H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 681 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Memory Lane

— Male Northern Cardinal — May 2010 —

Tags: Memory Lane, nature, Northern Cardinal, photography, photos of birds

Wednesday at late afternoon we had quite a storm!. It went from being a sunny and bright day into a dark as night under black clouds and subsequently became a tremendous storm, with all elements together: Copious rain, loud thunders and like I’ve never seen before a never ending amount of lightening, the combination of elements shook the house! Not very long after the storm started the electric power went all together. Total darkness and continuos flashes accompanied by explosive thunders. We lost the phone communication and TV also.

After about 20 minutes from the blackout the electric power came back. Television too about 1 hour to reconnect and the phones were dead no line for about 3 hours. Internet was gone for 1/2 hour only.

After the storm was over a normal rain continued.

This morning I had a mess with my feeders, saucers and my deck was a disaster. Believe or not I had a mob of birds waiting for me to feed them! C’est la vie!

My clean-up service!

Male Brown-headed Cowbird

Carolina Wren

Male House Finch

Northern Mockingbird

Song Sparrow

Carolina Chickadee

Female Brown-headed Cowbird

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, House Finch, nature, Northern Mockingbird, photography, photos of birds

Loud Calls

There’s one bird that let you know is around before you have a chance to see it. That’s the Carolina Wren. His calls and songs are always loud.

I don’t know if you have ever noticed how loudly his voice carries in the open and it’s a distinctive call, also their song is powerful and clear.

These birds are very active and by any means not shy, they have the ability to quickly get hold of a seed or nut of any kind from a feeder and leave the scene rapidly to eat in safe comfort. They always find the way to sneak in and out and pick some food to eat even if the feeder is busy with other birds.

Once he’s finished eating, flies and perches on a high point and begins his calls and songs. More so when there’s a mate near by.

He has the habit of flicking his tail up and down. This bird has a chisel-like pointy bill with a curve downward.

I’ve seen a lot of these birds this year, I hope that they return next year.