Speaking of extravaganzas, has anyone ever encountered so many Palm Warblers as this Spring? They seem to be everywhere I go, except Casey's convenience stores, which harbor ECDO's, of course.
Bill Scheible Cedar Rapids ------Original Message------ From: Ann Johnson Sender: [email protected] To: Iowa birds ReplyTo: Ann Johnson Subject: [ia-bird] Oriole Extravaganza Sent: May 5, 2011 10:45 AM I keep thinking I should head out to see what this latest front brought in, but the entertainment in the front yard has been too much fun to leave. Just for some perspective, my feeder operation consists of two poles with several feeders each. We have two suet blocks, a large black oil sunflower feeder, a hummingbird feeder and a jelly dish on one. The other consists of mixed seed and fruit, thistle, jelly and oranges, and a water pan. Yesterday I had 22 species either at the feeders or directly on the ground below doing cleanup. Today started with my first Orchard Oriole of the season, a nice fully adult male. I am now up to at least nine different orioles, all males in varying states of maturation and including two Orchards (one adult and one first spring male). Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have arrived to join their more colorful mates. Some are picking at the thistle while most prefer the sunflowers. Right now one is working on the suet block. Rather entertaining is watching the Brown Thrasher hover as he picks at the suet. A Gray Catbird just flew in for his morning chow down of grape jelly. Hopefully Indigo Buntings will arrive soon to complete the color array. Hope you all are enjoying the spring as well. Ann Johnson Norwalk --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected] Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
