows and House Finches have been eating them. I'm hoping it will attract the Nuthatches and Flickers. Wait and see.
New sightings. Our first Dark-eyed Junco showed up yesterday. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. It seems so early but he is a welcome sign of the cooler weather. Also, a male Lesser Goldfinch came to the thistle feeder. I've put out some dried cranberries for the fruit eaters but so far only the House Sparrows and House Finches have been eating them. I'm hoping it will attract the Nuthatches and Flickers. Wait and see.
20 October 2005
On the Move . . .
It seems that the migration has finally begun. This week we have seen many flights of migrating Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese, as well as some ducks. Guess it got cold enough up North to send them our way. What a thrill to hear all that honking noise!
A couple days ago I thought I saw a heron-type bird on a sandbar in the Rio Grande as I drove across the bridge. I only caught a quick glimpse as I was driving. My first thought was a Blue Heron but I don't think it was that big, although it did look kind of bluish-gray. Maybe I will see it again.
We have also spotted our dear little Ruby-crowned Kinglet chattering away in the evergreen bushes. Besides the Downey Woodpecker and the Northern Flickers, we also saw a Hairy Woodpecker.
HUMMINGBIRDS: Well, up through last week we had a few late-migrating hummers at our feeders. They were all Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Each stayed about 2-3 days and then moved on. We haven't seen any this week though. That is why you should leave your feeders up at least two weeks after you think you've seen your last one. There are always a few stragglers who need to rest up and fill up before continuing on South. Glad we left ours up this year.
A couple days ago I thought I saw a heron-type bird on a sandbar in the Rio Grande as I drove across the bridge. I only caught a quick glimpse as I was driving. My first thought was a Blue Heron but I don't think it was that big, although it did look kind of bluish-gray. Maybe I will see it again.
We have also spotted our dear little Ruby-crowned Kinglet chattering away in the evergreen bushes. Besides the Downey Woodpecker and the Northern Flickers, we also saw a Hairy Woodpecker.
HUMMINGBIRDS: Well, up through last week we had a few late-migrating hummers at our feeders. They were all Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Each stayed about 2-3 days and then moved on. We haven't seen any this week though. That is why you should leave your feeders up at least two weeks after you think you've seen your last one. There are always a few stragglers who need to rest up and fill up before continuing on South. Glad we left ours up this year.
05 October 2005
Empty Nest Syndrome
HUMMINGBIRDS: Well, we thought that maybe they had all left on Sunday, 9/25, but then we spotted one lone bird at the feeder on Monday. We saw the one all week long until Friday morning, 9/30. But since Saturday, 10/1, there has been no sign of any hummers. So, I was right about them leaving before October. We will leave a few feeders up for a couple more weeks in case some stragglers stop by. We really are missing them already.
OTHER BIRDS: The Ladder-backed Woodpecker has been quite active. We see him everyday pecking on the bean pods of the locust tree in the patio. We are waiting for the start of the Sandhill Crane migration. It usually happens once there are heavy snows in northern Colorado, which could happen this week. We have gotten some rain recently with a few snow flurries in the high mountains, so it looks promising.
Later . . . .
OTHER BIRDS: The Ladder-backed Woodpecker has been quite active. We see him everyday pecking on the bean pods of the locust tree in the patio. We are waiting for the start of the Sandhill Crane migration. It usually happens once there are heavy snows in northern Colorado, which could happen this week. We have gotten some rain recently with a few snow flurries in the high mountains, so it looks promising.
Later . . . .