Feeder Watch

Goldfinches. Loads of them. 22 right now at the back yard feeder area, probably more in the front.

The bluebirds have largely disappeared for now. I also haven't seen one in or near the nest box, but I don't have it in easy view. One male was at the front feeder this morning, but that was the first I'd seen this week.

The hermit thrushes have migrated, leaving the 'brown, stripy breast' niche to the brown thrashers. Robins are more in evidence, for some reason--but they're here year-round. Cardinals, occasional house finches, a sparrow or two. A red-bellied woodpecker and a downy woodpecker. And mourning doves doing ground scavenging.

More feeder watch

This brown thrasher is most interesting. It's working on the suet/seed cake that's in a hanging wire basket. It has a difficult time with the basket--frequently ends up spinning around and around, has trouble getting in position to peck at the suet, etc., but eventually either gets a piece in it's beak or knocks some to the ground. If on the ground, it flies down to collect it's booty. In either case, it then flies off across the neighbor's yard--I'm guessing it's feeding either a mate or babies, though it seems a little early for babies.