The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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October 2, 2019
Pacific Northwest
September was a very wet month in the Pacific Northwest this year, more than twice as much precipitation as normal so I’d been getting a little slack with my birdbaths, including the one outside the kitchen window. The other day I noted it was pretty scuzzy though with fir needles and junk. Cleaned and refilled it and not five minutes later I had some surprise visitors. Crossbills!
We haven’t seen any crossbills since summer when a couple of families were regular visitors at the seed feeder. Once the fledglings were well-grown they were all off. Red Crossbills are considered residents but they come and go depending on what conifer cones are productive at the moment. In the past I’ve seen them intermittently between May and August. This is the first time I’ve seen them in the fall. They have not been visiting the seed feeder since early August. Clearly they are in the neighborhood though and noticed the clean water for bathing.
Photo-record of their brief visit:
That was cool enough, and then two more flew in. Babies from this summer. Much less color in their plumage but definitely crossbills, and following mom.
A good view of their backs shows one is female, one is male.
Once the crossbills vacated the birdbath, other small birds showed up to enjoy the clean not-quite-so-full birdbath. I had to top it up an hour later.
Birdbaths are helpful even when it’s been raining. Worth keeping them clean and full for the convenience and pleasure of birds foraging invisibly in the woods. You never know when you might get some surprise visitors!
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Overcast and showers today in the PNW islands. Cool temps, upper 50s.
What’s up in nature in your area today?
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