Evening Grosbeaks, Suncrest

On Saturday morning May 9th my wife and I were observing our black seed feeder with local birds and two Evening Grosbeaks arrived to enjoy the black seed. Unfortunately our picture was to grainy to make out. Location Suncrest.

Western Tanagers, Vinegar Flats

On May 7th a large group of 15-20 Western Tanagers was flying north along Latch Creek in Vinegar Flats near the 11th street bridge. Time was approximately 730am.

Brian

South Hill Anna's Hummingbird

One Anna’s Hummingbird flew up to slider window to visit stained-glass hummingbird that hangs inside the window (with similar colors).

Michelle Walker

Birds of South Conklin Rd, Greenacres

Hopefully, you will all forgive my lack of being a true birder. That, and perhaps the length.

Having said this here is the 5/6/2020 view from South Conklin road with this year's sightings so far:

The last week of March had some kind of ''Peep'' in the lower pasture. I know it's 'bad form' not to get out there and actually identify which sandpiper it is, but I wasn't in the mood to push away from the fire. They always seem to come through here too early, given the cold days and nasty winds.

At this time of year Linda and I also still have some of the 'winter bunch' coming to the feeders, most notably the Oregon subspecies of Dark-eyed Juncos (f&m). 

The rest of the gang like the Red-breasted Nuthatch and the two species of Chickadees: Mountain and Black-capped (f&m) might stay the summer.

Last week saw the junco's head out to what I assume is north to their breeding grounds. Gone for the summer and most likely with other birds I don't watch so closely.

April Fool's Day saw this year's so-called ''invasion'' of White-crowned Sparrows (m&f) making that day much more special. We usually see only one or two a year, but we now must have at least six pairs in the yard most mornings.

The 13th had a Northern Harrier. I'd think it was browner in color (male) than grey (female), floating low over the fields.

15th was the first appearance of hummers here, Calliope Hummingbirds (m), then what I feel is the more aggressive Black-chinned Hummingbirds (m) on the 18th. I'm not that good at the females however, there are now many about. And since then the Rufous Hummingbirds (m) joined the fray at the best spots. Why do they never seem to get along?

Yes, I know, Darwin.

For what it is worth and just as important to me, a sign of spring brought the first garter snake out sunning, and the frogs in the low spots in the vernal creek.

But the snipe Wilson’s Snipe is always a pleasure to hear doing its territorial flight display. A sound quite like no other. Like loons. 

    - none here - 

You're in a special place when you can hear them in the background. This was on the 20th. About the time when the first Turkey Vulture sliding up on the thermals.

Two days later the local pair of Red-tailed Hawks were building their first nest or sometimes more than one, materials are seen hanging from talons below. They always seem to nest on the neighbor's place and not here for unknown reasons, sigh... I find it some sort of missing badge of honor. What more could they want from me?

Perhaps it has to do with the 'more accepting and habituated ' Great Horned Owls GHOW's who frequent the woods all year. 

Smart social distancing on the hawks part?

On the 25th. I spotted my first House Wren down in the garden at the start of our yearly tasks, his of stuffing sticks, and whatever into any and all holes available, mine tilling the soil. Busy little fellows are we both.

Somewhere in this time frame Tree Swallows begin the process of flight displays to secure the better of the nesting boxes scattered about.

An odd thing happens to me more than once every year as I'm involved with some other project outdoors; the gardens, working in the outbuildings, any little thing or excuse will do to get me outside. Winter is finishing up and I'm out the door.

While out there, something happens that's very special to me and I look forward to it every year.

In the background, while concentrating at the task at hand, I'm never quite sure when I identify a noise that's significant from all of the others, something familiar from not that long ago. A friend has 'come down the road'' so to speak, and once here, the thought of it makes me smile.

Something that has been going on for ages. The swallows are back! The house wren, the robins, and all others in time. This one and that one. Sometimes their movement will catch my sight, at other times it's their call. That white noise you mildly sense for whatever reason, changes but you're not sure why. Then just as interesting, you start to key in on, sharpening your focus.

They kindly intrude into your life again. The movement of the seasons of the planet. 

We're all invited to the dance, and today I wonder, what the song will be tomorrow.

Terry and Linda Van Hoozer

Greenbluff Observations for May 1-6

This month so far (May 1-6) we've seen around our home on Greenbluff:

Lazuli bunting, male in showy breeding plumage, here one day and gone the next

Black-chinned, Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds, at least a dozen total regularly feeding and fighting at four nectar feeders that we clean and re-fill every other day while waiting for coral bells, bee balm, trumpet honeysuckle, columbine and other natural food sources to bloom

Tree swallow pairs taking up residence in at least two of eight nestboxes, including one that a western bluebird pair had started using last month

Cooper's hawk landed on birdbath near where seed feeders used to attract the usual crowd of house finches, goldfinches, black-capped and mountain chickadees, juncos and quail (we feed October through mid-April), looking around at the nectar feeders suddenly vacant of hummingbirds as if it was thinking "Where are all those meal-sized birds? These hummers are just appetizers!"

 White-crowned sparrows and Spotted towhees scratching around, especially near lawn patches under restoration with recent over-seeding

 Light blue egg shells on ground in a few places here and along our walk route that might be American robin

 Mallard hen with at least seven ducklings and three drakes (?!) on small pond down the road 

 -- Madonna Luers 

Anna's Hummingbird plus other birds, West Spokane County

Brief sighting around 4-23 in blooming Forsythia bush sucking nectar from a tiny yellow blossom.
A thrill.  Crimson head, iridescent lime green back.

Others at feeder daily since 4-25 are Calliope and perhaps another type I can't identify with certainty.

Currently daily/frequent visitors:

one Goldfinch pair (not like the good ole days, alas)

a few red winged blackbirds

white crowned sparrows

downy & hairy woodpeckers & flickers

quail

chickadees

robins

house finch

wrens

at least one bluebird pair (not as many as prior years)

towhee

black headed grosbeak

hummingbirds, calliope & . . . ?

Mary Benham
West Spokane County, on dry prairie above Trails Rd, off Euclid Rd.

Hanson Harbor Birds

We are at Hanson Harbor north of Wilbur on the Columbia River. All day on 4/29 I saw dozens of white crowned sparrows (near my feeder - sunflower seeds).

And a few days ago I saw 6 at a time spotted towhee.  All day.

Josh Grant

South Hill Birds

We have a flock of about 12 White Crowned Sparrows starting about 4.22.20. I have never seen them at our feeder/ trees before. They are quite aggressive, taking over the feeder from the usual House and Goldfinches. The Black Capped chickadees flit around the trees. 

We also have our usual Red Breasted Nuthatches, Quail, and Robins. There were a pair of Great Horned Owls,” who who” ing at night for awhile.. The Oregon Juncos have come and gone. 

Thankfully,  the birds are not under home quarantine. Enjoy the display.

Cindy Cilyo 

North Spokane Sightings

I noticed a Black-capped Chickadee fluttering its wings at another Black-capped Chickadee the past two mornings.  While this behavior can be part of courting behavior at times, I believe in this case that the fluttering was being done by a recently fledged BCCH.  When the other chickadee flew off the flutterer flew off in pursuit.  Since Chickadees are cavity nesters and stay here year round, they are able to start nesting earlier than most songbirds.

I put up one of my two hummingbird feeders up on April 15.  Two days later I had my first Calliope Hummingbird of the season.  It was a male and returned to the feeder on a regular basis. On the evening of the 25th, I noticed a hummingbird sitting on a fence on the other side of the house looking down at where the other feeder should be.  I immediately filled it up and hung it out.  By mid-morning on the 26th a female Calliope was sipping at the new feeder.  Since then it almost seemed as though the feeder on the east side of the house was designated for the boys and the one on the west side was for the girls. A pair of Rufous Hummingbirds showed up at dusk last night and they followed the same protocol.

Lindell Haggin

Deer Park Birds

My Deer Park yard isn’t super birdy, but I have had a few interesting sightings.

On Sunday, 4/26, there was a pair of Cassin’s Finches at my feeder along with American Goldfinches and House Finches. Six Violet-green Swallows swooped over my house, which is quite unusual considering that it is basically Ponderosa Pine forest. I’ve had a few Calliope Hummingbirds at my feeders but no Rufous or Black-chinned yet. Red-breasted Nuthatches are busy making nests in multiple snags, and American Robins are also nesting. There is a pair of Great-horned Owls that must be nesting nearby as I was able to hear them hooting back and forth and then see them both. And it’s nice to be able to see three or four Mourning Doves on a regular basis (and no Eurasian Collared-Doves).

Jenny Michaels

Calliope Hummingbird (male)