Baltimore Visitors

I don't know anyone who lives in Baltimore, but I feel like I have met a few the last several days.

It started out with a flash of color in the tree by the seed feeder.  Yes, it was a Baltimore Oriole.  They are unusual in my neighborhood, so I wanted to make them welcome.  I put out a half an orange to see if that would attract him.

That led to the moving in of a couple of his cousins.  I have had 8 at a time in the back yard.  So I purchased an Oriole feeder.

I caught this guy moving quickly for his turn at the orange.

They aren't really good at taking turns and usually spend half the energy they get from the feeder fighting off their cousins.

Another surprise happened when this Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up for his turn.  Nobody told him this was an Oriole feeder, not a Hummingbird feeder.

Then this guy showed up... an Orchard Oriole.  They apparently hang out with their cousins but got left out of the beautiful colors.

Here they both are in the tree.

And taking turns at the orange.  They are fruit eaters so no doubt enjoyed an early taste of fruit in ND.

It has been raining for three days but that doesn't stop the feeding frenzy.  What a beautiful bird.  I am convinced that God likes bright colors, don't you think?

This has happened about three times.  One of them tries to get into the house.  The only thing we can figure is that Marilyn has a bird of paradise flower near the window.  The orange color seems to be attracting them to come and check it out.  I, on the other hand, like to think that she is just saying "thank you" to me for the treats, sort of like the ten lepers but only one came back to say thanks.

I am not sure how long this will last.  It may just be a migratory thing, but for now we are trying to make our visitors from Baltimore feel at home.

"Red and yellow, black and white...."

"Red and..."

"yellow..."

"black and white..."

"orange is precious in His sight..". okay, okay, I couldn't resist.

Back Yard Visitors

A Sharp-shinned Hawk, a small bird eater, with a broken wing.  I didn't do it?

Some kind of Thrush that was passing through and stopped for lunch.

Hairy Woodpecker... or is it Harry Woodpecker?

House Finch feeding his mate.  Something I have never seen before.  No, this isn't a young bird.

This Cardinal is a recent visitor to our town.

It has been so fun to hear them singing regularly in the morning and very occasionally visiting the feeder.  They were common in Iowa but not here.

But here is the one that I enjoyed the most.  Today this Red-headed Woodpecker which was numerous when I was growing up showed up at the feeder.  As I recall their fight is one of a series of wing flaps and a glide in which they would lose altitude.  As a result many had auto strikes.  I haven't seen one for years as their numbers are declining nationwide.

He stayed in the tree a long time and then only momentarily would venture out to the feeder.

The wind was blowing hard today and it ruffled his/her feathers.

I guess I don't know if this bird is a him or a her.  No matter they are one of the few woodpeckers in which the male and female look alike.  Maybe that is why they are declining!

And last but not least this White-throated Sparrow was on its way to somewhere beside North Dakota.