Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is sunny, breezy, and cool -- a beautiful fall day.

I went out with the wheelbarrow earlier and saw two black-and-orange birds.  At first I thought they were Baltimore orioles, which we've had occasionally, but they were much too small for that, barely bigger than sparrows.  So I looked online, and now I believe they were male American redstarts.  Back at the end of August, I think I saw a female redstart, so that makes sense.  These things are small, fast, and acrobatic which makes it hard to get a good look at them for ID purposes.  I'm mostly going on color and size.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I fed the birds.  I've seen several house finches and a lady cardinal at the hopper feeder.  I may have seen a female redstart in the trees at the east edge of the south lot.

I put out water for the birds and watered a few plants.

Blackberry lily seeds are ripe near the barrel garden.  I've been picking those to scatter at the base of trees.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I gathered seeds.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I gathered more seeds.

I saw the redstarts flitting around the south lot again.  Such lively, pretty little birds!  :D

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I gathered more seeds.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I watered the septic garden and patio plants.

I saw one of the redstarts again in the birdgift apple tree.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- I watered the telephone pole garden, wildflower garden, notch in the prairie garden, tulip bed and its grass patch.  Another gladiolus is blooming pink in the telephone pole garden.

Crickets and cicadas are singing.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

EDIT 9/12/23 -- There is a great-horned owl hoo-hooing outside the house.  :D