Today's visitors on the deck

It's warm and sunny and quite a few visitors have stopped by. First a purple finch early on. He sings the most glorious song which completely enraptures me.

Then a little chickadee perched on a silo feeder I've placed in a new spot which all the birds seem to enjoy... perhaps it's like a tree branch? Or the great view as it chows down?
















Followed by a large male hairy woodpecker.

And who'd have thought that a large wasp - a paper wasp no doubt - maybe even a queen searching out the sugar in this hummer feeder, would visit the deck this morning. .

One fall the fellow who makes the blue bird nest boxes that border my property, found one nest box completely covered in the careful layering of grey paper, constructed entirely by paper wasps. It was a magnificent creation.
From wikipedia: The nests of most true paper wasps are characterized by having open combs with cells for brood rearing, and a 'petiole', or constricted stalk, that anchors the nest (see image, right).^[3] Paper wasps secrete a chemical which repels ants, which they spread around the base of the anchor to prevent the loss of eggs or brood.


Earlier this year I found such an open comb - on a constricted stalk, pasted neatly into that same nest box... I took it out and put it on the snow, even though there were no insects inside. I did not want the wasps to attack the swallows and bluebirds that would inevitably inspect the boxes. However I have learned that these creatures unless attacked, do not go after others.


And so it was a busy morning. Now the song of the purple finch mingles with that of a song sparrow yet to be seen today and the hum of bees around the forgetmenots makes the afternoon feel lazy and warm... time for a nap! Such activity has made me sleepy. :)

The gangs all here

Evening sun caressed the lawn and trees and the birds gathered to have a late snack before settling down for the night. I was surprised to see the rose breasted gros beak, purple finch and goldfinch all gathered on the feeder, the soft sunlight making them seem to glow.

This feeder has been through the mill. Raccoons have taken it off it's hangar frequently and tossed it to the ground breaking off the roof and cracking the sides. Weather - an always uneasy guest - has also taken its toll and it needs a refreshing paint job as well as I think, a larger tray and certainly some repairs to its sides.

The birds don't care. This, along with a tube feeder of sunflower seeds on the east side of my home, is the most popular of the feeders for the small birds. Occasionally the grackles will sit on the edge driving away the rest of the birds - they are so greedy - and this year so plentiful. Four blue jays also are regular visitors when there is seed on the rail, but mostly it's the preferred feeding station of the finch gang.

This spring has brought many more of the small birds to my feeders. It's been cool and they need the extra fat found in nyjer and sunflower seeds. I've had several different kinds of sparrows, fox, white throat, song, white crowned. As well the juncos and chickadees continuing to visit this year. It's such a delight to also have the other birds return, meadow larks, tree swallows, a lone bluebird dropped by, and the warblers are beginning to pass through. The air is filled with song. Soon it will be warm enough for one of my favourites - the hummers to return.

And then there is the garden.

Slowly but surely grass has overtaken many of the small gardens around the property. And just as slowly maybe not quite so surely, I've been pulling it up. It's a process. It's a joyful process since it grounds me and fills me with the feeling of nurture and nature especially as I listen to the water burbling in the pond, the birds' song and soft breezes. And of course there are my two silly dogs playing chase and pull with a torn and favoured stuffed toy.

May this day bring you all good feelings wherever you are.

Regular visitors

A purple finch and its mate are now regular visitors to my feeder on my deck. This couple have joined a group of about 50 or 60 little golden pennies - the flock of goldfinches that habituate these feeders, singing their lovely "sweet sweet sweet" song.

Other visitors are blue jays, and grackles to this particular feeder... but I realize in looking at the photograph that I have to be more careful in focusing... the background is much more clear than the bird here... too bad, it has a huge seed in its mouth and seems to be really enjoying himself.

Here are several male goldfinches chowing down along with a single female in the lower left corner. I've noticed that the females are in short supply this year. This is interesting. I wonder if they're on their nests already? It's possible I suppose. I have a huge blue spruce at the edge of the drive shed that I call my bird tree. I see the purple finch, house finches and goldfinches flitting about in it - and last year I was pretty sure that a hummingbird or two had nests in there.

And another shot of the goldfinch gang - I leave my deck door open so that I can hear their lovely song and I can't resist taking way too many photos. The joys of digital!

May you have golden pennies somehow in your day today!