Eurasian Invasion?

The backyard feeders

Are getting a lot of exciting visitors this year,

I'm thrilled to say...

The biggest thrill factor is

A pair of Eurasian Collared Doves!

They are clearly nesting nearby...

According to the Stokes field guide,

The doves (Streptopilia decaocto) 

Were introduced to the Bahamas,

And have spread to Florida,

With sightings in GA, LA, and AR,

And further expansion is expected...

According to Audubon,

which calls it the Ringed Turtle-Dove,

(Streptopelia risoria),

it was introduced in S. Calif., AZ, AL, and S. Florida...

Either way, they've made it to the middle of the country!

But which is it?

Or are they the same w/ a very minor discrepancy?

I'm an Ornithological Oaf on these things...

They certainly look the same...

When I first saw the doves,

I thought they were mourning doves...

But a voice in the back of my brain

Was telling me something was 'off' ...

They seemed really pale...

And there's that dark line on the back of the neck...

So I looked them up in the good books...

Turns out the tip of the tail is blunt also...

They are shy, polite creatures...

Below, they wait patiently for the sparrow to leave...

(More about that fellow later)...

Here's a mourning dove for comparison...

(Zenaida macroura)...

It's darker with dark spots on the wing tips...

The tail feathers come to a point...

And no collar...

This one is out in the farming community...

Mr. and Mrs. Mt. Bluebird

Have been nesting in the neighbor's birdhouse...

In June, the Mrs. was seen in our yard...

Gathering nature's tidbits for the nest...

But for the past few weeks now,

It's just Mr. Mt. Bluebird...

Who is seen daily,

Gathering grub for his brood...

He checks out the seed feeders but doesn't eat...

But he does drink water from the bird bath...

He has been very, very busy

Faithfully feeding his family...

Dashing here and there...

Until recently, we also enjoyed Mr. House Finch's visits...

His red head is a very brilliant crimson...

Here he's in one of our two apple trees...

This one now has small green apples...

Now the female finches 

Are abundant in our yard...

Along with their fledglings...

Another surprise visitor, a squirrel...

That discovered the sunflower seeds...

Now we know who was sneaking out at night,

Eating all the seeds up!

It was a mystery...

How a deer --or two-- could creep in

And not leave any 'calling cards' !

The feeders come inside at dusk now...

Esq. Red was here a couple days, is gone now...

Another unusual, exciting visitor...

A black-capped chickadee!

I may not be good at ID'ing bird calls,

But I know the chickadee's unique raspy song,

So quickly grabbed the camera...

And there it was,

Yesterday and today so far...

The goldfinches that first showed up weeks ago...

Have been very scarce of late...

But one male has come back

The past couple days...

His yellow is the brightest hue of sunshine...

Now, about that sparrow...

There are a couple male house sparrows...

This fellow in particular...a fledgling? ...

That are visiting every day...

Not only to eat...

But to lounge for hours on the feeder's ledge...

A safe haven til they develop their wings?

There's one in every crowd...

A few rowdy crows

Have found our Ornit Oasis,

Unwelcome new guests...

They show up in the morning,

Cawing loudly;

Who needs a rooster?

But fortunately they don't stay long.

The other unwelcome guests,

The brown-headed cowbirds,

Though pretty in their subtle way...

Have disappeared,

I'm happy to say!