No rain yesterday.

 While I whole heartedly welcomed a few days of rain and the associated thunderstorms it was nice to have a dry day yesterday. With no rain forecast and lighting not too harsh I got setup at the waterfall hoping for some migrants. As usual I had Merlin listening and it reported several species that I would have liked to land right in front of me. I got one of the Indigo Buntings, there were several Baltimore Orioles that dropped in to bathe. Merlin reported Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird and Great Crested Flycatcher along with Tennessee, Myrtle and Blackpoll Warbler but I only managed to get the Myrtle Warbler. The Eastern Kingbird was right above me and zooming down to grab a fly and back up to its perch which was infuriatingly obscured by leaves. The Great Cresteds have been around for a few days, there's several suitable nesting holes that are available if they stick around. Hopefully with a mostly clear night and no rain a few more migrants may drop in. Here's a few from yesterday.

Indigo Bunting

Baltimore Oriole

Mrs Baltimore Oriole

Mrs Baltimore Oriole

Myrtle Warbler

Gray Catbird

I wasn't going to bother today.

Last nights migration showed over 1.1 million birds flying over the county, thats just what they did in the clear skies overnight, they flew over and kept on going. Merlin sitting on the deck this morning picked out a few new migrants but nothing spectacular.The weather forecast predicted thunderstorms after midday and the light wasn't great this morning so i did other stuff. After lunch the forecast changed to storms after 6pm and as the light was pretty good I got set up by the waterfall. The Grackles and Robins were out in force with a few Catbirds and I was begining to think it was a mistake being out when one of the Baltimore Orioles came down for a splash. Thats always worth while when they show up. As I'm writing this at 7:40 I can hear the rumble of thunder to the South, I hope we dont loose power. A very shy Wood Thrush paid a visit before being frightened off by the rowdy Robins. It came back several times but never long enough for me to slowly traverse the lens round to get him in the frame. A Great Crested Flycatcher was calling right about my head, I've never seen one at the waterfall so didn't expect him to come down. A wary Indigo Bunting came and went several times before finally taking the plunge. Then it was was time for dinner. Heres the shots from this afternoon.

American Robin

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Indigo Bunting

Gray Catbird

Baltimore Oriole

Gray Catbird 

Gray Catbird 

Indigo Bunting

Yesterday and Today

 I took a few shots out the window yesterday morning and promptly forgot about them. Not surprising as I had surgery on my right wrist later that morning to relieve (hopefully) my carpal tunnel issues. As my thumb was becoming a bit numb I wasn't always sure if I was on one of the several button controls on the back of my camera or not. 

The horde of ravenous Starlings have mostly dispersed, the role has been taken over by the much larger Common Grackles. Anyway, here's some from yesterday morning.

Common Grackle

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

This morning I left my iPhone on the deck for an hour of so with Merlin listening to the various songs and calls. There were several recordings of migrant warblers, Yellow, Myrtle, Parula, Redstart and Magnolia, Indigo Bunting and Wood Thrush. This afternoon I got setup at the waterfall but no warblers only a small flock of female Red-winged Blackbirds.

 

Red-winged Blackbird

The Grackles were regular visitors then after a short while where nothing came a lone Grackle dropped down and started to bathe. A few others appeared and the Grackle must be a little shy as he didn't like anyone watching him. He flew up to a perch and turned on his display mode to warn off the interlopers in the branches above him.

 

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

People call them 'Blackbirds', are they color blind?

Waterfall Birds

Mid morning I looked out of the full glass door to the left of my computer desk just as a cracking Baltimore Oriole flew in to have a bathe in the waterfall stream. I waited until about 3pm when the light was better and got set up in the chair blind. It was about 82f (27C) air temperature and sitting in the blind about 122f I reckon. Damn, it was hot. The first bathers were the Song Sparrows, they were having a good old splash. The majority of bathers were the Grackles followed by the Robins. The Oriole came back and the Catbird only managed a drink before a squadron of Grackles scared it off. Around 4pm it went very quiet and I gave up around 4:30 to feed the beasties. As we had a Hoageez hoagie for lunch I made myself beans on toast to fill me up a bit because I cant eat after midnight due to Carpal Tunnel surgery in the morning. I went back out for a while until the light started fading. As I was packing up there were 4 Catbirds taking turns to bathe and then display to the lady catbirds, I left them to it.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Jacobs Ladder

American Robin

Northern Cardinal

Waterfall Day 2

Again the light was very nice this morning, bright but hazy which is just how I like it. I decided to have a quick go before lunch, Even though I was in the Tragopan chair blind  the birds were very wary and the slightest movement of the lens and they were off. The main visitors were Robins and Grackles and they were spooked very easily, I'll have to move it back a few feet and see if that helps. I think part of the problem is that the light in the morning is shining towards the viewport whereas I'm usually out there in the mid to late afternoon when the light is behind me. Anyway here's a few I took this morning.

American Robin

Northern Cardinal

Gray Squirrel

Gray Squirrel

Common Grackle

First Session at the Waterfall.

This morning I noticed a gorgeous Baltimore Oriole at the waterfall and decided there and then I'd have a go this afternoon. Mid afternoon was bright but with a nice layer of high, hazy cloud which nicely diffused the normally harsh afternoon light, it didn't do much for the temperature though at 82F (27.7C). Not a lot showed up as I supposed they were getting used to the blind. I went back out after dinner and the light was even better and there was a fair bit of activity.

Common Grackle

Gray Squirrel

White-throated Sparrow

Chipmunk

Gray Catbird

Virginia Bluebells

Carolina Wren

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow