Towheeblog

The warbler action is most likely to grab an observer’s attention.  They flutter, dive-bomb one another (without any actual contact), hover (less well than the adept hummingbirds) and flash their tail lights.  Those are actually pure white spots in otherwise dark tail feathers.  When they open their tail in flight on on perch those white spots flash brightly though they can only reflect what light there is.  It evidently impresses other birds as well, or frightens them if they are small enough for warbler-bullying.

None of these shots is very good but they are best I have of the flashing tailights…so far.  I shall endeavor better.  You can click on any one to enlarge but be prepared to be disappointed.  The first and last have at least a blurry hint of what the eye can see as the warblers are in motion.

NUTHATCH AT WORK
Impervious to an observer focused on the good stuff, quicker than a camera lens.  He cannot lick his chops like your dog, so how does he clean his beak of suet flecks?  I have seen nuthatch and chickadee rub beaks on plant bark,  but this time he stayed in place for a couple minutes.  Quick tongue action?  Or impervious to flecks as well?

Yesterday’s garden sapsucker, an occasional occurrence and so prized, b;lurred thanks to window glass:

KEEPING UP WITH DOWNY

820 NW 19th Street, McMinnville, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Feb 14, 2020
17 species

Eurasian Collared-Dove  X
Red-breasted Sapsucker  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  3
Bushtit  30
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Bewick’s Wren  1
European Starling  X
House Sparrow  X
House Finch  4
Pine Siskin  1
Lesser Goldfinch  5
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Golden-crowned Sparrow  3
Spotted Towhee  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6

820 NW 19th Street, McMinnville, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Feb 15, 2020
17 species

Eurasian Collared-Dove  X
Downy Woodpecker  1
California Scrub-Jay  1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  3
Bushtit  30
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Bewick’s Wren  1
European Starling  X
American Robin  1
House Sparrow  X
House Finch  X
Pine Siskin  1
Lesser Goldfinch  X
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Golden-crowned Sparrow  3
Spotted Towhee  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5