With recent spring-like weather (at long last) and thawing of ground,
earthworms of all sizes are emerging and abundant in our small city
residential backyard. Common Grackle have arrived to nest in neighbor's
old stump of a tree held up by thick entanglement of Virginia Creeper and
they have pretty much taken over my small in-ground pond and platform
feeder offering sunflower in shells. I plan to cover pond with wire fencing
that will allow smaller birds to access which seemed to work last year.
Yesterday morning at 8 a.m. I was much surprised to see a large splash of
brown among a sea of black and discovered a Brown Thrasher feasting on
earthworms. While I was off to Augusta County photographing the Western
Tanager, my husband reported the thrasher remained throughout the
morning. Upon my return early afternoon, it was still there and remained
until 5:30, actively feeding and I managed to take quite a few pictures,
some of which I have posted to the following web page:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/BrownThrasher_link.htm
P.S. With grackles building nests, a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds showed
up yesterday. Now, where is that sling-shot.....
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
Digital Photo Journal, including Birds of Virginia: www.birdsofvirginia.com
Brenda Tekin, Financial & Personnnel Administrator
Department of Sociology, UVa
539 Cabell Hall / PO Box 400766
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4766
(434) 924-6509 / bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
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