Spring Birds from our backyard

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Chipping Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

We are still deciding whether or when to go to Cape May or Garrett Mountain or Central Park to see the spring bird migration. In the meantime, we are catching a few in our backyward.

Garret Mountain Birds

Inspired by Tom Walsh's and Dan Murray's posts to the New Jersey Birding list, we decided to go to Garret Mountain in West Paterson, NJ, in hopes of seeing the Hooded Warbler. We're glad we did because this is an adorable little bird.

We also saw a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, an Eastern Towhee, and a Phoebe

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet


Eastern Towhee


Phoebe

The first thing we saw was a chipmunk with its mouth full.


Chipmunk

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet from Sandy Hook

 

 

The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is one of our favorites, even if it rarely shows its ruby crown. It's so small and darts around so quickly, but it really liked these flowers so it stopped to pose for a few photos.

Ruby Crowned Kinglets Return

 

 

We stayed outside for most of the day on Saturday since good weather is such a rarity around these parts. All was quiet and Chris noticed a very small bird in the trees. At first she thought it was a hummingbird since it was moving about quickly. We eventually determined it was a few ruby-crowned kinglets. We watched them dart off the branches to get insects, and when you watch long enough and get lucky, you can even see the ruby crown on the male. The bottom picture shows a bit of the ruby crown, but occasionally there is a large brilliant flash of ruby. If the sun keeps shining and they return today , we'll try for a better picture of this little cutie showing off his crown.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet