Friday, January 13, 2012

Outside My Window

Today was a great day to stay inside and make a pot of chili and birdwatch.
It starting snowing last night and snowed lightly most of today. I'm guessing 3-4 inches. It's hard to tell with the wind blowing it around.
What a feeding frenzy the birds had today!! Most of the feeders have been emptied and I put out the second block of suet.
 I counted at least thirty just out of my kitchen window where these pictures were taken. I have another feeder behind the house and one in the front.
Male Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Female Red-Bellied Woodpecker

The Yellow-Shafted Flicker showed up very briefly. It doesn't come to the feeders often but finds food the other birds have hidden. This one is a male. Female's don't have the black "mustache".

Downy Woodpecker

And the Downy's look-alike but larger cousin, Hairy Woodpecker. The Hairy also has a longer bill.

Female Cardinal

The Cardinals appeared in big numbers today. I was starting to think I didn't have a lot anymore.




The one-legged Cardinal??  Not really. He kept tucking his other leg up in his feathers. Must have been cold sitting on that ice.


American Goldfinch


Birds use an incredible amount of energy to stay warm on cold winter days and can eat their own body weight of food per day.

Hey, this little feeder is just my size!                    Carolina Wren


Birds also stay warm by fluffing their plumage. This traps air, creating an insulating layer.


The Blue Jays make sure they get their fair share. Or more. Usually it's more. Actually, I would go even further and say it's always more.


Tufted Titmouse

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Nuthatches can be quite agressive at the feeders for their size. This one is spreading it's wings to try to keep the other birds away.
The House Finches don't look too concerned, and keep right on eating.

And the last photo is a Black-Capped Chickadee. These are very common in our area, but for some reason or another, I'm not seeing as many this year. So I was happy I managed to get a picture of one.

10 comments:

  1. Love the photos. You sure get lots of birds there, you must really keep those feeders full and have a nice habitat for them. You are right also, the Bluejay's always make sure they get more.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  2. Pearl! How in the world do you get all those birds?? What a gift that is! I sat for 3 hours, just praying, just begging for a bird to come...finally, 2 juncos came.
    What am I doing wrong? I want those sweet birds you have!?

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  3. We had to refill the bird feeders today --after only filling them yesterday. The birds flocked to our feeders ALL day long. Poor things. I know they were cold.... Glad I could feed them.

    I have almost all of the same birds that you have. Our Bluejays are not around here in Winter --but come back in Spring. Our Flickers DO come to the suet feeders.... But they have competition with the Downys and Red-bellied.

    Do you have Eastern Bluebirds? I love ours --and we have several around here. We also have Juncos.

    Great pictures, Pearl.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. Sissy, What seeds do you use? I use mostly sunflower seeds,safflower seeds and suet.
    I also keep some seeds out in the summer, just not as much, so they stay and nest in the area.
    Keep trying. If there's always food there eventually they will stay. Good Luck!

    Betsy, Yes we have bluebirds. They just don't show up everyday. I did a post a few weeks ago on Bluebirds.

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  5. Beautiful photos! Especially the one of the aggressive nuthatch. Hope you don't get too much more snow! Jx

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  6. Beautiful photos! Were you outside or taking pictures through a window? If you were out, the birds didn't seem too concerned. Thanks.

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  7. Claudia..I was taking them through the window.

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  8. Lovely bird portraits. I think my favorite is the Carolina Wren. He looks like he might be stuck? Cute image.

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  9. I am so envious.It must be tempting just to sit and watch them all day.I would never get anything done!

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