A new bird showed up in my yard! It's a deep blue and as you can see, about the size of a cardinal. Looking at net pics I think it might be a blue grosbeak. A little brown on the wing, but otherwise all blue. Anyone seen one and know?
New visitor! Blue grosbeak?? ...and now Indigo Bunting
- Thread starter plinker
- Start date
Hey Plinker,
I live in upstate SC not to far from Mid Georgia and we had Indigo Buntings show up at our feeders today. I can't tell if it is or not from your picture, but it's a stunning bird to keep a look out for this time of year with similar coloring.
I live in upstate SC not to far from Mid Georgia and we had Indigo Buntings show up at our feeders today. I can't tell if it is or not from your picture, but it's a stunning bird to keep a look out for this time of year with similar coloring.
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Kev, wow, those buntings are intense. They look a little smaller than this bird. We commonly see blue jays and blue birds but this one is new. I'll try another pic or two. 
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I think you're right about the Blue Grosbeak. I can now just make out a chestnut wing bar and bigger than Indigo Bunting. This is also their spring/summer breeding range. Spectacular!!!
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One of the most rewarding parts about backyard pesting is seeing the native birds flourish.
My backyard songbird zone is doing GREAT since I started dropping the hammer on the pests. We have two new kinds of sparrows this year that I didn't see last year. Cardinals are doing great; even getting a little bold. Robins continue to just do their thing; don't really give a damn about feeders. Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos.
My backyard songbird zone is doing GREAT since I started dropping the hammer on the pests. We have two new kinds of sparrows this year that I didn't see last year. Cardinals are doing great; even getting a little bold. Robins continue to just do their thing; don't really give a damn about feeders. Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos.
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Yes Smaug, and I have been surprised at how many different types of woodpeckers frequent the seed. I guess I've always thought of them as bug types, but you learn something new all the time.
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I've gone exclusively to red pepper suet for woodpeckers. Squirrels don't eat it and birds love it. With the drizzle today that really brings in the squirrels to the feeders the Prod was for the 15 yarder and Ultimate Sporter for the 30 yarder.
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Looks like a Blue Grosbeak to me. They haven't showed up yet in California, but I did see a Black-headed Grosbeak a day or two back. We have a pair of Red-tailed hawks nesting on our place, they have three chicks hatched out this year.
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Thanks KEV I'll try the red pepper suet.
JohnL57- that's a good pic. I'm certain that's my bird. We have an owl, redtail hawk and another falcon/kite type bird I haven't ID'd yet.
I've been on beaver patrol for a few days and need to get back to the squirrels. My pond spills into a large creek then nearby river and we seem to have a beaver welcome sign somewhere in the vicinity. I've taken out three recently.
JohnL57- that's a good pic. I'm certain that's my bird. We have an owl, redtail hawk and another falcon/kite type bird I haven't ID'd yet.
I've been on beaver patrol for a few days and need to get back to the squirrels. My pond spills into a large creek then nearby river and we seem to have a beaver welcome sign somewhere in the vicinity. I've taken out three recently.
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