Nov
5
2012
The slate-covered juncos are here. I saw several in the backyard. Their flashing white tails were unmistakable. I have a friend who calls them ‘snow birds’. No snow yet but I have not seen one in the front of my yard. Anyway, I figure it will be any day and they will feed on my bird seed now. Maybe, it will take snow first to have them to feed on my seed.
May
20
2012
We had unusual visitors to our yard: twice an indigo bunting was feeding on our bird seed I had strewn on the ground. They are a small completely bright purple bird and they do not come too often. Sometimes they come in flocks although it was only one this time that came twice. I saw a ruby throat hummingbird come to our feeder. His red throat flashed in the light. They used to come every day but now they are infrequent visitors. I love watching them. Lately grackles have been daily visitors and sometimes scare the other birds away with their aggressive nature. These are just some of the visitors we get. Of late, a chipmunk has been feeding on the birdseed. A few times I found him ten feet up on the big white pine tree. Usually you only see them on the ground but they certainly have no problem climbing. At least this one doesn’t. Every once in awhile we will get a bird I have not seen before.
Dec
10
2011
In a short time–twenty seconds–I saw a Carolina wren, a brown creeper, the ubiquitous titmouse and a red bellied woodpecker–all from my window. They were feeding on the birdseed I put out on the ground plus the suet cake placed next to the trunk of my large white pine tree. The woodpecker took a chunk of fat from the suet cake and disappeared. I could never understand why it is called a red bellied woodpecker. The red is on its head not its belly. It is a big magnificent woodpecker I never saw before I started putting out suet cakes regularly.
The small sized downy woodpeckers are more frequent visitors than the red bellied woodpeckers. Sometimes you can see two or three downy woodpeckers at one time although they maintain their space between each other. They march up and down the pine tree stiffly like they are at attention. The Carolina wren is a big wren as far as wrens goes–maybe the biggest and feeds on the ground as well at the suet.
The brown creeper is a nondescript little brown bird with a curved beak that does just that creep up and down the trunk of the pine tree. It occasionally can be found on the ground but usually is found on the trunk of the tree going up and down the tree. Of the four birds, it comes here the least. These birds mentioned can be found here all year around.
Every once in awhile I spot a new bird and become excited. The latest was a red-cockaded woodpecker that came every day for a few days although I saw no red on it. It took several visits before I could make a positive identification. It is a midsized woodpecker between the size of a downy and red bellied woodpecker. I had never seen one before. Watching birds from my large living room window gives me much pleasure.
Oct
13
2011
I am glad the tufted titmice are back–as common as they are. There was seed that was not picked over and the birds returned. I even saw black-capped chickadees again. And today saw a house wren. Even birds are particular what they eat. I was really glad to see a steady stream of titmouse again. For that matter I never remembered seeing them before I put out sunflower seed. I appreciated them a little more.
Jun
14
2011
The grackles are scaring the other birds away in my front yard. I had to stop putting out suet cakes. The grackles liked them too much. And the woodpeckers (red bellied and downy) stopped coming. And other birds attracted to the suet. Like the brown creeper and white breasted nuthatch. More than once I saw a grackle take a bite of suet and go back to grab another and they still had not swallowed the first bite which was still hanging from their beak. I did not know how to discourage them. I know they are God’s creatures.
I wish they would go away. Nevertheless they knew a good thing when they saw it. They also would feed on the bird seed I scattered on the ground. I did not mind them sharing the suet cakes with the woodpeckers but they chased them away. I was going through at least one cake a day. They are almost a dollar at WalMart. Even with no suet cakes being put out they are still coming although not as many. I just don’t know what to do. I miss the suet feeding birds I used to see regularly from my front window.
Jun
13
2011
You never know what creatures you will see around my house. Last week I flushed a deer in the woods out back. It must have been drinking water from the tiny creek there. It is not unusual to see deer in the area although that was the first time I spotted one in our yard.
A few days ago I moved my mower which was on our front porch and a two inch black toad hopped away and disappeared into a crack between the porch and wall. I had never seen one that color before although I have seen many toads of all sizes on our porch that are attracted by the bugs the porch light brings.
Just today I saw a chipmunk on the limb six feet up on a branch of our white pine viewed from (???) of our living room. Usually he is only seen scurrying on the ground helping himself to the bird seed scattered on the ground. I know they can climb but that was an unusual spot to see him. You never know what animal you are going to see. We live on the edge of the countryside.
Feb
10
2010
There were lots of birds feeding in my yard in this storm. I sprinkled some birdseed two and an half hours ago on the snow. I counted about a dozen slate cover juncos feeding on the ground (my friend calls them appropriately snow birds).
I saw as many as three downy woodpeckers on the trunk of my large white pine tree at one time. They do take turns feeding on the suet. And of course there were the squirrels. I did see “stumpy” a squirrel who is missing part of his tail.
A female cardinal made its appearance briefly. And there was the occasional Carolina wren. A little later I will toss a little more bird seed on the ground. I do not want to waste any.
There still is some sunflower seeds on our porch not covered by snow. The birds keep coming. And I have my eyes open for any unusual visitors.
Feb
9
2010
There is something comforting about a snowstorm and knowing there is no where else to go and all you can do is enjoy the snowflakes and your house and pets and your wife.
It just started an half an hour ago. The snow flakes are tiny so I know I am in for it. I can’t change the weather. I just did a quick shopping trip not that I was going to run out of anything but I was low on a few supplies.
Tomorrow I will sprinkle some birdseed on the snow. I already filled the suet. The woodpeckers and nuthatch will greet me tomorrow. My sunflowers feeder is still relatively full and I will get a steady stream of titmouse and black capped chickadees.
If the worst possibly scenario presents itself and we lose power, I have plenty of coal. We will ride out the storm and enjoy all our bird visitors who come to our feeders and our four dogs will frolic in the snow. Is there any thing better than that?
Jan
28
2010
I used to keep my potatoes in the garage but last time some critter helped themselves to a few potatoes, gnawing all around several. My wife immediately threw these in the trash. Fortunately he left a few alone.
I used to keep bird seed in the garage, too, but I had the same problem. Some animal probably a mouse took a liking to it, scattering the shells of the sunflower seeds, creating a real mess on the floor.
My cobs of corn which I put out for the squirrels hoping they would eat less birdseed were not safe there either. There would be neat even rows of corn kernels gone. This creature was winning.
I decided to keep my potatoes in the closet in the house hoping no creature could get at them there. I will see. I was running out of hiding places. I was fighting a battle with an invisible enemy. And I was losing.
Jan
18
2010
Nothing extraordinary happened yet a series of events followed. And they all mattered. I was depressed. I did not know why but I got my body moving and focused on things outside of me.
I did mundane things like feeding our dogs and cats and filling their water bowls. I stepped out of the house briefly and realized it was an absolutely gorgeous day in January–forty-four degrees and I wanted to spend part of the day outside.
I scattered sunflower seed and regular bird seed on the ground. I filled one bird feeder with sunflower seed. I know I will stare out my living window and watch the antics of the birds during the day.
I did other tasks like taking out the trash. The discovery of my new mittens which I had misplaced brought a smile to my face. I reminded myself we had dinner in the refrigerator. I made a pot roast last night and there was still plenty left over.
I was still depressed but I was physically moving which was a good thing. Sometimes you just don’t know exactly why you are depressed but I know it will end. I did not give in to it. That was the important thing. I don’t always understand my moods.
Jan
3
2010
I was thrilled: all of a sudden I saw five goldfinch at once, most of them on our finch feeder we keep nyger seed in. There was also one house finch. I always get mixed up between purple and house finches. I believe the purple finch is bigger.
It was one chilly day and I made sure there was plenty of seed on the ground for the birds to feed on. I saw the red bellied woodpecker come several times to our suet.
There was a period when the bird did not make an appearance for several months. Now every day I see it. I know the pickings must be slim for the birds. The ground is still snow covered.
Dec
19
2009
The birds must be hungry. There is a flurry of activity outside our front window. I did sprinkle some handfuls of birdseed on the snow earlier in the morning. I have seen many mourning doves and slate covered junco feeding on the ground.
We are getting a steady stream of downy woodpeckers feeding on the suet placed by the trunk of the large pine tree. I am still waiting for the entrance of the red bellied woodpecker. I am always awed by its sight.
There are usually a few tufted titmouse at one time coming to and fro the feeder just outside the window. They like the sunflower seed I put out for them. Once in awhile I see a chickadee or a cardinal. I love watching them.
Maybe, today I will see an unusual species. You never know. Today I will have more time to watch the birds. It is snowing and there is no where else to go.
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