Return of the Backyard Birds

Dedcated to my "Bird Nerd" who taught me how to hear a Pheobe call and how to open my eyes to the wonder of fluttering feathers all around.

Morning dawned to a chorus of backyard birds. For a week the birdfeeder swung accousted only by the wind, leaving a sprinkle of seed upon the deck. No chirping, no squawking just the sound of cars driving past on Dodd Road. Now the trees and willows are alive with winged flitting and the music of birds returned from their sothern vacation.

The first little southern fella to make himself known among the bulleying grackles was a darling little Chipping Sparrow. Note his rust-cap and disticnt white eye-line.
 

Next, a House Wren appeared. Well, I think it is a House Wren. If anyone recognizes this bird, please comment.


While catching birds on my deck, a hawk flew overhead with something in its clutches. It landed on a rooftop across Dodd Road. I ran to get a telephoto lens, but the hawk flew off. Then another alighted upon the 45-foot power pole. He appeared to be a Red-tailed Hawk in his "light phasse"--a youngster.


When he flew off, he looked magnificent!


Throughtout the morning I played hide-and-seek with several birds. The Mourning Doves cooed and dipped in the air with extraordinary elegance. The tannish-red female Cardinals cut through the air displaying their fast aerodynamics; sometimes they were just a blip of color caugt in the corner of my vision. The Blue Jays hid among the thicket of willows. (Photo hint: look for two splashes of blue.)


Finally, one bold Blue Jay hopped to the sandy loam near the edge of our minature wetland (or ditch).


The robins stayed at a distance, but one briefly rested on the far fence along the willows.


Several birds took a fancy to our neighbor's silver maple tree. They were easy to spot among the red buds forming. Once the leaves unfold, they will be heard, but not as easily seen. This round Black-Capped Chickadee looks like a puff-ball. They are one of my favorite birds.


This little guy was a puff-ball, too and just slightly bigger than the Chickadee. There are the slighest of dots upon his chest. I could not identify this bird? A Thrush? Not sure. If you know, please comment!


Throughout the day I saw a Blue Heron fly overhead probably on the look out for nearly thawed Minnesota lakes. Two Canada Geese flew over the new subdivision across Dodd Road. What had been farmland for 150 years and prairie before that is now a field of three story houses. The geese used to gather in that field both spring and fall.

One of the hawks later returned. I am going to look forward to his presence. My Dakota friend tells me that hawks are the spirits of our ancestors. I rather like the idea of such a  presence. Maybe he'll look after the dogs who yearly get harassed by the Red-Wing Blackbird that sits on the exact same willow branch each year. We presume her nest is below as she gets quite cantankerous and swoops down on the dogs if they run that part of the yard. Or, maybe he'll eat the cat. I'd best not let her escape this year--the only bird food I want to provide is vegetarian-based.

All photos taken with a Nikon D80 on April 19, 2008. Enlarged and cropped for close-ups.