Hello Birding Friends, We were very lucky this morning at my daughter Pauline's house on Chapel St., Bowmanville. Not only did we see one elegant bird providing a visual feast, but a flock of them were a gourmand's delight. Being the sociable creatures who love to eat berries -they were eating lots of berries. The two Mountain Ash trees in their yard became a banquet hall for the fattening WAXWINGS, who were swarming like bees over the pendant fruit.
I was privileged to watch and listen to several GRAY CATBIRDS in my yard. The males have been singing throughout the breeding season, mingling musical renditions of all the birdsongs in the area with an amusing cacophony of other sounds -shrieks, squeaks, whistles, cackles, as well as the cat's meeeow from which the species derives its name. They seem to be taking up a lively residence in one of our Cranberry Bushes. There is often a squabble in our backyard signaling a resident CATBIRD driving off a gray-feathered intruder of its own kind. Yet the CATBIRD is amazingly tolerant of other species. The BALTIMORE & ORCHARD ORIOLES continue to dart in and out of our yard to have a drink on the house. Sometimes we have as many as six eagerly awaiting their turn and in between times when it is not too busy the RUBY THROATED HUMMING BIRDS will hover or perch in a neighboring tree waiting their turn. We also have a BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE now who loves to feed on the ORIOLE/HUMMING BIRD feeders. This morning I saw what appeared to be a young ORIOLE begging for food. Is that possible? I have seen ORIOLES flying through with nesting materials but not any young ones. I shall try to keep you informed. Across the road from our house the EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE regularly darts out from a perch to chase down passing insects. Much like the BLACK PHOEBES they launch their attacks from the lower level branches in distinction from the WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES who launches his attacks from the top branches of trees. The RED BELLIED, HAIRY & DOWNY WOODPECKERS continue to take their turn on the suit feeder whenever the EUROPEAN STARLING is not on it. The ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAKS, BLUE JAYS, MOURNING DOVES, COMMON GRACKLES, BROWN HEADED COW BIRDS and a few WHITE CABBAGE BUTTERFLIES have been passing through the yard. Throughout the last few weeks I have sighted two NORTHERN MOCKING BIRDS nesting at Whitby Mental Health Center. Slowly the KILLDEER are coming back too. Directions: The CEDAR WAXWINGS are feasting at 9 Chapel St., Bowmanville. Take Waverly exit to Bowmanville and follow the jog in the road to the right by the second set of traffic lights and drive till the very end and turn right and the first street is Chapel St. Turn right and the house is the second last one on the left. The other birds can be sighted by my house. Take Mill St. S. by Newcastle and drive towards the lake. We are # 590. And to reach Whitby Mental Health Center take Highway # 12 south to Victoria and turn right to Gordon St. and drive on to property as far as north west of the new building, the Forensic Unit Court. Markus J. Lise Newcastle, On. "Markus J. Lise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
