Bird Ramblings - Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of our Woodpeckers and also one of the more common. While birding in the Delbert Hunter Arboretum on Sunday Sept 13th, our phone app "Merlin" picked up the Downey's call. We searched for 10 minutes before we finally found her on this snag. We know its's a female because it lacks the red patch on the back of the head that so easily identifies the male. We are so fortunate to have the great birding locations of the Arboretlum and Dallas City Park so close to Dallas Retirement Village.

Bird Ramblings - Goldfinches

It's that time of year when American Goldfinches are filling up on Sunflower seeds from the Community Garden adjacent to the Village Apartments here at Dallas Retirement Village. They are a common species here at DRV especially in early September when they can easily be seen in large number when the Sunflowers mature. This Goldfinch looks a little ragged but is simply molting into its non-breeding plumage.

 

Bird Ramblings - Starlings

 This is a European Starling, one of the most common birds to be seen here at Dallas Retirement Village, virtually seen here every month of the year. This photo was taken last Friday, see Checklist. It shows the uniquely heavy spotting of the non-breeding plumage. We are more used to seeing them in their breeding plumage in which they are almost totally black with a bright yellow beak.  This is not a native bird. They were introduced to the United States in New York's Central Park in the 1890's and are now spread throughout the United States.