My efforts to attract more winter birds by expanding our feeders are working out - a little. We still have the Chickadees and Goldfinch that have always come to the sunflower feeders, but now we have a Hairy and a Downy Woodpecker coming to the suet feeders I put out. But nothing has touched the peanuts.
The big Hairy Woodpecker comes to the suet feeder outside the kitchen window. This is a male, with the two red patches on the back of the head.
It's a good deal bigger than the Downy Woodpecker, standing nearly 10" tall, a good deal bigger than the suet feeder itself.
I see the Downy more often at the suet feeder out in the yard, which is further away. This must be a female, as there are no red patches at all. In both feeders, the suet is disappearing fairly fast.
The Goldfinch come and go, in a busy flock of about 15 or 20, cheeping to each other as they fly in. Their colour has faded a lot since the breeding plumage of summer. They feed for 10 or 20 minutes, and then it's on to someone else's feeders. They just sit on the feeders and eat.
The Chickadees on the other hand, fly in to get a single seed, take it back to the tree and hold it under a claw while they hammer it open. They seem to work a lot harder for their food, and tend to be there most of the day constantly going back and forth from the Cedars.
One actually sat still on the tip of a Spruce branch for more than 3 seconds, so I got a picture in a fairly natural setting. I still find it's terribly hard to get these pictures exactly in focus. There are a lot of discards!
The sunflower feeders are actually 'squirrel-proof', and so far they've worked. But we do have a little Red Squirrel that comes and searches for seeds. He has to be content with what falls on the ground. Haven't got him in a good picture yet, but these are his tracks from one recent visit.
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It's been snowing here all day, with 3 or 4 inches of light fluffy snow on the ground now. At least it's turned the world white, and it now looks like winter. Our walk in the woods was a much harder slog today through the snow than it has been the last few times. Looks like tomorrow morning I'll be snowblowing. The yard below looks very different than the past two months finally!
Linking to:
These are so great to see. Your getting some great close clear shots. We should have goldfinches but they seem to only visit at my neighbors house. I have a stray bluejay once in a while.
ReplyDeleteI do like seeing the winter scenes & know what you mean by trying to get the birds in focus. Say, do you suppose those peanuts may eventually attract a flock of flying Elephants......
ReplyDeleteLove the snowy scene! And your woodpecker is cute. We have birds visiting our feeders too, and I love watching them.
ReplyDeleteI really like the shots of the birds and the snow falling around them. Great captures!!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see birds getting food in the cold weather. I guess they all have their ideas on a menu they like!!!
ReplyDeleteCold!!! I fear I would not survive the northern clims.
ReplyDeleteI need to move my feeders closer or wash my windows well. I rarely get a good shot of mine.
Congratulations on your feeding success. No Blue Jays? Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe snows always make the best background for birds. We have a downy pair, but no hairys. Had the bald eagle visit just at the rivers edge yesterday and he was joined by a pensive buzzard...never did find out what attracted them.
ReplyDeleteEventually a bird will be attracted to the peanuts! We have downy and hairy woodpeckers who first came for the suet and then became attracted to the peanuts as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI had a Hairy and a Downy when I had suet feeders out. I suspect they are still around, since plenty of my neighbors put out suet. They are lovely birds, aren't they? And yes, now your yard looks normal for the season! :-)
ReplyDeleteHello, I love the woodpeckers, they are awesome yard visitors. I rarely see the Hairy Woodie at my feeders, the Downy Woodie comes daily. Great birds and photos. The last snowy scene is pretty. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteGreat bird photos!
ReplyDeleteWe like snow now that we are both retired and don't have to drive in it!
Our temps are colder now (25F at 5:00am); it is beginning to feel like Winter. Maybe we will get snow way down here in the southern US (Mississippi).
Have a great week-end!
Lea
I can always count on your blog to get an idea of how much snow we have at home when we are away! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos ! The birdies here don't seem to be eating as much as they usually do from our feeders I think it might have something to do with the fact that we have many feral cats about this year that Miggs has been busy with keeping away from the yard lol . WOW ! you have lots of pretty snow there . All though cold here we are still green here with the odd dusting of snow . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised nothing's come for the peanuts. Blue jays love them, but even so do smaller birds, provided they're unshelled.
ReplyDeleteLove the tracks in the snow. Sweet!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd your bird offerings today are superior!! I love 'em all as I'm an avid birder.
Oh what great pictures of your backyard birds. My favorite is the chickadee with the snow falling around him.
ReplyDeleteWe still don't have snow!!
Your post was interesting to read. I learned something new about the habits of the birds in your area. The snow makes everything so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe are not encouraged to feed birds in my neck of the woods because of bear. The bear are sleeping, but we also have other predators. I just don't take the chance of attracting the animals I don't want close to the house because of our dog.
We are in Southern California for a short vacation and in the town of Claremont there are a few old buildings make with beautiful round river stones. Some have been refurbished and are beautiful. I understand that my grandparents took their horse and wagon from the farm and went to the Los Angeles riverbed to get river stones to built the fireplace at their home on the farm. I was too young to remember it, but now the LA River is just a cement channel where a trickle of water runs down the middle except when it rains and it becomes a raging river nearing the top. How times change. - Margy
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realized you watch the birds quite so attentively. All woodpeckers are a big deal to me. We don't really see that many of them here, though I know they are around. Your shots are great, with lots of detail. I loved the Red Squirrel foot prints and look forward to seeing the rest of him/her soon :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new birds! We used to get the Hairy Woodpeckers often in W.V., but now they seem to be displaced by the Red-bellieds. (Still see them once in a while.)
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the yard looks so beautiful with a fresh coat of snow, i am jealous!!!! you are getting some great up close images of the birds, i have been ignoring mine and i miss them much more than they miss me!!
ReplyDeletei like the goldfinches, they sit forever and are easier to get pictures of!!!!!
Hi Furry!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Love the Chicadees....your yard is so pretty!
Have a great week!
Cheer So!
Linda :o)
Wonderful winter feeding! Lovely photos. Hope you keep adding new birds, and the squirrel is unsuccessful! Would love to see his furry body though. :-)
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