Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher…with gnat!
I thought I had more bug-licious pictures from this spring, but this is all I have been able to find upon review… As an aside, I was reminded recently of the number of bug parts allowed in human food before it can be labeled defective.
When I first went through my pictures of this Baltimore Oriole I thought he had a strange green cast to the side of his face. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a worm.
Baltimore Oriole with worm
Summer is finally here officially, bugs, heat, humidity and all. The forecast seems to imply spontaneous thunderstorms could happen at any time. Hot weather tends to make me feel like doing less, but the days are longer, so it’s kind of a guilt-trip situation if it’s still light and I feel like I haven’t done enough. Let’s see. This morning I went to the bank to sign some papers, stopped back home before I went to the dentist, then made four stops for food items, came home, took a nap on the futon after I put the groceries away, played piano while the budgies napped, cleaned the dining room, then fed the birds. Then made guacamole. Why do I feel as if I haven’t accomplished anything today?
And who knew cardinals ate bugs? Somehow they always struck me as being vegetarian. The guy below is enjoying one of those juicy little green guys.
Oh well, I’m off to bed early so I can get up before dawn and see if I can find more bugs, or birds that eat them.
Orioles eat worms? I thought they were definitely not ground feeders? Really excellent picture of the Gnatcatcher. I just saw a bird perching on our suet feeder that I couldn’t figure. It looked very fat, and was a kind of light grey, with dark markings on the face. The face looked kind of flat, like an owl’s, and it swivelled its head like an owl, but it seemed way too small to be an owl, though a little too big to be a songbird. I took a picture but the picture is way too fuzzy.
Hmm, don’t know from your description, might be a juvenile something-or-other (baby birds can be most deceiving). My first thought was maybe a female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Send me the picture if you like, fuzzy or whatever, maybe I can figure it out. You get so many more birds than I do in your yard!
I love this post, Lisa. I sense a bit of your sense of humor. Love the oriole with the worm. I can relate, I am having a hard time getting up to do another blog post. It’s hot, dry, the birds stay hidden in the heat, etc.
Thanks so much for your intuitive comment, Bob. The Endless Summer has taken on a new meaning. 🙂