Birding from Our Deck with Beer and Wine

It is cloudy. It is cool. It is spring migration and yet we are supposed to stay close to home. So on this somewhat dreary Saturday afternoon we set up chairs, binoculars, cameras, got some wine, beer, and snacks and waited for the birds to visit the numerous feeders and the birdbath. We also have mature oaks with emerging foliage, dogwood with lovely flowers, azaleas in bloom, and assorted shrubberies to attract them. We wait for the show to begin.

A Grey Catbird was the first to show up,  pausing on the deck railing before flying up to the simple cage suet feeder to enjoy a tasty treat.

These birds earned their name because they "meow". Seriously, if you squint your ears you can hear it. They also have a distinctive "rusty" patch on the underside of their tail. Very cool birds who spend the summer here.

The year round birds were...around...knowing full well that our patch of green serves up a 365 days a year buffet.

The American Goldfinches, at least a dozen in view, were enjoying thistle seed, the males in their breeding plumage of lemony yellow, and the females are a bit less showy.

A White-breasted Nuthatch also enjoyed the suet feeder. These birds are great to watch on tree trunks as they walk down head first.

Dan got this shot of two Carolina Chickadees who have taken up residence in a bird house he made for them. We had left over purple and pink spray paint, hence the groovy colors. One is feeding the other an insect. How sweet!

Two Yellow-rumped Warblers flitted on the trees, gleaning insects form the branches and buds. They're just passing through, but it's so cool to see them! This male's breeding plumage is really attractive, and I'm sure the ladies agree!

Way up in the tree tops, we saw two Blue-headed Vireos insect hunting. So fast, very far away, and the lighting was terrible, but this not too great photo shows a distinctive field mark: the white "goggles" around the eyes.

While sitting on the deck enjoying our libations, Dan asked "where is the Red-breasted Grosbeak?" Good question as we have seen this striking bird each spring for the past few years, but so far not this year. They love to crack sunflower seeds with their big triangular beak. Had they made it as far north as our neighborhood? A minute after Dan had posed his question, as if on cue, this beauty flew to the top of a concrete gnome in our garden.

What luck! This male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of the most striking of the migratory songbirds. The afternoon was made for us. Time to take our empty glasses and head in to start dinner. We hope to see Mr. Gross and perhaps his Mrs. a few more times before they head off. Ahhh, spring!