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!

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!

Female House Finches and a Chickadee

The House Finches have just mobbed the bird feeder!  They tend to come in groups of six or seven but they come early and often.  I think the Millet is the big attraction as I have not yet had any of their other favorite, Nyger or Niger Seed, in the feeder.  The Carolina Chickadees are also enjoying the feeder.   The day was sunny and cooler here yesterday.   That nice weather is great for the wildlife (I liked it too!).

The hen House Finches are brown and have a light buff-colored chest that is streaked with dark brown.  They are not as flashy as the males.  Males have a splash of red feathering on their heads during the breeding season.  These birds like being near homes and are often seen at bird feeders.  I took these pictures in my yard on August 11, 2012.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Carolina Chickadees Here

Carolina Chickadees have been here for the last few days.  Several of the little birds are coming to the bird feeder.  These birds have not been here for months.  These grey and black and  light cream-colored birds are here flying around with the finches, the White-breasted Nuthatches and the sparrows.I took these pictures here at the house on July 25, 2012 and again on July 26, 2012.   The Carolina Chickadees love eating Sunflower Seeds as well as the Millet Seeds.

According to the TN Wildlife Resources Agency information on this bird, one way to tell the difference between the Black Capped Chickadee and the Carolina Chickadee, is that the Carolina has a song of four notes, while the Black Capped has a three note song.  Interesting.  There are slight differences between these birds.  The Black Capped is a  bit larger and has a less-defined black bib with more grey on its wing edges.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photograph.  Enjoy!