White-throated Sparrow with River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) in background
Wishing you the wonder and delight of nature this holiday season!
Happy Holidays!
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Tag Archives: White-throated Sparrow
Backyard Birds, Snowstorm Number ??
White-throated Sparrow in a snowstorm
When I opened the shades yesterday, there was already about 7 inches of new snow on the ground and the air was thick with swirling, heavy wet flakes. I confess my first thought was, “How beautiful!” (Go ahead, call me crazy – you wouldn’t be the first! But it may mitigate your assessment a bit to know I didn’t have to go out.)
The birds were already up and foraging for food. The area surrounding our feeder was a very popular spot, and remained so all day long throughout the storm.
Goldfinches and House Finches at the feeder
Goldfinches and House Finches were the most constant visitors to the feeders, perching in the trees near by in between snacks.
Goldfinch
Goldfinch, with male House Finch in the background
Chickadees and Titmice darted to the feeder to get their share, with Chickadees tossing rejects on the ground for the grateful birds feeding there.
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee, with lunch
A few of the ground feeding birds, like this White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
grew impatient with having to wait for food to be tossed down to them and decided to go directly to the source themselves.
White-throated Sparrow eating at feeder
Even a few Dark-eyed Juncos also attempted to use the feeder. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker watched for his opportunity,
Red-bellied Woodpecker, male
then used his gymnastics skills to get to some food …
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker at feeder
and bring it back to his mortar-and-pestle-like feeding spot on a near-by tree.
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker preparing a meal
His female partner
Red-bellied Woodpecker, female
elected to join the ground feeders.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging on the ground
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker successfully foraging on the ground
She seemed tentative at first, staying only a few seconds with each trip, but eventually she became more comfortable both with the process and her ground feeding companions.
White-breasted Nuthatches and a Downy Woodpecker joined the party a bit later in the day.
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch on Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Downy Woodpecker
A Blue Jay stopped by briefly, turning his face to escape the wind.
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Juncos and Goldfinches browsed for seed at our Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia), one of the few additional seed sources not buried in snow.
Dark-eyed Junco feeding on Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)seeds
When not actively feeding, many birds took refuge in the relative safety and shelter of neighboring Black-haw Viburnums (Viburnum prunifolium) and White Pines (Pinus strobus).
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow in White Pine with House Finch in the background
The weather is pretty benign today, but clouds are starting to move in. Ready for the next round?
Northern Cardinal
A Holiday Display, Courtesy of Nature
December Snow
In a weather pattern that is pretty unusual for New Jersey in December, four snowstorms in a ten day period each brought a few inches of snow, sometimes with a mix of freezing rain or sleet. The result? A holiday display visible right outside our windows!
Anyone remember flocked Christmas trees? This snow covered White Pine (Pinus strobus) could be the inspiration for them, although nothing we manufacture could provide such a lovely shelter from the elements and predators for birds in winter.
Snow covered White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Other decorations include the aptly named Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) arching gracefully under its weight of snow.
Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
In place of a candelabra, a Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) fruit cluster brightens its surroundings, while offering food for Goldfinches, Chickadees and even Dark-eyed Juncos.
Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
No need to string cranberries or make other garlands when the red fruits of Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) blaze on snowy branches.
Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
Like using tinsel or other ‘icicles’ to decorate your tree? One storm provided the real thing. A little ice doesn’t deter this Tufted Titmouse from its pursuit of a meal.
Tufted Titmouse and White-throated Sparrow on ice
I like bird ornaments on a Christmas tree, but even better are the live models posing outside in the trees
Northern Cardinal, male
Blue Jay
White-throated Sparrow
Chickadee
House Finch, female
and on the ground below.
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal, female
Northern Cardinal, male
Just across the Delaware River from us, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve was also blanketed with the fluffy white stuff.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Pidcock Creek from the bridge
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, the Violet Trail
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) on the Gentian Trail
Snow-covered fruits and leaves decorated the woods exactly like holiday ornaments dangling from the trees.
Ironwood, also called American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Possum-haw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum)
BlackJack Oak (Quercus marilandica)
Snow tends to be ephemeral around here, and this weekend with temperatures in the 50s and 60s it has almost disappeared. (65°F at 7 o’clock this morning!) But even without the cover of snow, beautiful natural decorations are visible in some form every day of the year. So get out and enjoy them whenever you can!
Happy Holidays!
December Snow
The Natural Web 