Michigan Backyard Birds

 
Do you sense a theme to the items I purchased in Michigan?
I am most pleased with the Motawi Blue Jay tile.  Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor, MI are nationally famous.  They have lots of interesting tiles.  You can take a peek here.

My cousin has been feeding wild birds for 13 years now.  She has two nicely sited feeder set-ups - well protected - and also provides water.  The backyard has several mature plantings and a size-able Maple tree. As is common in the midwest, the yards are not fenced, so it is possible to watch the birds in the yards to the left and right. There is a large pond with shelter trees at the end of her yard.  All in all super good wild bird habitat.

So let's take a look at who flew in, or by, or above...

There was a very active male Downy Woodpecker working away on the Maple tree.

Downy Woodpecker being a woodpecker - upside down because he can.
We also heard and saw a Pileated Woodpecker fly by and I'm more than semi-convinced I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker.

The feeders were swamped with House Finches

Here's a male...

...and here's a female House Finch.

There were also Purple Finches.  

The House Sparrow swarmed the feeders first thing in the morning.

They were super busy feeding their fledglings.

On the last day there I spied a Song Sparrow.  I saw a House Wren on my first day in Michigan, but did not get a photo. 

As I enumerated the backyard birds, there were some surprises as far as my cousin was concerned.  She had no idea that she had Cedar Waxwings perched atop the trees edging the pond.

Mourning Dove sare ground feeders.  This one was watching my cousin's chickens to see if they'd allow it to feed with them.

Black-capped Chickadee were feeder regulars.

A pond = Great Blue Heron.

Crazy bird was perched on a neighbor's roof before flying into the pond.

The American Goldfinch were in their bright summer finery.

This photo is a bit of a cheat. I saw and hear Canada Geese flying overhead, but none lighted. (This was taken in Traverse City, MI).

And now on to the New to Me Michigan Birds!

I'm starting off with Chimney Swifts.  I did not get photos of the birds as they are constantly in flight, but we saw them several times flying overheard.  Their short fat bodies make them easy to ID and they were another new to my cousin bird.  

Here's a Common Grackle. I know they are considered a pest. Fortunately there was just a couple of birds.

The Gray Catbird is one of Cousin K's favorites.

They have a dark patch atop their head...

...and rust colored tail feathers. 

I got to add to my grosbeak collection with this male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

I think he was molting from summer to winter feathers. So looked a bit ragged.

Boy oh boy but Blue Jays do not sound anything like my Scrub or Steller's Jays! 

They were surprisingly shy and hard to photograph.

Cutest Michigan Bird!

I was thrilled to watch a small flock of Tufted Titmice.

It appeared to be a couple of adults with their fledgling babies.

Cousin K has a couple of hummingbird feeders as well as shrubs like Rose of Sharon which the hummers loved.

So I got to add Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to my Life List.

There was a male and female bird, but I only got photos of the male.

And isn't this a lovely bird perched on a Tulip Tree?

It's a young Baltimore Oriole.

I suffered severe Oriole Envy as the birds were very active in Cousin K's backyard.  This is an adult male.

And here's the lovely female Baltimore Oriole.

I only see my Bullock's Orioles once or twice a year if I'm lucky, but Cousin K's Baltimore Orioles are regulars during their summer stay in Michigan.

The most iconic eastern bird has to be the Northern Cardinal.

Cousin K assured me they were much more handsome in the winter with a snowy background.  I thought they were well turned out as it was.

I even got to see a female Cardinal!

A super good backyard birding experience with a total of 23 species.  Sitting with my sister and cousin watching and listening to the birds was a lovely way to wile away the evening.

And look at my new piece of garden art!

A faux light house / bird house.  

Memories of Michigan.