The red bellied woodpecker was back. When the grackles took over, they disappeared. After I figured out how to discourage them, the downy woodpeckers returned. It has been several months since I last saw the larger woodpecker come to feed on my suet cakes. I could never figure out why they call this bird a red bellied woodpecker. The red markings are on its head not its belly but in back of their head. Anyway, I was thrilled to see one today and hope it comes back.
Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, downy woodpecker, grackles, red bellied woodpecker, suet cakes, the grackles took over for awhile
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
The grackles finally stopped coming. First, I stopped putting out suet cakes and then limited the birdseed on the ground. Sometimes I would have seven or more grackles feeding on the ground at one time. They crowded out the other birds. Now I have not seen one in weeks. This summer I had a regular visitor of a indigo bunting for the first time. They are such a beautiful bird–aptly named. The downy woodpeckers are now feeding on the suet but I have yet to see a red bellied woodpecker. I am waiting to see how long it will take before they rediscover the suet cakes. I can’t remember the last one I have seen. They are such magnificent colored woodpeckers.
Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, birdseed, downy woodpeckers, grackles, indigo bunting, red bellied woodpeckers, suet cakes, summer
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
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.
Tags: bird feeding, bird seed, bird-watching, birds, bright purple bird, chipmunk, grackles, hummingbirds, indigo bunting, ruby throat hummingbird, white pine tree
Posted in animals, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
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.
Tags: bird feeding, bird seed, bird-watching, birds, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, front window, God, God's creatures, grackles, red bellied woodpecker, suet cakes, white-breasted nuthatch, woodpeckers, yard
Posted in balance, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
