5 May 2026 Tuesday 
starling, downy woodpecker, robin, house sparrow

today i tapped at the glass to shoo off this big
starling that showed up for the first time i noticed
yesterday. i did this several times, as he keeps coming
back to feverishly peck at the suet. he has depleted the
two blocks in the cage feeder at an incredible rate. this
is the first starling i've seen at our feeders. yesterday
a big red robin kept watch from the top of the evergreen
bush which adjoins the feeder area. i think they have a
nest in there. the robin tried to scare off the starling
a few times. he may be a bit bigger than the starling. i 
didn't see the robin today, though. i've read that starlings
can be big bullies and hog all the food if you let them. 
this one might be alone, as i only see one at a time. it's 
possible it's not the same one each time. 

i also saw a little downy woodpecker at the suet. i hope
he doesn't get scared off by the starling. i only saw one
house sparrow at the feeder today, but all of this was 
before i had to leave for work, which was later than usual.