Up here on West Hilll we've been enjoying plenty of activity.
Today we had a Giant Swallowtail on one of the butterfly bushes.
When the milkweed was in bloom, it brought in Monarchs,
Frittilaries, honey bees and many other insects.
Many hummingbirds are coming to the trumpet vine and the scarlet
runner bean. Even the zinnias have had some visits from them.
The Rose Breasted Grosbeak adults quietly appear from time to time
at the tray feeder. The male was there today.
Regular birds at feeders include Goldfinches, some House finches and
an occasional Purple Finch.
Juvenile birds (with or without adults) are frequent visitors to
the yard, bird bath and feeders:
Cardinals
Titmice,
Chicadees,
Juncos,
Nuthatches
Chipping Sparrows,
Carolina Wrens,
BlueJays
and the woodpeckers: Downies, Hairies, Redbellied.
A family of House sparrows has graced us with their presence.
Early in the summer we endured the noisy presence of the
begging young of Starlings and Grackles (young birds still appear,
more quietly now).
The wonderful Catbird was a regular presence earlier but I
haven't heard it recently.
We had a pair of Orioles earlier this summer but haven't
heard from them either for a while.
The House Wren sang earnestly for weeks but is not heard
or seen now.
Robins used to be heard and seen daily but I only hear their "chuck
chuck chuck" occasionally now.
Most years we have a Great Crested Flycatcher up
here. We heard it a few times early in the summer but not again.
All in all, it's been a good summer for garden birds and
insects so far. The fireflies were spectacular earlier this summer.
We're so lucky they're here.
Good birding, good gardening,
Regi
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
