Winter Brings a Variety of Birds...

While I've been busy posting snowy pictures to facebook, I've also been observing the birds coming and going on my bird feeders. Some I'm unable to identify while others are obvious, even to my untrained "bird" eye.

Just this morning I've seen the male and female cardinals, two different species of woodpeckers, at least 5 morning doves and lots of little yellow bellied finches. They seem to have a preference of feeder, choosing from one of three available. They also have a hierarchy that I'm not privy to.

The cardinals are the bosses of all the birds on my feeders unless, the "Hairy Woodpecker" is about. He takes precedence over all others. There doesn't appear to be any discussion over this, it just happens. At least so far as I can tell.

The "Hairy Woodpecker," which I'll just call Hairy, comes to the feeder and eats his fill then flies off into the sky. He is black and white with just a bit of red around his neck. Hmmmm a redneck woodpecker perhaps? lol I had to look up this bird in my book because I had never seen one before. Have you? I have a picture of one on my pinterest page if you would like to have a look at him. I'll try to remember to put it on FB but I'm not one much for a memory these days.

I thought Hairy was a fairly large bird until the better known, "Red Headed Woodpecker" showed up the other day. Now this bird is huge in comparison. From my view out the front door, I'd say he's probably a good 10 inches tall. His head is the brightest red, especially when the sun hits it just right. The rest of his feathers are black and white but not as clearly defined as Hairy's are. He's a beautiful bird just the same!

I'm impressed they come to my feeders! I bought fairly cheap birdseed and didn't really expect this kind of action. They stay busy eating the seed and I stay busy filling the feeders so they can! lol

The cardinals are just beautiful birds, simply said, they make a statement. The deep red color of the  male is striking against the bright, white snow. When it's not snowing, he stands out against the green leaves and grasses. The female may be brownish in color but her beak is bright orange and she has just a bit of red feathers puffing up from on top of her head and a spot on her wings as well. A fine specimen if ever I saw one!

The little finches are pigs on the feeders. Since they are a smaller bird, four sometimes five, can land on the feeder at the same time. When one takes off, the feeder goes to spinning and the others are on a circus ride! Round and round they go! They don't seem to mind, they just keep eating. I think I'd be ill trying to eat on a perch that's spinning round LOL not these birds.

A host of little birds come that I can't identify. I think one species is called a "Carolina Chickadee" but I can't be certain. I think there might be a few sparrows or wrens but I can't tell the difference so I can't say for sure which they are. Possibly both?

The doves stay on the ground and their wings make a very distinct sound when they fly. Most birds I can't even hear when they fly. The doves I can hear. I can't tell the difference in the male and female doves...they all look the same?

All the birds are quick to fly away when I walk toward the feeders but some only fly as high as the roof and then they come right back. Others fly off into the woods or out by the chicken coop. They come back but not right away.

I never paid much attention to birds when I was in FL. I did have a woodpecker that was super huge and he would peck away at the metal rim around the edge of the roof line. I also had cardinals in the big oak tree. They stayed year after year, unless it was a new pair but I like to think it was the same family.

I had some little brown birds build a nest in a Christmas cactus planter. I couldn't water until the babies flew. It was the first time I witnessed a flying lesson too. The mama bird nudged them out of the nest and they flew right to the window screen where they held on for dear life. It was cute to see three little baby birds all clinging to the screen at the same time.

The woodlands have given me more sights to see with the birds that live here and if my little feeders will ensure they keep coming back, then so be it. I'll keep right on feeding them! If I can't dig in the dirt and plant something, feeding and watching birds is the next best thing :) Hope you enjoy them too!

The snow has all but melted already but we're expected to get more in the morning. They (weather people) say it will be freezing rain first with snow to follow. From what I hear, this makes for a dangerous situation. You can't see the frozen ice under the snow but you can easily slip on it when you step down. You know I'm not the most coordinated person on the farm so the risk is high for me to even walk around outside. I will walk around though. Indeed, it's quite irresistible to go crunching around out there.

Come Sunday we'll be hunkering down to cook chicken wings and watch the superbowl...I don't have a favorite team playing so I'll just hope for a good game. I suppose if I had to choose, it would be the 49ers since Rebecca used to like them and Ricky Kline does still like them. I don't know anyone who likes the Ravens?????

We rode the farm fence line a little while ago and there are a few trees down from last week's storm but none that are in the way of the trails. It was really neat to see the snow laying on the limbs and blowing in the wind as we made our way through the pathways. The creek was up a bit and the water was flowing quickly through the creek bed. I didn't venture to put my hand in the water but odds are, it was darn cold!

I didn't see any deer on our ride but they're out there. I saw five in the yard last night just before darkness decended on the farm. It's hard to say whether they were bucks or does because the bucks will have scaped their antlers off by now. From what I hear, the squirrels and other woodland animals find these antlers to be a real treat and they simply gobble them up. I'd love to find some to hang on the potting shed or the outhouse but I'm not ready to go tromping through the woods when there's snow on the ground lol. It's pretty to look at, not so much fun to be outside in it for very long.

So our weekend begins and it looks like it'll be a good one. I hope yours is. I'll be thinking about all of you and all those superbowl Sunday's we shared at the Oriole's...what a blast!!!  Enjoy!