New Friends!

Spring may be late this year but its arrival has brought some exciting new feathered friends to Bon Bon Pond.  Today we spotted our first ever male Indigo Bunting.  What a beauty!  He spent a good share of the day commuting between the Dogwood and the hearts feeder.  He soon discovered he didn’t have to crane his neck inside to eat but rather could slip inside the bars and enjoy his meal safely away from the bigger birds.  He really liked that particular feeder.  Hope to get a photo of this gorgeous guy soon.  He is truly a feast for the eyes!

Early last week a huge flock of gray, white and yellow avians flew in and I flew up to my bible—Stan Tekiela’s Birds of Minnesota.  The visitors are Yellow-rumped Warblers and, unfortunately, they are just passing thru.  These birds are lovely and oh so sweet,  Friendly little things they are absolutely everywhere!  According to Stan, these birds “rarely visit suet feeders.”  Apparently my throng didn’t get the memo because they are just crazy for all varieties of suet—especially the peanut butter nuggets I buy at Menards.  That particular feeder hangs outside my bedroom window so I can sit in bed and watch the little sweethearts eat.  In a short period of time they have really captured my heart and have filled a void left by the departure of my beloved Juncos, Redpolls and Pine Siskins.

My buddy Peanut, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, is still here although I fear he will leave soon.  Last year he left me on my birthday, May 17.

Tomorrow it’s time to dust off the hummer feeders and prepare for the arrival of the Ruby-throats!  Mother's Day always seems to be their calling card but with the late spring, I’m not so sure.  There certainly aren’t any flowers up yet.  

Affectionately known as "butter butts," these adorable  Warblers are a welcome addition to any backyard birder's feeders!

And how they love their suet!