There's one perk to being retired during the dead of winter aside from not having to leave the house and that is the time I have to enjoy my backyard birds. As if on cue, my backyard menagerie is especially active - and plentiful - during this ridiculously cold and snowy month of February and the antics outside my window provide me with entertainment and challenge as I try to photograph the comings and goings of so many varieties of feathered friends. It's a fun time to be inside the warmth of the house.
If you were to ask me what my favorite bird is, I'd be hard pressed to name just one. I think I love them all for different reasons. The bluebirds, which I'd never seen in person till about five years ago, are so colorful and so expressive.
Another favorite of mine is the Red-Bellied Woodpecker... The male sports a solid red stripe extending from his beak but his female counterpart has a large area of grey between her beak and the start of her red cap. Did you know this bird can stick it's barbed tongue out nearly 2" past the end of its beak? His spit is sticky and enables him to snatch insects out of crevices.
The cute little Dark Eyed Juncos appear just as winter is about to arrive and then disappear with the arrival of spring. At one time they were so fast, it was hard to photograph them. Lately they seem more relaxed and even eat from the feeders, not just off the ground.
Who doesn't love the darling little Tufted Titmouse? I love how they grab a seed and flit away, perching on the first nearby spot to crack it open.
There's never a shortage of Blue Jays, definitely not the wallflower at the dance. These birds are assertive and just a little aggressive on the playground. But there's no denying they are handsome!
Of course there are the Mourning Doves......
And the little Carolina Wrens......
The White Breasted Nuthatch.............
I was tickled this week for the return of the American Goldfinch....just look.....they are showing signs of their summer colors!!
My least favorite might be the European Starlings. Besides the fact that they can empty a feeder in record time, they arrive in a mob and have horrible table manners.
The next group of patrons would be the Hairy Woodpecker and the Downy Woodpecker. Do you know the difference? The Hairy Woodpecker is slightly larger and has a longer beak. The Downy has a shorter and squattier beak and he has spots on the sides of his tail feathers. The male of both species have a red spot on the back of their head - the females do not.
Of course, who doesn't love the Black-capped Chickadee....
If you saw my previous post, you know I love Northern Cardinals. Who doesn't?
Whew! All this birdwatching has made me sleepy.....I think somebody else is sleepy too....the House Finch.
I hope you've enjoyed some backyard birdwatching with me! I can't say feeding this menagerie is cheap, but it's definitely worth the investment - year 'round. I think my bird buddies would agree!
Come back soon for more Life As I See It and be sure to share this post with your bird loving friends!
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