Welcome to the Daily Bucket. This is the place to record observations of any natural phenomena you might have encountered during your day to day activities. Tadpoles in the neighborhood pond, the arrival of a Chimney Swift, an unexpected meteor shower, the last flowers of autumn. All are important contents of the bucket. These reports then become a valuable resource, every bug, bud, and bird - each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
One Downy Woodpecker
Gooseville, WI
This summer two pairs of Downy Woodpeckers decided that they really liked the sugar water in the oriole feeders on the back deck. Of course, when their families fledged the new habit was taught and shared by all. I now have eleven woodpecker yardbirds hooked on sugar.
Two Downy Woodpeckers
Three Downy Woodpeckers
They have also learned the intracacies of hummingbird feeder perches. The Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers live here year round and normally feed on suet and sunflower seeds.
I caught this juvenile Red-bellied just this afternoon. Sorry that the pictures are a bit off, I was shooting through windows that are a bit smeared by dog noses and bark-splatters. So, let's tally twelve odd birds in Gooseville.
He watched and learned.
So what's new in your yard or neighborhood? Got odd birds? Everyone is welcome here and encouraged to leave a note in the bucket.