What a birdy morning at Wingsong House! I slept in and the first bird I noticed in the yard was a beautiful, male Bullock’s Oriole eating from an orange slice! Speaking of orange slices, I bought this sign at the Dollar Store. It reminds me of Orange Bird, and I was hoping it might help attract Orioles who are attracted to the color orange. Well, it seems to have worked!
There were also some gorgeous, male Black-headed Grosbeaks so it’s definitely been added to the yard life list!
There were also some more juvenile species. I saw a bird that looked like a Sage Thrasher. Then I noticed it was following an adult Curve-billed Thrasher. Its beak is smaller and I read that it takes some time to develop the iconic curved bill. I watched them both scratch around the mulch for a bit. Then he/she sat for a bit in the open so I was able to get some good pics.
Another amazing observation was noticing an adult Canyon Wren (the state bird of Arizona) feeding some absolutely adorable juveniles!! First, I noticed them in the front yard. Then they went to the side yard. Then they flew away. Canyon Wrens are never very still! Finally, I noticed them by the pyracantha shrub in the backyard. I managed to get a pic of the parent feeding a fuzzy lil’ youngster!! I tell ya, there have been a lot of observations that have made me emotional but this one was a real tear-jerker.
While I was trying to nab pics of the fuzzsters, a sparrow hopped up on the AC unit! Its rufous crown made me think it was either a Chipping Sparrow or a Rufous-crowned Sparrow. However, someone in the AZ birding discord ID’ed it as a Rufous-winged Sparrow. Their comment:
“Rufous-winged Sparrow — Rufous-crowned are more towhee-like w/a white eye ring.”
Lastly, I’ve noticed this on more than one occasion. Mittens has been hanging around the side porch. There are no feeders here so I’m not sure why she/he is often there. No other birds really come to this area. Mittens is almost starting to feel like a “pet” bird. That’s not the right word, but I’ve felt the urge to put a little bowl of seed out there for her/him. Mittens Jr. was also hanging out there and at one point, I felt like Jr. was looking right at me as if asking for a handout! I know this can’t be possible. I also know that trying to feed “just them” is not a good habit to get into. It’s just a coincidence, but I do have a real affinity for Mittens.
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