A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum a great birding day!

What a great day for birding today! Not only did I see the first hummer for the year, but the Eastern Towhee spent an hour here today and let me get a good look at him, AND... there was a rose breasted grosbeak at my feeder today.

You can't see the rose colored breast in these pictures, but it's such a pretty color!

rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are ALWAYS very breathtaking to see.

I have 3 male rose breasteds here. Every time I picked up my camera last night they disappeared. When I'd put it away they'd show back up!

I'm thinking that this one might be a female?
I can't see any of the rose color on the breast?
Maybe the male flew away and the female arrived when I went upstairs to ge the camera?

They DO stick around for the Summer in your area and even nest there, so you got yourself a vacation season client there.

several of my friends at ceramics have grosbeaks in their yards--- but not i--((but I did see what i thought was a pair of wrens on my picnic table where I have a feeder setting. (yes thorny I rerally think i did)

the black birds seem to keep anything nice from coming here for very long---the husband says well they gotta eat too--BUT-----

I don't begrudge anything from having a snack or dinner at my feeders. The last few nights it's been a Possum. I just grab my camera and snap away. I've NEVER had Grosbeaks at my feeder either......YET! You need a LOT of old BIG trees, preferably forests, around a yard to attract Grosbeaks. I am in a 20-30 year old suburb east of Nashville, TN, and we probably need another 5 - 10 years of tree growth (if ANOTHER tornado doesn't come), to start attracting the forest birds.

Thorn's Guest, Paul the Apostle Opossum

well thorny---like I said the other day---=there IS a line of large old trees in the north neighbors yard. (on the N side of their yard)---Then at the end of the street, which is just past the next yard, there is a bunch of trees & perhps a pond--(my husband says it is called Blooms hill & blooms pond--so I am assuming)---BUT my yard & the one next to me were fields not to long ago.-- there are 2 lots (Old fields) to the back of me & my neighbor to the North too. So not looking good for me either. Oh well I try anyway---

No possums, but I did have a squirrel in my front yard yesterday--he saw me & froze---his hands & front arms were just a shaking---poor guy--

hey!! I just saw that I thought is/was an indigo Bunting--

Blue colored bird smallish/sleek--brownish/black like on the mid-wings & around the eye area??--((NO orange on the stomach area--just blue))
he came & ate for about 15 minutes---another one swooped down & by the feeder during that time, but didn't stop---but finally the black birds horned in & it left---I hope he comes back----

am I correct in my conclusion??

Sounds like it. They are a VERY common Summertime bird. Do a Google Image Search on Indigo Bunting and see if that is what you saw. It COULD also be a Blue Grosbeak. Try checking that, too.

I looked them both up while it may have been a blue grosbeak i don't think so as there is no tan on the wing bars, or even light brown--it is darkish and joy of joys there has been 2 come & go all day & evening--(both blue)
could of been the female around too as I cannot tell the female--from another brown bird. AND ta da!!! the oriole was back today also-- but just once happy days anyway

(Note to self Buy more Indigo Bunting decoys to fool JunieGirl with.)

LOL well at least I am keeping you busy-------

ok-so my idea worked :/--at least for temorary. I took one of the flat "flowers" out if my hummingfird feeder, so the oriole could fit its beak into the hole--& sure enough one came & tried it---bad news it did not stay very long---I am trying my best to keep it around until I can get a feeder esp. for it.--And it/they are not in the least interested in the orange halves I have had out, so hopefully this will work, at least for awhile.--

Thorn rubs Super Glue all over JunieGirl's modified Hummer feeder so that once an Oriole lands on it to drink, it CAN'T leave.

thanks thorny--I'll take any help I can get-----