Working in the backyard...

Despite battling a cold, I tried to get some more yard work completed. Today, I put in an hour removing some of the "Buddleias" that I had cut back a few weeks ago and removing most of the old "Echinacea purpurea" or Purple Coneflower. If you are wondering why I am doing this now and did not do so in the fall it is because I leave everything as is through Fall and Winter, to provide food and shelter to the birds and other visitors to the garden.

The garden was quite lively as far as activity and sounds, with Red-winged Blackbirds singing and visiting the feeders; Mockingbirds were also flying around establishing their territory, maybe they will nest again in the Colorado Spruce as they have done in the past few years. The male Eastern Towhee, was also singing and I took some time to listen and attempt to mimic its call. I thought I did pretty decent and for a while, it seemed I was getting him to respond when I copied his call or so it seemed. Other birds observed during my work included a Song Sparrow several White-throated Sparrows, Starlings, Robins, Cardinals, House Finches, a Brown Thrasher, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, 4 Monk Parakeets and a lone American Goldfinch. I also noticed my first Bumble Bee of the season; however, no sign of any warblers as yet.

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