Yard birds, May and June 2009

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Young male Rufous hummingbird

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Adult male Rufous hummingbird

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Rufous exercising

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male flickers in dead vine maple

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male flickers in territorial display. They posture and pose and make "weeka" calls but I haven't seen them squabble or chase each other.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Violet-green swallow on wire

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male Tree swallow

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male Tree swallow on post in the garden

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Female Tree swallow in nest box

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male Tree Swallow in nest box. He has a fly in his beak.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Chestnut-backed chickadee

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Red-breasted nuthatch

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

American robin

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

American robin. Notice the worn feather edges.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

European starling near the feeder. Usually they notice me and take off before I can get a photo.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Female Townsend's warbler. A flock of females came through on the 18th, a week or more after the males left.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Female Townsend's warbler

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Another female Townsend's warbler

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Wilson's warbler scratching. Numerous in the third week of May.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Wilson's warbler in maple

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Wilson's warbler in spruce

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Male Yellow warbler. Easy to hear but hard to see.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Yellow warbler

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Yellow warbler. I had better success photographing these when I climbed up on the roof since they tend to forage high in the crown of the maple.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Black-headed Grosbeak. This male and a female visit the feeder occasionally.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

White-crowned sparrow. They nested in the field somewhere.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Recently-fledged White-crowned sparrow. It appears to have hair in its beak - I guess it takes them a little while to learn what is edible, and perhaps how to spit out hair too.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

White-crowned sparrows. No doubt something is being communicated here.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Rufous-sided towhee.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

Brown-headed cowbird. This male had a bad left eye which appeared to be permanently closed.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

American goldfinch. This one has an olive tinge to his upper back, as does another one in the neighborhood.

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

The same American goldfinch

Yard bird photos, mid-May to mid-June, 2009

Yard bird photos from the latter part of the warbler migration into nesting season. The Wilson's warblers, the last of the warbler migration, left in late May. Although I heard a couple warbler-like songs in the neighborhood in early-mid June I wasn't able to identify them. Starlings and house sparrows fledged first in late May or early June followed shortly by towhees and black-capped chickadees. The white-crowned sparrows fledged a week or two later around the 18th.

House finch.