My heart smiled at the sight of the scruffy little bird splashing about in the garden fountain.
He had good reason to be a bit disheveled, likely having just arrived from a long migratory journey that began somewhere far to the north.
The yellow-rumped warbler wanted a bath and he seemed a bit indignant that I was watching.
Not only was I pleased that another cycle of nature was emerging, but also thrilled that a bunch of old friends were again showing up to brighten my winter garden.
I’ve learned from readers how attached they become to our wildlife neighbors.
Providing nectar for the resident hummingbirds or seed for native songbirds can be a year-round labor of love, but the seasonal visitors take us on an emotional roller coaster with their arrivals and departures.
There is great anticipation and the buzzing of social media and birding blogs when the magnificently colored hooded orioles arrive in the spring.
Bird lovers spend vast sums on 10-pound bags of sugar to make nectar for them, and those jars of grape jelly are not cheap, either. But it’s money well spent for the joy that these playful visitors bring us while here.
Many of you have expressed deep sadness when September comes and the orioles depart for warmer temperatures in Mexico. It’s like saying goodbye to the kids as they head back to college after a summer visit.
The arrival of the yellow-rumped warblers brings the joy back to our gardens.
This colorful bird, also known affectionately as a “butterbutt” because of the distinctive yellow patch at the base of its tail, was the first I had seen this fall. It meant others were on the way, and by now they are swarming through garden foliage looking for food, bringing color, animation and excitement to the winter landscape.
There was also great comfort in knowing “the kids” were safely home for another season.
Yellow-rumped warblers are not seed eaters, so they won’t be attracted to your seed feeders. But they are one of our most common winter birds, and will often be seen enjoying a garden fountain or flying as a group into your plants in search of insects, small grubs, weevils, gnats, spiders, plant lice and flies.
They are very social birds, so if you see one, you will likely see many more. While their yellow rump is the best way to identify this warbler, the spot may not be visible while they are perched. Additional clues are a bright yellow dot on the top of the crown, yellow shoulder patches and throat bib. Males have the most intense coloration, while the females have more muted coloration.
ing the warbler as a common winter visitor will be the white-crowned sparrow. They have also arrived, but unlike the warbler, they do enjoy seeds offered by bird-loving homeowners. As I write this, there are several gathered at my seed feeder, just a few feet from my window.
Like the warbler, the white-crowned sparrow’s summer range extends north to the arctic slopes where it breeds. They will commonly be found throughout the county all winter, returning north beginning in April. They rarely breed while here.
I spotted another one of my favorite visitors to Mt. Hoo this past week.
A small and colorful American kestrel was perched on a branch and enjoying a late afternoon break while feeding on a Jerusalem cricket.
While this is a resident species in San Diego, their numbers do increase as winter migrants arrive. Additionally, their range expands from summer breeding locations, allowing them to be more frequently seen.
The kestrel is a colorful and energetic raptor. While only measuring about 10 to 12 inches in length, they are the smallest and most widespread North American falcon. The male kestrel is the most brightly colored with slate blue wings and crown, rusty brown and black back, rusty brown tail feathers tipped with black and white, buffy white chest with black spots, and distinctive vertical dark slashes below and behind the eyes.
The best time to spot the kestrel is mornings or afternoons when they are most frequently out hunting, but they do extend their hunting period during the shorter days of winter.
Because of their smaller size, this predator feeds primarily on grasshoppers and large insects, smaller mammals, birds and amphibians.
Don’t let the chill of winter or the drab, shorter days spoil your enjoyment of our wild bird neighbors.
The yellow-rumped warblers, white-crowned sparrows and colorful American kestrel are just a few of our “winter family” to keep an eye out for.
Seasons may change and so do the faces of our wildlife visitors. Hopefully, they make your heart smile, too.
Cowan is a freelance columnist. Email [email protected] or visit erniesoutdoors.blogspot.com.
