Monday, January 25, 2016

Hungry Birds

During the recent snowfall and afterwards, we have had almost constant visitors to our bird feeders. When snow is not covering the ground, the usual pattern is to see a flurry of activity for a short period followed by longer periods of inactivity. The snow cover changed that. I didn't see anything exotic, but over the last couple of days I have seen most of the common backyard birds that visit my feeder in the winter.

Below are pictures of those visitors. There are more pictures than I usually include, but this is the place I'm recording what I saw. Also, the quality of some of the pictures may be less than desired, but those darn birds don't always hold still while I get the camera.


There were usually multiple birds at the feeder at any one time.

Dark-eyed Junco (These birds were everywhere.)


Mourning Dove


White-breasted nuthatch


White breasted Nuthatch (This is a more typical view than the fluffed out bird above. Lighting makes a big difference in the colors, doesn't it? First one is in the snow and the second picture is in the sun.)


Crows


House Finch


Red Bellied Woodpecker


Carolina Wren


Downy Woodpecker


Goldfinch


Female Cardinal and Dark eyed Junco


Male Cardinal


Black-capped Chickadee


Blue Jay


White Throated Sparrow


Tufted Titmouse


Hawk (Ward saw it fly into this distant tree otherwise, it's hard to tell what it is.)


Cowbird and juncos


14 comments:

  1. I bet you had fun watching the birds eat during the storm. I'm not sure I'm familiar with a California Wren.

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    1. Lesson to self: wear glasses more often.

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    2. Kris, I do that, too! My eyes see the first 2 or 3 letters and my mind jumps to conclusions. Then I'm left wondering, "what in the world?"

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  2. So pretty and so much prettier shot on the snow! I have been looking out my window and only see them flit by occasionally today but it is sunny and much warmer so I imagine food hunting is quite a bit easier. Even the next door outside cat seems satisfied today!

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    1. Although most everything is still covered with snow, the bird activity today is greatly decreased. Hopefully in the next day or two we will be able to reach the feeder to refill it. We got the front walk cleaned this afternoon. One thing at a time.

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  3. I LOVE these photos. There is something cozy about the birds, fluffed out, with snow flurries and white all around. Thank you for posting these great pics.

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    1. I glad you enjoyed them. You were one of the reasons I posted them after you said you liked the other picture with the cardinal in the snow. After I started, I decided to see how many different kinds of birds we'd seen over the last day or so. I had fun doing that.

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  4. You had a lot of birds visiting the feeders in just a day! I've never seen a mourning dove before.

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    1. I was surprised at how many different kinds there were. That was more than a typical day.

      There are mourning doves in your area. Maybe you'll run into one some time.

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  5. Awww... I'll bet those birds were all pretty grateful that they could come get a meal at your feeder! And I didn't know it was "mourning" dove, I always thought it was "morning" like am/pm. Who knew? The only doves we seem to have here are the collared doves, which apparently have moved into this area remarkably quickly.

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    1. Apparently the mourning dove got its name from it's call. It sounds like a lament. Sounds more like a coo to me.

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  6. Mourning doves are very typical around here, so it's surprising to me to read about so many who are unfamiliar with them. I used to be able to mimic their call with the mouthpiece of my flute. A little-known fact about me. Ha. :)

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    1. According to what I read, they are very prevalent all over the country in many different kinds of environments. While I don't see them every day, I do see them fairly often. I was also surprised that they were new to some.

      I used to play my sister's flute some and I can't imagine that the dove call is that easy to make with the mouth piece. You must be very talented.

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