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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Hard Rock Bird Cafe is back in business!

About a year ago, I opened the Hard Rock Bird Cafe while I was volunteering at Balcones Canyonlands NWR in the hill country of Texas.  My bird cafe there was run kind of on the sly since the biologist there was not in favor of volunteers putting out feeders.  Some refuges allow feeders, and others don’t.  I like putting out feeders so I can enjoy the avian visitors.  Feeders are OK at this refuge, so I put a couple up the first day I arrived.  I’ve had a couple of birds visiting, but it has taken close to three weeks for the feeders to be discovered.

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I’ve had one lowly American goldfinch show up occasionally, but in the last couple of days some Carolina chickadees have discovered the free lunch program.

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Today, a pine warbler showed up.  Who would have thought a warbler would visit a seed feeder?  Not me.  I thought warblers only ate insects.

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And then, a tufted titmouse stopped by for a snack.  I have quite a few favorite birds, and the titmouse is one of them.  When next I buy birdseed, I’ll be switching to a heavier mix with more black oil sunflower seeds in it.  Most birds just kick out those reddish brown seeds onto the ground anyway.  Can’t seem to find my niger/thistle seed sock feeder.  Hmm…wonder what happened to that?  You wouldn’t think I could lose something like that in the limited amount of storage space I have, would you?  I’ll have to rummage through all the outside storage areas when I get a chance.  In a few weeks, I’ll also put out my hummingbird feeders, so the Hard Rock Bird Cafe can offer an extended menu.  :)

 

The bird tour this morning was very successful!  We found 7 Mississippi sandhill cranes.  Didn’t see Stumpy, but Crossbill came through for us.  She and her mate were found feeding within  50’ or so of I-10.  The folks on the tour this morning were from Alabama and Minnesota.  There’s always a bit of pressure to produce views of the desired species, so I was relieved at our good fortune.  :)

IMG_9080As Emma and I enjoyed the late afternoon outside the rig, I found this colorful insect on the screen door.  It has the required six legs, head, thorax, abdomen, and antennae, but I don’t know what kind of insect it is.  Any ideas out there?  I also don’t know if you call that a tongue extending out exploring the terrain of the door frame.  So much to learn, and so little time!  :( 

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

20 comments:

  1. glad your 'bird cafe' is a busy one!!..that bug is a 'nasty' looking insect!!!

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  2. If no one ID's your insect you can send it to What's That Bug.

    http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

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  3. What lucky birds! We just got a humming bird feeder today, can't wait to put it out.

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  4. I like bugs! Not in my house or when we had a garden, eating the produce, but t their variety of shapes and colors is intriguing!

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  5. I am so envious of you who get Tufted Titmouses to your feeders. They are on my life list of birds to see. Love the Pine Warbler as well!!
    I how the American Goldfinches appear out of no where as soon as I put out niger seed.

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  6. Looks like the next gig will be bird photography for NGS. Great shots!!

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  7. Judy ... see if it might be a milkweed bug. It sure looks like the ones I photographed last fall, but mine were more orangy than yellow. Here's a link with some photos for comparison.

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  8. and here's the link ... duh! http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=milkweed+bug&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=W41cTb7LOoH68Aa0oJTcDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CEMQsAQwAg&biw=1440&bih=964

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  9. You certainly have a knack for not only attracting beautiful birds but capturing them with your photography skills. Very interesting bug but don't have a clue what it is.

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  10. The Hard Rock Bird Cafe--once again, Judy, you crack me up with your titles and posts. I'll never see or hear about another Hard Rock Cafe without thinking about your Bird Cafe.

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  11. So glad you could open up your cafe. Eventually you'll have more birds than you can feed. We hope. Because then you'll take lots more pictures for us to see.

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  12. More great bird pics, what can I say!

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  13. I'm hoping a little resident RV mouse hasn't eaten up all your Niger seed.

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  14. We'll have to wait till after the freezes to put our hummingbird feeder out , don't know when they arrive back in MO. Glad to see you opened the Cafe. you bird friends will be happy. be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  15. I love the Hard Rock Bird Cafe and will enjoy meeting it's patrons, in the future!

    Cyndi and Stumpy @ RVly Ever After

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  16. We get tons of Tufted Titmouse around Canyon Lake, TX..and Georgtown, TX. One place in Texas wouldn't allow bird feeders ..they said they attract snakes...Have you ever heard of that??

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  17. OMG, Judy. You need to enter that header picture in any kind of contest you can find. I am sure it would take first, second and third prize. Just amazing... Loved all the crane pictures in your last post, too.

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  18. Are you offering music at the cafe?? That might increase the traffic flow!

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  19. Gosh, all the varieties of birdies we would be feeding if we were at home! I love the titmouse too, especially their little song.

    That's not some off color box elder bug is is? Whatever, I hate to tell him, but he's ugly!

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  20. OK, this post does it. I'm heading off to finally buy a bird feeder. Your photos are gorgeous. Maybe I can finally get a bird photo, but it surely won't be as good as yours...and I won't even know the name of the bird probably.

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