Eastern Bluebirds

An Eastern Bluebird doing its best 'angry bird' impression.

Several Eastern Bluebirds visited my feeder station on Christmas Eve. One tried hanging from the suet feeder a couple times, but it is much easier to eat the suet that has fallen to the grass. So far, they haven't seemed to realize that I put out dried meal worms for them. Or they have realized and just don't care for them. The more frequently they come, the better.

Eastern Bluebird

Obviously, this was taken earlier in the spring. I like the photo, but hadn't gotten around to posting it.

Great Basin Birds

A Sage Sparrow poses on the top of a Greasewood. I was in the valley a little earlier this year, and while it was a record mild winter, bird numbers were a bit lower. The Sage Sparrows were common, as were Horned Larks, but not yet in the numbers that they will be soon. I only caught a couple glimpses of Sage Thrashers, one Vesper Sparrow, several Western Meadowlarks, and one Loggerhead Shrike. The raptors haven't quite shown up in the numbers that they were at the end of March last year. We did see a Prairie Falcon, a Golden Eagle, and several Rough-legged Hawks.

Mountain Bluebirds were also present in decent sized flocks on the previously intensively cattle-grazed areas. Maybe the insects are better there. They would fly all around me in those areas.

I didn't get to spend too much time at Cave Lake State Park, due to the snow and mud, but I did get one walk along the Steptoe Creek Trail. A mixed flock of Bushtits and Golden-crowned Kinglets were working the willows over. Robins and Juncos were pretty much the only other birds I saw along the walk. Ravens and Magpies were also present.

An American Avocet walks the beach at Commins Lake. Several small (relative to the Avocet) plovers were accompanying the Avocet. I was excited, until I realized that they were Killdeer. Savannah Sparrows were also at the beach.

Cassin's Finches and a Mountain Bluebird

When I was driving back down from Mount Wheeler, I spotted a tree with two pairs of Cassin's Finches and a Mountain Bluebird. They all just seemed to be sitting there enjoying the sunshine.



The Bluebird stretching his wings. Mountain Bluebirds are relatively common in the area, but I have had a hard time getting a picture of one.

Cassin's Finches are very similar to Purple Finches. Cassin's females have stronger wing bars, a less distinct white eyebrow, and more streaking on the back.

Bluebirds

You can see the difference between Mountain Bluebirds and Western Bluebirds in this picture. Mountain Bluebirds are all blue (top right) and Western Bluebirds have red-orange on their breast and back.

November Bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Maybe these two are prospecting for the next spring. Or maybe they were just curious. They were part of a flock of six. I took this and the Downy pictures at Mounds State Park.