Beth's Patch ~ Invasion of the Pine Siskins

 

My Yard ~ Pine Siskins and Golden Crowned Kinglets

Pine Siskins are everywhere in the yard!

Can you see me now?

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Around Cape May County

Yellow-rumped Warbler Cape May Point State Park(above)

 

Pine Siskin (above)

 

 

Sanderling Stone Harbor Beach

Backyard Birds - My Yard

The past 2 days the bird activity has been very high in my backyard.  The birds arriving are eating all the food as fast as I can put out the food.  I filled the platforms and feeders several times during the day.  I have been seeing Tufted Titmouse, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinch, House Finches, Purple Finches, Cardinals at the thistle and black oil sunflower seed feeders.  I was excited to have a female Black-headed Grosbeak stop at the platform feeders giving me great looks (as my chair inside is about 3 ft away from the feeder).  That's a new lifer plus a new yard bird.  I had White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, my first of the season Dark-eyed Junco plus new yard bird of male/female Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Doves feeding on the ground. Then a Black Vulture came through and put up all of the birds. This was another new yard bird.

All birds and squirrels (too) take advantage of the multi-level waterfall feature to have a drink and the bird bath where they like to bathe.

Backyard Views - My Yard

It's been really fun to see how many butterflies are taking advantage of my feeder of rotten fruit.  I have many Questions Marks, Red Admirals and some Mourning Cloak visit daily.  The past 2 days the birds have been eating the gnats that collect around the rotten fruit but the birds have also tried to catch a butterfly or two for a tastier meal.

Yesterday afternoon I put the birds feeders out again for the winter.  I have 3 feeders out - one with sunflower seeds, one with thistle and one with safflower.  Early this morning the thistle and sunflower seed feeders were mobbed by Pine Siskins who were fighting for position on the feeders.  Not to worry there's plenty of food for all of you.  The Pine Siskins are both a new life bird and a new yard bird for me.  That makes #36 for the species I have seen in my yard.  I am so happy I took out the Autumn Olive trees 3 years ago and replaced them with gardens of native plantings.