When summer rolls around, a familiar bird in our backyard is the Baltimore oriole pictured above. One glance at her beak as she zooms through the backyard is enough to tell you the oriole has recently enjoyed a taste of the grape jelly in the backyard buffet. Hummingbirds, another common bird in Northeast Ohio during …
Monday musings
My calendar insists that today is March 4th. In sixteen short days, we will observe the spring equinox, the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere; in other words, the first official day of spring! Here in Ohio, we will "spring forward" next weekend, turning our clocks an hour ahead for the beginning …
Is it vacant now? A bluebird catastrophe
A story I didn't have the heart to tell until now. Mr. Bluebird has just peeked into the nesting box. Perched on top, Mrs. B. is wondering if the box is available. "Have the sparrows left?" she queries. "Can we move in?" (That's my guess at their conversation based on their actions and the expressions …
Bad weather for birds
The weather wasn't too bad in the morning, and a lonesome male bluebird stopped by to check out the nesting box. I'd like to think he was scouting for a home for his mate and future family, but I won't be holding my breath on that score. However, as the day progressed, the weather worsened. …
Ongoing saga of the backyard buffet
It's clear to the eye that this is another rainy morning, but nevertheless, the birds arrived for breakfast as usual. The redbellied woodpecker, shown in the picture above, wasn't happy to discover that the hopper feeder had been totally emptied overnight. She is not sure how this happens and neither are we, although we are …
Return of the bluebirds
Way back in mid-winter, a little flock of Eastern Bluebirds vacationed for a week in our backyard buffet. I was totally surprised because, although bluebirds do winter over in northeast Ohio, none had ever done so in our neighborhood. Sadly, after delighting us for a week, they were suddenly gone, and we haven't seen them for …
Rain-streaked and wind-swept
After several day's absence, the Eastern bluebirds reappeared at the Backyard Buffet this morning. Unfortunately, our recent weather has not been kind to the little birds. Instead of sunshine and blue skies, they have been welcomed by rain, wind, and cold temperatures. This morning the weather was especially unpleasant and has gone from unpleasant to …
Back to the bluebirds
I'm always delighted when I see Eastern bluebirds, especially when they are visiting my Backyard Bird Buffet. When yesterday dawned cold and soggy, I wasn't expecting to see them, but as Bob and I watched the regular, daily visitors to the Buffet, a little flock of bluebirds joined the crowd and made themselves at home. First this …
A joyful ending to 2016
A little flock of Eastern bluebirds came by this week to help me finish off my backyard buffet posts for 2016. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked out the window and saw them because I have NEVER before seen a bluebird in our neighborhood. They aren't uncommon in northeast Ohio, but they are …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 