A longtime rural resident, I use my 60 plus years of life learning to opinionate here and elsewhere on the “interweb” on everything from politics to environmental issues. A believer in reasonable discourse rather than unhelpful attacks I try to give positive input to the blogesphere, so feel free to comment upon rural issues or anything else posted here. But don’t be surprised if you comments get zapped if you are not polite in your replys.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

What bird is this?

This little fellow was found on our doorstep this morning, at first glance we thought it was one of our regular Chickadees but on closer examination it is obviously not.  The nearest we can come is either a. Eastern Pheobe or Eastern Wood Pewee but according to our 'bible' Petersons Field Guide neither is exactly right. Note the all black head, back and chest, it has faint wingbars not seen in these pictures.








Replys to this question will be appreciated and once identified the info will be added to this post.

Update
A further look at him and we think it might possible be a Black Throated Blue Warbler although it is a very dark blue and almost black unless examined very closely.......

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Unusual Downy Woodpecker?

We have many woodpeckers visiting our window feeder and in recent times they are starting to encourage their youngsters to join them at the feeder so we see lots of then competing for space with the Rose breasted Grosbeaks, Goldfinches, Red and White Nuthatches and off course the Chickadees.
Along with the Red Bellied Woodpeckers and the Hairy Woodpeckers we have several Downys, one of the recently seen young ones has what appears to be an unusual head marking, the normal small red marking on the back of its head extends almost all the way to the beak similar to the European Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the southern U.S. Ladder Backed or a more local Three Toed but with a red head not yellow.