DAILY BIRD PICS VOL. 426

I hid some peanut butter on the side of this log and this Oak Titmouse immediately found it.

Here's another peanut butter log full of White-crowned Sparrows. This one attracts all kinds of birds all day long and they know the times I refill the holes too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE-make it a safe one!

This message was edited Dec 31, 2011 10:18 PM

My goodness Red, what a wonderful shot of all of those Eagles. I wish I could see just one here.

Great shots everyone!

Great job on that feed ducbucin!

Good eagle shot, duc. I like that feeder made from a pine tree. An inflight shot of an eagle that flew overhead.

This little mourning dove spent over an hour just sitting in the warm water in the bird bath. Is this normal behavior ? This picture was taken through the window and screen, so it's a little blurry.

Talk about the right place at the wrong time, I was walking home from the store, no camera of course and both hands full of groceries, and this beeautiful hawk flew around my head twice and then flew off, if I had my camera it would have been the perfect shot. He was magnificent! Now I know why the other birds have not been at my feeders.

It has been perfect hawk weather! Saw our Cooper's this morning fly across the backyard and 3 Red-tailed while we were out doing errands...Oh and 1 Kestrel!

Enjoying everyone's photos...not much happening here!

Red, another great shot of an eagle.

Countrymom, I don't think it's normal for a bird to sit in the water that long. Maybe the water just felt good. My doves do sit in one spot, either on the fence or on a feeder box, and just stare off into space for long periods of time but there's always another dove in the area to warn of danger.

Nanny, you're really seeing a bunch of hawks.

Here's a Bewick's Wren.

My one Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco.

Still have several Yellow-rumped Warblers but they're sticking to the trees which aren't as close to the house.

This Brewer's Blackbird was the first to discover the smaller birds' peanut butter hideout in the side of a log.

Wow this is a gorgeous thread! Glad I didn't miss it. I'll have to go back and look at those photos again and read all of your interesting comments! Love all the Bald Eagle shots! I have yet to get a good one, but do LOVE seeing them.

I ended the year with a lifer -- Fish Crows (lots of them! Rare here), a year bird that is also an endangered species (Red-cockaded Woodpecker) and the joy of watching two mature Bald Eagles plow through a flock of hundreds of Snow Geese. Pretty amazing.

Today, a hummingbird!!! I'm calling it an Anna's b/c it was a big hummer with irridescent feathers on its forehead and crown. Could not get a read on its color though. Flashed red once but couldn't tell ya if it was more pink red or purple red. I'll share 2 pics and maybe tomorrow I'll get a more definitive glance at this bird!

Here is the 2nd pic. It's such a nice surprise to have a hummer this time of year.

oooo...how great it would be to see a hummer at this time of the year!

My hubby and I went to Wal-Marts and got a 10 pd. bag of sunflower seeds, black oil sunflower seeds. Even with me working we can't afford too many of them, fortunately the squirrels have quit trying to get into the feeder. And they can't get into the suet feeder because the chain that they were using to pull it over to them broke and they can't reach it and hold on. I have water for the birds and I had to go out and thaw it out several times today, it was snowing like crazy, there were not very many birds today and when I saw that hawk I knew why. I never knew sunflower seeds would ever be as expensive as they are, if I had someone who lived close by and had them I would go to them but I don't, so Wally World it is.

Great pics everyone. Yes, it's a shame the price of bird food has gone up so much. I put food out once a day now. Just made up some sugar water. I have to put the Hummingbird feeder out, since a freeze is expected tonight. The Hummers prefer the Firespike and Firebush, but they will probably be severely damaged. He will have the option of the feeder, but will probably just move further South.

GP, from what I've seen, having multiple feeders out, may keep the hummers around. I think that like other birds, hummers want to be sure that there is more than one food source. If there's only one food source, they move on. That's my take anyway. I'm trying it out with this hummer, so I guess I should wait and see what kind of results I have! I just saw him, so he's been here a day longer than the last one! We haven't had a bad freeze yet, so everything is green but not really blooming.

The birds ought to be happy with me, they have bread and sunflower seeds and a apple suet cake. The only problem I am having is keeping the water thawed, I went out with hot water and it refroze because it is under 20 degrees. I saw a Northern flicker, blue jay and several starlings and a red-bellied woodpecker, but all of a sudden they just disappeared! I think the hawk is back, I was standing outside and watching and this blue jay came down grabbed a piece of bread and took off.

Look who stopped by this afternoon, the birds must love me, I have a apple suet cake, sunflower seeds, and I did have some bread but the starlings took care of that. I have water too, if it ever stays thawed out long enough. I am thinking of taking the water bath inside at night and take it back out each day with fresh water. I have taken hot water out quite a few times and it has refroze rather quickly. But I am just glad to get this fellow, I don't see them on the upside down feeder very often.

Would it be better to take the birdbath inside at night and take it outside during the day? I can't keep it thawed out leaving it out all day.

Unless you use a heating element in you bath the water is going to freeze. I empty mine but leave it out. On days it is above freezing I put water out.

Congratulations on the hummer Elphaba.

Teddy, glad you had that flicker at your feeder. I have peanuts and sunflower seed out in my open box feeder and have never had one of my flickers even come near it so you're doing well.

We still have some Cedar Waxwings here.

The White-crowned Sparrows just love the peanut butter log.

Here's a Bewick's Wren.

Teddy, I agreed with Duc .... you're doing so well to have attracted the Flickers. I have not once gotten them to my feeders. Love your B Wren Duc.

I have a pair of blue jays in my yard. We have the dark stellar jays here, but this is the first time I have seen the pale blue and white with a touch of black. I hope they stay around. There have been some fallen apples under the tree and that may have lured them.

I threw out bread yesterday and one landed in the yard and grabbed a piece and took off, then I looked out a little later and there he was. There must be a hawk flying around here, I have the round feeder filled with sunflower seeds and not one bird on it, I know the seeds are good, and not spoiled, but last winter I put seeds out and they had it half emptied before I got back in and sat down. But not this year, could someone tell me why or as I said is the hawk doing it. I don't know what I am going to do about the water, I am thinking I will take down the setup on the water and just set out a pan in the morning and then take it in. I can't invest in a heater now, too many bills. Put bread out this morning and you should have seen the sparrows and STARLINGS come around! But they got most of the bread and now not one bird out there.

After the long period of absence, there are a few of American Goldfinches returned to my backyard feeder the last few days. It's a welcoming sight. Missed those little ones.

On Monday during the snow we had a White-throated Sparrow visit.

Mourning Doves had been absent but with the cold weather are back....

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker looking awfully rosy cheeked!

During the worst of the snow the feeders were very busy!

Willow, glad you are enjoying the jays. Hope they stick around for you.

Teddy, that's a good idea to just set out a pan of water each day.

Lily, glad your goldfinches are beginning to return.

Nanny, glad your doves have returned. Your little birds sure are lucky to find the food you put out for them. Love the rosy cheeks shot.


This Cedar Waxwing sure blended into the surroundings.

This little Yellow-rumped Warbler was busy searching for a meal.

I am still taking hundreds of bluebird pics each day. And now and then I get one I especially like. This one is from this morning.

Lovely photos duc!

Real neat catch on that one Dave!

Pileated Woodpecker checking out the suet on the platform this morning. Actually this was the second visit for a pileated this morning. One had been on the tree earlier. This photo was taken thru the screen so not real sharp!

Nice work everyone!

My sister sent me a picture of 2 Baltimore Orioles feeding at her feeder this winter. What really usual is that she live on Prince Edward Island. Way to cold for them. But they manage to survive with some suet and fruits, that her neighbor and herself are putting out for them. She gave me permission to share it with you guys.

Feeders have been busy here in Ohio also during the snow and after....

Cardinal waiting his turn...