When you're watching birds, you quickly notice the discrepancy between the birds you're seeing and the birds in Sibley/Peterson/Nat Geo/et al. The birds in the field guides have all helpfully posed out in the open, nicely lit, in perfect profile. You're seeing something flitting inside an oak, swimming in reeds or soaring directly into the sun.
But every now and then, you do get the classic bird-book look at them. One of the true pleasures of my backyard is that there is a favored perch that allows for absolutely perfect views of the birds.
Behold, Turdus migratorius:
This lofty perch is actually based in a neighbor's yard. If they ever sell the house, I may have to negotiate an easement or buy the pole from them.
Here's how it looks from our living room - eye level, open ocean/sky providing clear, uncluttered backdrop, and perfect lighting in the morning. From the birds' point of view, it offers a 360 degree view, but with cover close by so they can pop in quickly if needed. They can see the feeders and baths, nest trees, kids/parents, the ravens and hawks in the trees across the street - pretty much everything they care about.
Pole at the center of the photo, appropriate since it's the center of the yardiverse.
I often keep my point-n-shoot digital hanging off my scope in case I notice anything fun at the feeders or on the pole. (The pictures aren't perfect, since it's 45' away and I'm photographing through a window that develops a residue from fog/etc., but... acceptable.) Many of the visitors to the pole stop only briefly, so by the time I think to grab a photo, they're gone. Hummingbirds, finches and sparrows flit on and off the summit all day long. Some birds like to hang out a little longer, though.
What's a mockingbird without a place to sing? Our local rockstar has been warming up his pipes recently and I expect that the spring serenades will kick into high gear within a week or so. I'm not certain where the mockingbirds nest, but they're definitely nearby.
The real family values birds for our yard are the scrub jays. I can't say for sure, but I'm fairly certain they nest in the eucalyptus two yards over. The adults are around all year, though not quite as visible in winter (but the photo above was taken Friday morning, so it's not like they're absent).
The jays love to come up and survey the surroundings, and when their kids fledge, they quickly discover The Perch Pole. The one above showed up in 2008, probably just hours after fledging - look at its grey head, scruffy plumage and still baby-ish gape. The world may still be a mystery to this youngster, but at least it can see plenty of its surroundings.
The perch isn't just for seeing and being seen; sometimes it's just a nice place to soak up some sun and have a good stretch of the wings...
And sometimes it's a good place to go so you can avoid the mean ol' ravens who keep running you off. This young red-shouldered hawk isn't much of a threat to my corvid neighbors yet, but they have no intention of letting it feel welcome. The pole is just far enough from the ravens' trees to get some respite (and maybe spot a quick meal in one of the yards).
I never noticed the pole when we first looked at the house, but it's become one of the most important "amenities" here. Funny how that works out.