Snowfall!

Last weekend was a memorable one in the Charleston area. It rarely snows here so when the local meteorologists start to talk about a significant chance of the white stuff, we get excited. 

This was the scene at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. The forecasts were correct. The weather prognosticators were so confident that no snow would have been quite embarrassing. 

Well, I saw the writing on the wall. Friday at around noon, I got in some tennis practice, knowing my regular Saturday morning game with friends was in doubt. 

When the sun came up Sunday, we had beautiful white snow to go with a beautiful blue sky. 

Backyard Birding an Ongoing Joy

 

A recent brief photo shoot in my backyard reminded me of how fortunate I am to live where I live, to have the bird feeder arrangement I have, and to have this hobby I have. 

Relaxing on the deck one morning during my recent Spring Break from teaching college, I photographed several types of birds in a short length of time, all while sitting comfortably in an Adirondack chair. 

In this photo you see the approximately 15 feet it is from the chair to the array of tube, suet and bark butter offerings hanging from the elaborate feeder station. Birds currently have 11 choices at the buffet, plus two bird baths (seen flanking the feeders). 

Alesia (who took these pictures) and I will reach a milestone 30 years in our home this June. In the backyard is where my interest in photographing birds and learning about them slowly grew and flourished. 

On the day I photographed the birds in this post, March 8 at around 11;30 a.m., I was pleased with the quality of the images, particularly how well the eyes of the different species are prominent. See if you agree. 

I try to photograph birds not just at the feeders and baths but also in the nearby trees, bushes and on the ground where lots of seeds end up after falling from the feeders. We also have a small pond at the edge of our property that attracts many larger birds such as Herons and Egrets, as well as turtles and alligators. 

                                    Brown-headed Cowbirds

Orange-crowned Warbler- A Lifer Bird!

 

This year is ending with a flurry of backyard bird activity. A highlight has been discovering a species I have not seen before (nor had ever hear of), what us birders call a “lifer.” Press play above to see what my camera captured. 

This is an Orange-crowned Warbler. It resembles the Pine Warbler and a few other small birds that are regular or occasional visitors to our feeders. The screenshot above is from the 15-second video below. The clip at the beginning shows a Brown-headed Nuthatch and the aforementioned Pine Warbler. 

“Hoodies” Back in the ‘Hood!

 A favorite migratory bird has been in my (the golf course actually owns it) backyard pond for almost a week now. These are Hooded Mergansers, “Hoodies” for short. This time of year (or earlier in the fall) they come south from as far away as Canada. Last Monday I counted five, four females and one male- he has the big white patches on his head. The last few days seven have been here more evenly distributed between boys and girls. 

A Little Blue Heron flies by a brace or raft (collective names) of Hooded Mergansers.

Hoodies have come to this pond in the past this time of the year. I first became aware of this unique-looking species years ago at Magnolia Cemetery. They have wintered in the ponds there for years. 

In the background are (right) a Great Egret and three White Ibis. 

Great Egret and Little Blue Heron 

Winter Birding Highlighted by Oriole Visits

He’s a long way from Maryland! But truth be told, Baltimore Orioles have become common sights in the Southeast. 

A neighbor who lives only several hundred yards from me (as the Crow flies) has been attracting them to his backyard feeders for years. 

The key I learned from him is grape jelly. Orioles have a sweet tooth for jam. So I recently put out some jelly and sure enough the last several days one has come to my backyard. 

The Orioles also seem to like the seed food seen in this photo (taken through my kitchen window) but this one may have been trying to stay out the rain too.

Hermit Thrush- What’s in a Name?

 New Sightings! 

The Hermit Thrush hasn’t been a chance visitor to my backyard feeders. I’ve spotted one a few times since my initial posting a few weeks ago. 

I like these three photographs I took the other day. 

I checked a really old edition of “Birds of America” that was given to me to try to find more insights into this melodious bird with the curious name. The book is from 1936, if I’m correctly reading the copyright date on an early page. The first copyright was in 1917. Wow, online a copy of this book/my book is selling for $172.50.