Thanks Corky for the nice comment.

Ron

Thanks Corky for commenting. As for the article in the Audubon magazine I did read it. Was really interesting and well done. After having these characters around for the last 5 or 6 years nothing surprises me anymore with them. They are in my opinion smarter than some people I know. They are also very good watch-birds when there is either a Coopers or a Sharpy in the feeding stations area.

Ron

Thanks Jerry for the nice comment.

Ron

Thanks sailorsmom for looking in and commenting, is appreciated.

Ron

Guess I could say if you want to eat in my yard you have to pose 😬😬. Actually I think it's because they are used to me sitting on the deck and will come quite close, sometimes within 25 feet but rarely closer. Just sit still and quiet and let them do their thing. Above all, be patient. This holds true for any wildlife be it a bird or an animal.
Thanks vonzip for your kind comment.

Ron

Day # 20 - Date : Friday, November 3, 2017

Most people would not consider these characters a backyard bird. Perhaps that calling them thusly is stretching the truth a bit, we however at our abode found that we have little choice in the matter. For all purposes here they are part of a regular group of birds that daily visit my backyard feeders. As far as I can see there is no known deterrent in keeping them away. Basically every day, usually at dawn, we are visited by usually 4 of these black robbers. The only good thing I could say about them is that they are good cleaner uppers of the ground under the feeders. They seem to be able to eat anything and everything not tied down. They will methodically pick up ever sunflower seed that they find on the ground. Since I cage most of my larger feeders they are unable to get on them, so all that is available is that which the smaller birds throw down to them. Even the hanging suet log is not safe, as they will fly up, act like a hummingbird, and dislodge the suet. Then they land on the ground to finish it off. These birds are with me every year as one of their nesting sites is in a large spruce tree about 100M west of our yard. When my daughter is home to visit she tags them with the name of d'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers which when you observe them it appears to be the correct title. One crow (d'Artagnan) stays high in the nearby birch trees and acts as a lookout while the other three (Musketeers) clean up everthing that is edible. So, you might not agree that these are backyard birds but to me they fit the bill to a certain extent. But if anybody out there can advise me of any deterent to keep them at bay let me know.

LittleRed (Ron)

Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @400, 1/800, f6.3, auto ISO @1600, dist 14M


Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @375, 1/800, f8, auto ISO @840, dist 16M


Canon T6i, Canon 300mm prime, 1/1000, f4.5, auto ISO @1250, dist 11M


Canon T6i, Canon 300mm prime, 1/1000, f8, auto ISO @1250, dist 8M

Thanks Jerry for the kind comment.

Ron

Thanks kpmac for the nice comment.

Ron

Just hold on the redpolls are on their way. Chris Neri (bird counter and owl bander) at the WPBO on e-bird shows a count of close to 1000 them there. Personally I don't have know if I can afford to support that many in my back yard. Not too many Siskins (11) or Tree Sparrows (9) there yet but business should be picking up. One interesting sighting was the first early sighting of a Snowy Owl along with a few Snow Buntings. Thanks Mike for l ooking

Fraid so, tis been snowing on and off most of the day here. Thanks for the kind comment.

Ron

Day # 19 - Date : Thursday, November 2, 2017

Finally one of my characters from the north has arrived. They came in yesterday accompanied by heavy overcast, on and off rain/snow showers and dang cold temperatures. Twasn't a good day fer the camera, especially with the Tamron 6.3 lens. Should have switched to the faster 300 but was a bit lazy. Pics came out not too bad though even though they had to be taken from inside the house between snow showers off Lake Superior. These birds spend their spring and summer breeding season way up north of the Arctic Circle on the tundra. During the winter they migrat south to the "tropics" of southern Canada and the middle area of the United States. Only 3 or 4 came in yesterday late in the day but it's a good sign of what should be coming. As you can see they are one of the easiest sparrows to identify, having an unstreaked breast with a large 'beauty' mark and a bi-coloured beak. Other than that they are very similar to the Chipping Sparrow. Now to await the other northerners - the Siskins and the Redpolls. Hopefully they won't be too far behind in my area as plenty have been seen at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory which is about 100km west. If they do come in I will be sure to post some pics of them.

LittleRed (Ron)

Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @552, 1/640, f6.3, auto ISO @2500, dist 8M


Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @552, 1/640, f7.1, auto ISO @2500, dist 8M


Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @552, 1/640, f6.3, auto ISO @ 2500, dist 8M


Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @552, 1/640, f6.3, auto ISO @2500, dist 8M


Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600mm @552, 1/640, f6.3, auto ISO @1800, dist 8M

Thanks kpmac for looking and commenting/

Ron

Thanks Corky for commenting, appreciated.

Ron

Thanks Jerry for commenting.

Ron

Thanks Marty for the comment, tis appreciated.

Ron