Date: 6/17/26 1:56 pm From: Casey Rucker <autoblock...> Subject: Purple Finches back at feeders (Tucker)
Hi, all,
After a month or so hiatus, at least one pair of Purple Finches are back at the feeders. I seem to have seven pairs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks this year, and am getting regular visits from at least one Brown Thrasher. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are feeding their adorable chicks. There seems to be a big need for supplemental food here this June.
All, I have a bumper crop of babies birds this year! So many parents and fledglings visiting my feeders.
The Downy parents get the award for worst parents. They left their son in the tree that holds the suet feeder. Poor kid took days to figure it out and fell into the fish pond trying to get a drink. I got him out and back into the tree. Finally his tail feathers have come in and his life has improved drastically.
The cardinals, crows, ravens, mallards and jays all have fledglings visiting the feeders, yard and grown up fence row.
Best fledgling award goes to the Baltimore Oriole couple who took up residence in a sycamore across the highway. I hold my breath each time they fly across Rt 220. Dad showed up this afternoon with a fledgling at the orange/jelly feeder. This is a first for me! I have had adults for several years, but no youngsters.
Hope everyone is seeing lots of good bird babies too!
Date: 6/12/26 4:27 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Thrasher beat me to it
This morning while I was putting our bird feeders out, I noticed a medium size brown moth flopping around on the ground. When I leaned down for a closer look for identification, a brown thrasher ran over, grabbed it and disappeared into the bushes. I'm glad I don't have to compete with a thrasher for my vittles. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV
Date: 6/7/26 5:24 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Ravens doing well
Seems like Common Ravens are having a good season here in Southern WV. The pair nesting in the billboard in Princeton had three fledglings. A pair nesting in a billboard near Bluefield. A family of 5 have been at the Mercer County Landfill. The pair near us in Pipestem raised 2. There was a family of 5 at the entrance to Bluestone S.P. Early in the season we saw a pair with 1 fledgling in Camp Creek S.P. Yesterday, we saw a family of 3 over I-77 at Flat Top and a single bird at Ghent. Jim & Judy Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV
Date: 6/6/26 10:46 am From: MFowler <monty...> Subject: Warbler and mourning dove
Had a nice treat Friday morning while eating breakfast in a restaurant in Huntington - a male Yellow Warbler spent a few minutes in a tree right outside our booth. He looked like he was checking the tree branches for bugs.
I've also confirmed, yet again, that it is a miracle that enough Mourning Doves have survived to perpetuate the species. A nest in one of our cedar trees had three eggs. I found one egg cracked on the driveway under the next, with a fully-developed baby inside, and a few days later, two dead hatchlings without feathers dead on the driveway. No sign of the parents.
