The view from the top

It's been a busy week for the birds in spite of winter's reluctance to leave. These two geese were perched on the roofs of the houses across the street. Maybe they were scoping out the best nesting site on the pond. 

Snow goose

On the lawn outside of Walmart, along a somewhat busy street, a flock of Canada geese raised their young and made their meals. In the spring I saw the goslings debut, and watched them get a little bigger everyday. Sometimes they even held up traffic as they crossed from one green patch to another. 

When I drove by the other day I saw a grey goose with the flock and I wondered if he had always been with them, or if he was only passing through. I went back today and he was there alone. After some researching, I realized he may be a young snow goose. Born in the Arctic tundra, heading south for the winter. 

Geese at the park

This flock politely moved out of our way as we strolled past, but Linnea wanted to follow them.

"Eeeee!"

This family of geese lives at the zoo and when we pointed them out to Linnea she squealed with glee. 

Taking Flight

As I returned home from a shopping trip I had to wait for this group of geese to move along. 

Look at those wingspans and the white tail feathers. 

The Goose Wedge

While watching a group of about seven geese practice their wedge formation, I just had to laugh. The first pass they did over the house was in a V, but one lost goose tailed them, flying back and forth between the two arms of the V, unsure of where he belonged. As they passed by again they were even worse off by forming two rows, one in front of the other like an equal sign.

This is not a photo of that group, but it looks like they are trying the equal sign too.

Fall is Coming

While not exactly a V formation, a telltale sign that fall is on its way! (Photo taken almost a month ago).

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy is looking out while his little ones eat. 

Alarmed and Bossy

We went for a walk at a nearby park and the geese seemed to tolerate us, even as we were steps behind them. Though a few of them had feathers raised in alarm on the back of their long necks, the only aggression we saw was when one goose tried to boss around another one.

They thought we were following them...
but really they were just in our way.

Alarmed and Bossy! 

Springtime Birdservations!

A briefing on what the birds have been up to in my neighborhood:

• While on a walk we heard the chickadees with their two-note call. One bird called out and another answered, descending down the musical scale. As they continued with their individual rhythms, the notes were soon in tandem with each other to make perfect harmony.
• The goldfinches are gaining their summer plumage back so they look more as their name describes and not the buff color they were all winter. I saw one call out from a spindly sprig at the top of a pine tree, alerting all available females to his grandeur.
• A crow also took advantage of the highest point on the street and claimed himself to be king of the hill from atop a chimney.
• Every time I see geese my heart melts a little. Often in pairs on grassy areas, one picks away at the ground while the other watches for danger. 
• Two bluebird sightings in one week! It's so exciting to see rusty red and cerulean blue dart through the air.
• There is what I believe to be an egret living in the pond by the community center. They move so carefully, even their flight appears in slow-motion.
• Our backyard has been full of activity from the robins as they hunt worms and enjoy old berries still on the tree.
• Also in the backyard was a large bird I didn't see long enough to figure out what it was. It was bigger than a robin, was feeding on the ground, and when he took flight there appeared to be a bright yellow coloring under his wings. This would lead me to believe it was a flicker but I'm not certain.
• I've heard more red-winged blackbirds than I've seen.
• And finally, I've seen many birds of prey gliding overhead. Their cries reminded me of something you'd hear in an old western movie as  the sun bakes the desert landscape.

Winter is coming, just ask the birds

I haven't posted much lately and that's not for lack of bird activity.

Birds are migrating, with some leaving us for warmer southern temps, and some joining us from their northern summer homes, like juncos. The geese have been practicing their Vs. It's funny watching some of those younger geese try to figure out where they are supposed to fall into line. By now those formations are getting tighter and coming together quicker than a few weeks ago. Some might have left already but there are still flocks who haven't yet.

I noticed a few weeks ago that the goldfinches have already donned their "winter coats." From the back they still have their signature finch design with the wings creating a stripey V, and no longer bright yellow but more of a dull taupe.

Everyone is taking advantage of the bountiful natural seed harvest, trying to gain their winter fat stores. We have a few sparrows who have fattened up considerably since the last of their offspring left the nest. My feeders have been empty for the past few months because I know there is plenty of food for them to find in the seeding flowers and weeds, like my sunflowers and the neighbor's coneflowers, both favorites of the goldfinch.

The birds know it won't be long now before the weather changes!

Geese Crossing

Taken at Phalen Park in St. Paul a couple of weeks ago.