Chipping sparrow and song sparrow are back

 Song sparrow(s) returned a few weeks ago; noticed chipping sparrow(s) yesterday.  And course the house sparrows.  Fun!

Mystery bird visited yard!

Sparrow-size, mute brown.  Wren maybe?  No idea.  Made a chattering sound, I thought it was a squirrel at first.  Looked with dismay at the millet-filled feeder, then went into the pole bean "bush".

Goldfinches eating seeds from backyard wild evening primrose!

Yay!

House sparrows eating Japanese beetles I think! (STILL NEAR-ZERO BEETLE ISSUES THIS YEAR)

While there's an occasional Japanese beetle feasting on bean leaves, it's extremely minimal, to the point that all I do is move them over to the wild evening primrose.  I've been noticing the sparrows (house mostly I think) hanging around in the various vegetation.  Well, today I saw a house sparrow chasing a flying big beetle of some sort -- maybe a Japanese Beetle?  Google says it wouldn't be odd.  Very cool if the sparrows are helping out!

Cucumber beetles continue to be a complete non-issue, haven't seen any other than that one several weeks ago.

Hummingbird eating from wild evening primrose flowers!!

Happened to look out the window at the right time and saw a hummingbird flitting from flower to flower among the wild evening primrose!  Very cool, didn't know they like that.  The yard also has zinnias (which I've seen them eat from in past years) and scarlet runner bean flowers currently, so hopefully lots to attract them back.

Song sparrow, FOY in the backyard!

Sitting in the tray feeder.

Welcome!

Zinnia seeds being eaten! (probably the house sparrows since those are the only birds this winter)

^^^

Hollyhock flower(seed) branches placed into yard for birds

Took the long (very long!) hollyhock flower stems off the front plants and put them into the yard in three spots along the west bed, supported by tomato cages (and most cut in half so that they stay upright).  The house sparrows had been eating them when they were out front, so hopefully someone will enjoy them in the yard as well.

So, if holly hocks spring up in the yard next year, this is why!

House sparrows eating basil seeds! (dried on plant)

Must be quite the flavour punch compared to millet!!

Song sparrows, house sparrows, and junco in yard at same time

Fun!

Juncos! On roof while I was in yard. Surely they'll come back?

First time this fall seeing juncos in the yard!  Bag timing as I was out there so they didn't come down, but hopefully they'll be back.

Birds eating lettuce seeds from the plant

Saw sparrows (house, I think) having a buffet of lettuce seeds from the Ruby plants I let flower.  I've collected a good amount of seeds already; happy to share.

Merlin in willow trees

That noise is unmistakeable, and the app confirmed it.  With the oodles of sparrows coming to the yard these days, I hope it's not a matter of time before the merlin comes and takes one from the yard...

Sparrows galore; millet goes fast!

So fun.  Seeing lots of house sparrows, chipping sparrows (feeding a young'un), and song sparrows.  The occasional goldfinches (they're not as fond as the platform feeder, so not getting tons like I did last year, but too bad so sad).  The millet is going like gangbusters.

So many birds after the storms! Including chipping sparrow!

Several periods of intense rain today, in between which the birds were excited to visit.  At one point, there was a cardinal, a house sparrow, a song sparrow, and two goldfinches!  And at another time there was a chipping sparrow sharing time with a goldfinch.  A song sparrow was quite territorial later, driving away the gold finches.

Great to have today's rain, really needed it.

Birds a-plenty! Goldfinches, house sparrows, cardinals, song sparrows

Fun!  Quite a few visits throughout the day these days.

Removed the new fine-mesh feeder yesterday because the goldfinches had stopped using it and they seemed to actually prefer the big tray.

So, now it's back to the small millet-only tray on one side, and the big tray on the other side offering sunflower chips (fine but passed through mesh first to reduce dust on ground), peanut pieces, millet, and nutrisaff.  I have the green soft mesh seed-catcher tucked right up underneath the big tray to catch the dust and it seems to be working great.

Yesterday evening I put the bird bath back out, saw one taker so far.

Goldfinches have discovered the new mesh feeder; house sparrow visited platform; merlin heard from house

Saw three goldfinches at once this evening. 

A house sparrow visited the platform briefly.

Also, this evening is the second or third time I heard the distinctive calls of a merlin, from the house.  Didn't sound super close by, but, close enough.

Bluejay

Saw a bluejay today eating from the main tray!  Likely ate peanut pieces, and/or the cracked corn.

Chickadee

Visited the feeder this evening.  Couldn't tell which food was the preference.

So, so far in the last week since putting back the feeder, have seen song sparrows, goldfinches, and chickadees.

Birdfeeder back

Put back the birdfeeder today, only with the two trays.  (Millet in the small tray, other stuff in the bigger tray.)  Haven't had it out since.... last fall?

A house finch couple has a home in the neighbour's hedge thing and often hang out in the dead lilac tree, hopefully they'll check out the offerings soon.