February is for the Birds!

I didn't actually look back at old posts, but it seems to me come February, I start seeing more and more birds.  It could be that I've actually been home to look and spent more time snapping pictures...or it could be the 10 inches of snow that has blanketed the ground since Wednesday with another inch falling today.

Yesterday, I snapped a lot of photos, then took the time to crop and correct them in between cleaningand decluttering--I'm actually having a very productive weekend.  Today, I did even more around the house, and still managed to snap quite a few photos...and I even made a welcome home meal for Jeff who was away on business this weekend (I decided to stay home in hopes that I would winter sow the native seeds I'd collected this year...It didn't happen, but that is okay.  I got a lot done and still have plenty of time--although, if I don't do it next weekend, I'll start getting just a little ants--and next weekend is the Backyard Bird Count...good thing more birds are showing up just in time!)

Here are yesterday's photos:

Cornus florida: Gotta Love It!

I am really fortunate.

The variety of birds I just witnessed coming to the berries of one of our flowering dogwood  trees (Cornus florida)  and the feelings they inspired make me realize how happy I am living here on this property with the man I love...and surrounded by the beauty of nature.  It renews my desire to make this a place of natural beauty that is attractive not only to us, but attracts wildlife that are also things of beauty.

After hearing the call of the pileated woodpecker again, I grabbed the camera and got a shot right before it flew off to the nearest telephone pole.  Chickadees and a titmouse caught my attention (although these were eating the sunflower seeds I'd put out).  Before I realized what I was seeing, a male bluebird arrived to get his share of the berries--it wasn't until I looked at the photos that I realized there were two of males.  Finally, a robin arrived to join the feast.  I have to wonder what I miss when not looking out the window.

Behold:

Although we've added at least a dozen more dogwoods to the property, this makes me want to add even more--why not?  We have the room.  They will make great additions to the woodlands edge where I'd already planned to add some.  The one on which the birds are perched was planted by a previous owner--it is pink, although I prefer the white; once the petals fade, I can't tell the difference, and neither can the birds.

Observing Birds

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!  

Curious Chickadees

I was walking the paths today and two chickadees were chattering nearby. They seemed to be watching me (as I've seen them do before), and they came quite close. Later on, when I had the camera with me, I got this shot of one as he was going in for some birdseed.

As much as I enjoy the return of the red-wings (and other summer residents), I'm happy that the cheerful, little chickadees are year-round residents. I hope these cute, brave little birds will nest in our yard this year. Our first year here, before I started the blog, I had them in a nest box I'd attached to the barn. I've since moved it, but, perhaps I should get another one for there.

Some Chickadees

Another Snow Day: More Bird Pictures

After shoveling out, I went around back, put some more food out for the birds (even though there was still some left), then, instead of going inside, I sat down on the stoop (with a cardboard box to keep from freezing) with my camera. The birds hadn't gone far while I was putting the food out, and soon started coming back to feed. The chickadees, of course were first, with the juncos and nuthatch not too far behind. Surprisingly the cardinals came fairly close with only a little trepidation. The snow was coming down still, but it was well worth sitting there enjoying the show, and getting several pictures worth sharing.

Cheerful Chickadees

Finally, I have something to post--and on the day I took the pictures too. After some unseasonably cold weather with few breaks of sun, we had sun all day today and comfortable temperatures.

I enjoyed being outside this afternoon; something I've not done in a while--or at least not for more then a minute or two. I grabbed the camera and went out back. The chickadees didn't seem to mind my being a few feet from their feeder. As they continued to feed with me probably not much more than an arms length away, I took numerous pictures trying to catch some good photos. Most of the time they'd jump from their perch before I'd get a focused shot. With the low battery icon flashing at me, I took picture after picture, racing against time trying to get a clear close up. I've really got to learn to keep my camera charged.

Anyway, I got these shots before I had to go charge the battery.

Birdfeeder Visitors

A couple days later, I did get some good shots of a chickadee and a tufted titmouse as well. In addition to these, I've also had some nuthatches, some juncos, a red-bellied woodpecker, cardinals, and a couple of bluejays.
chickadee

tufted titmouse