the rooster crows again

What?

Do I just think I could waltz back in here and act like I have not been away for seven-and-a-half months?

You bet. It is my blog.

Anyway, it has been very tough to get on here and post. I have spent very little time online since my last post. The job is better, but still soul crushing, in addition to extremely physically demanding and exhausting.

Why am I here today? Of all days?

I have been wanting to post about the birds hanging out at the back of the house. So many new ones since I set up feeders.

So, while getting used to my new Acer One 10 running Windows 10 (which I call a netbook), I am just listing the birds that I have encountered in my yard since moving here a little over twelve years ago. No Latin, no pictures as I cannot take photographs of birds very well.

I used the 1966 edition of "Birds of North America" (a Golden Field Guide), published by Golden Press of the now defunct Western Publishing Company as my main source for identifying birds.The book was republished in 2001 by St. Martin's Press and is still generally available. I like my 1966 edition.

I also used Cornell University's Merlin app on my phone and their website: allaboutbirds.org, for identifying the birds as well. It sucks that I cannot install it on this netbook. Not much app-wise can be installed on Windows devices by the looks of it.


Anyway. So.....


I have definitely seen:

Mourning Dove (there are at least a dozen and still hanging around this winter)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (generally just passing through spring and autumn)
Pileated Woodpecker (mating pair this year, just passing through - gorgeous!)
Hairy Woodpecker (most recent addition, hopefully a regular)
Downy Woodpecker ( a bunch of regulars)
Eastern Kingbird (not seen them in a while)
Blue Jay (around eight or so, one is a really big bugger, but they leave for the winter)
Common Raven (they come and go)
Common Crow (like the ravens, they come and go)
Black-Capped Chickadee (tons of these guys, year round)
White-Breasted Nuthatch (they have been with me for years, they stay the whole year)
Red-Breasted Nuthatch (joined the group this year, gone for the winter)
Robin (they disappeared this summer actually and have yet to return)
Starling (annoying birds, normally spring and early autumn, did not return this autumn)
Yellow-Throated Vireo (a one-time visitor)
Pine Warbler (showed up a few springs ago)
American Redstart (saw a male for the first time this past spring)
House Sparrow (hung around a few years back)
Red-Winged Blackbird (they come in clusters and will hang out with other birds)
Rusty Blackbird (noticed them for the first time this year)
Brewer's Blackbird (like the Rusty guys, first time this year)
Common Grackle (I hate these guys, greedy bullies, normally around spring and autumn only, they stayed all summer then up and left one day at the end of August this year, I hope they do not come back next year!)
Boat-Tailed Grackle (I know they are not supposed to be in my neck of the woods, but I swear I saw a couple/few this summer, a friend believes the same thing)
Brown-Headed Cowbird (same story as the Brewers and Rusties)
Baltimore Oriole (have seen them every year, they never get too close to the house)
Summer Tanager (not around here officially, but certain I saw one this year)
Cardinal (every year one or two would stop by, last year they stayed, at least two pairs and one had offspring, one juvenile hung around and ground fed mostly)
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (passed through in the spring)
Evening Grosbeak (showed up one day and hung out with the Goldfinch, then left)
Purple Finch (came and went this year)
House Finch (came and went)
American Goldfinch (went from a few last year, to a bunch, to dozens)
Black-Eyed Junco (formerly called Slate-Coloured Junco, generally spring and autumn)

Sparrows I have definitely identified this past year (they can be tough):

Lark Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-Crowned Sparrow
White-Throated Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow


Sparrows that are maybes:

Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Tree Sparrow



Other birds that are maybes:

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Black-and-White Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthursh
Connecticut Warbler
Pine Grosbeak
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Lark Bunting
Lapland Longspur


And a longshot:

Skylark


Anyway, a simple post. I hope to see and identify more birds this year. Just not the Grackles and Starlings.


Happy New Year!

blbbl