I spotted a bluebird at the nearest nest box as I looked out the kitchen window. That is what prompted me to grab the camera and try to document that they were here. I snapped some through the window (by that time they were at one of the far nest boxes...the pictures are blurred, but it is clearly the bluebird. It seems really early to be house hunting, but the pair were at least checking things out--perhaps looking for a place to roost in the cold of winter.
The sun was shining, and although I was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, I was perfectly comfortable. The temperature was supposed to be 54 degrees, but it felt warmer to me. I thoroughly enjoyed being outside--especially after noticing something hopping around and perching on the dried goldenrod. I snapped a lot of pictures and took a video or two and began to realize it was a chickadee. Several chickadees actually. As I walked through the paths I saw that more than one seemed to be feeding on the seedheads in various spots in the yard. Chickadees would not have been my first guess as to what eats the goldenrod seeds. I can imagine goldfinches, but was surprised to see the 'dees going for them. This is about when I realized how little I really know about the birds and critters that I'm attracting to the yard. Hopefully, through the years, I'll learn much more through simple observation.
Shortly there after, I noticed another bird in the hedgerow. Even though it came quite close to where I was standing in the path, it seemed to move too quickly for me to focus the camera on it. I did, however, get this one good shot--but, not the best for an ID. I plan to post it on Wildlife Gardeners in hopes of getting an ID.
Aside from the goldenrod, I caught a shot of a chickadee feeding on the staghorn sumac--something that I'd always read was the last choice for birds (at least the bluebird). It is only late November, and they are already being eaten...so, perhaps they aren't so bad after all.
...The tufted titmouse seemed to like them too. :)
While taking pictures of the activity at the sumac, at first I thought I saw bluebirds, but once I got inside to upload the I saw it was the tufted titmouse instead. I accepted this and kept sorting through the photos, deleting the blurred ones (these were taken at quite a distance and then cropped). Imagine my surprise when, after seeing a blurred image that was obviously a bluebird, I found two perfectly clear images of the male!
Early this fall, I was out collecting things and waiting for more to ripen. After a while I slowed down...I think I collected a bit more last year than this. Today, while walking the yard, I spotted some seedheads of one of my favorite goldenrods--early goldenrod (Solidago juncea--I had to look that up). Up until now, I've not included the seeds of Solidago species in my seed mixes--they have occurred naturally on their own, and through natural succession, the goldenrods do eventually seem to take over. I want to include them--for their beauty and their high wildlife value. I just don't want to speed up the succession process. I'm making an exception with S. juncea...it doesn't appear to be one of the goldenrod species that tends to make huge stands.
