The Carolina Chickadee Visits

A Carolina Chickadee was spotted on a branch of a Crepe Myrtle shrub in my yard the other day.  The tiny buff, brown, and black songbird was probably dining on the Crepe Myrtle berries or possibly snacking upon Magnolia seeds.  I also saw the little bird flit over to the downspout of my rain gutter for a quick drink of the collected droplets of rain or dew still on the metal.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

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The Carolina Chickadee’s Easter Feast

This tiny Carolina Chickadee is such a cute bird!  I took several pictures of this little chickadee yesterday afternoon at about 4:00PM.  The bird was feasting on a variety of bird seed at my next-door neighbor’s bird feeder.  I was really glad to see this bird.  I rarely see chickadees here.  The Carolina Chickadees eat seeds, small insects, nuts and fruits.  They really love the Black Sunflower Seeds, which seem to be an almost universally beloved seed for seed-eating small birds.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Bird Pix

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

White Breasted Nuthatch on the Rail

This White-breasted Nuthatch came to the bird feeder on Sunday morning.  It then flew up to the porch railing to crack open the Sunflower Seed that it had taken from the feeder.  I am always amazed at the dexterity of these tiny grey black and white birds with their long pointed bill.  They also use their long claws to grab-on to the wooden porch railings, posts, and the bark of trees.

This little guy lives with its mate in a hole in one of the pond-side Oaks not far from the feeder.  If they can, most birds will try to live close to a favored source of food.  Apparently, the birds like the general mix of white Millet and Black Oil Sunflower Seed in my feeder.  That mix is inexpensive (a good thing since I go through a lot of it).  i took the picture from inside my living room window on Jan. 20, 2013.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Tufted Titmice Close-up

The grey Tufted Titmouse is a really neat little songbird.  We have several pairs here that happily for me, come to the bird feeder on a regular basis.  These birds eat seeds, fruits and berries and also certain insects.  They have a musical call and can be rather loud.  The bird is grey with a top-knot crest that it can raise or lower slightly.  Usually when the bird is alert, the crest is way up.  Both genders are alike.  They have huge black eyes which adds to their appeal.  I took these pictures in my yard on Jan. 10, 2013.  The birds were both at the feeder and hiding in the bare  tree branches.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Finches Flitting Around the Feeder

The House Finches were just mobbing the bird feeder all day long yesterday.  I have been refilling my feeder every two-and-a-half days now.  The finches seem to flit between the porch rail, the ground, the metal feeder pole and the actual feeder.  They take turns.  A good thing since I am now seeing the House Finches come in groups of eight to ten at a time.  I think that almost the whole flock is grabbing the Millet and Black Oil Sunflower seeds.

The male House Finches are the ones with the slightly red head and chest.  The females are streaky, light and dark brown.  Finches are fairly  small birds.  By the way, I am now also seeing a couple of the Goldfinches here, too.  Not often do I see the yellow and black Goldfinches.  They are beautiful!  I took the picture of the House Finches yesterday and the Goldfinch on 9/4/12.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

A Little Bird Told Me

Actually many little birds told me.  That is, they told me that I need to refill the bird feeder with bird seed.  These tiny birds are just mobbing the feeder.  We fill this feeder every three days and it is not a small feeder.  Not that I mind very much.  I delight in seeing the White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, House Finches, Northern Cardinals, and Tufted Titmice that are now regulars at the feeder.

I also see one of the Red-headed Woodpeckers at the feeder.  I am no longer seeing any Red-winged Blackbirds or Brown-headed Cowbirds here at the feeder.  One bird that does not eat seed is the Eastern Bluebird.  I am showing a youngster that is just now turning orange and blue.  Bluebirds eat insects and are a wonderful bird to have here.  I took these pictures from my living room window and from the yard on August 28, 2012.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!