May Birds: mostly around our yard

Though May is usually our biggest birding month, this May was a little disappointing in the birds we saw. We did add at least one bird to our life list, Stilt Sandpiper, though my photos aren't worth showing. There were far fewer yard birds, and those that passed through often stayed only one or two days (or hours.)

Some of my favourites are here.

White-crowned Sparrow

We had one or two of these here for several days, though I only saw a couple of their near cousins the White-throated.

Red-necked Grebe

On Luck Lake

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

A quarter mile from our yard in a wildlife planting.

 Swainson's Hawk 

A common sight along the road at the end of our lane.

 Harris's Sparrow

 

Wilson's Phalaropes

When I glimpsed these from the car window I thought they were something new, but after backing up to the slough, lo, they were phalaropes with legs! So often they are swimming and their legs are invisible.

Vesper Sparrow

I just heard a sad report that one out of eight species of birds is in danger of extinction. They did not name species, but I am very sure this prairie sparrow is not one of them. We see them everywhere.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

An exciting visitor to our yard, but he apparently didn't like the accommodations because I only saw him for an hour or so one morning.

Baltimore Oriole 

We think this Oriole and her mate are still in our yard, though I've been outside so little lately I can't be certain. However, she has not returned to my oranges since the first couple of days, and the male turned up his nose at them from the beginning. 

The American Goldfinch in the background, while he ignores the oranges, is a faithful visitor to my nyjer seed. I saw 2 pairs yesterday, June 19, so assume they are nesting.

 

Barn Swallow

We always have several pairs nesting in the yard. I make sure the garden shed door stays closed after two years where the babies broiled from the heat of the metal roof. Ray even leaves the large overhead shop door open a few inches so the parents can swoop in and out to feed the babies in the nests they persist in building in there.

 

We have our regular yard residents of course, among them the Yellow Warbler, House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Grey Catbird, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robin, as well as the birds I wouldn't miss if they were gone, the Common Grackles, House Sparrows, and Brown Cowbirds. It is never quiet in our yard.