Daily Pictures Vol. 155

HA, he's verrrrryyy sleepy.

Well Lee, you got it right when you said they are elusive! The brown creepers always decide to turn up when there is the worst light and then the scurry up the tree so fast!

Mrs_Ed, isn't it amazing how they can walk (creep) around the tree? When I see one, I consider myself lucky. Lucky you. Lee

Lots of bird activity amongst the flurries.
Flock of starlings

Then they landed

Sparrow

Cardinal

robin

Great pics everyone on this thread!

Mrs. Ed...I have never seen a Creeper and have looked and looked forever...great shot!

Took this late yesterday through the window and screen. I happened to notice all the Cardinals on the birch tree outside our livingroom windows. We have 3 windows side by side and wish I could have gotten them all in as the tree was loaded! Not a very clear pic but you can see how colorful it was!

dellrose, that is one cool picture!

Great shots everyone!

I tried to go out for a little while but it was so cold with the wind I didn't last long.

The sun was trying to peek out but I was only able to get this pic of a very cooperative
Tufted Titmouse.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 12:32 PM

I think those tt's are so cute, I've never seen any around here.

Thanks flowerjen...you have a great variety of birds in your yard!

Nice shot Pelle...I wish the TT's would come to the feeders closer to our house!

It is cold here too so I have been shooting through the windows. Sometimes I open the windows but if it is too windy I don't.

Here is a Red-winged Blackbird.

I put a seed block outside the window and the Woodpeckers love it! Here is a Hairy.

Downy Woodpecker.

Red-bellied Woodpecker...they always look like they are smiling!

A Bewick's Wren exiting the feeder cage!

dellrose, I have difficulty telling the difference between a hairy and downy woodpecker. Might you or anyone else offer me some ways to tell the difference? Lee

Not a good pic but thought it was interesting how the Common Grackle contorted it's body to conform to the feeder!

Lee...the Downy WP has spots on the outer tail feathers and a shorter beak. Sometimes it is hard for me to see the spots but can usually tell by the length of the beak (but sometimes I'm wrong...LOL)! Someone else may have a better way of telling the difference.

When the BlueJay shows up...seed flies!

Now that I think about it someone posted a pic showing a Downy and a Hairy together...I will see if I can find it and post a link!

Here is a male House Finch.

The Dickcissel is still around...I think he only eats the seeds that nobody else wants!

Lee...here is a link comparing The Downy and Hairy Woodpecker http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/woodpeckerIDtable.htm ... hope this helps!

Nanny, what kind of berry bush are your waxwings feasting on? I had some on my cherries this spring, but haven't seen any since! I would love to entice them this time of year, but maybe they don't live here in the fall / winter...???? I'm in North Central Alabama.

Thanks dellrose, I'll go to the link you provided. It seems I recall something about the 'whiskers' on one compared to the whiskers on the other but without a pair of wonderful binocs. I was fortunate to have received, I'd hardly be able to see the bird, let alone the 'whiskers". LOL Lee

I've been so happy to have some very large windows on the back of my house for a change. I so enjoy watching the birds especially at this time of the year. We seem to be on the edge of the migration paths for several birds. The ruby throats are gone now and most of the white winged and all the mourning doves have left. In return we get the purple finches (we have 2 pr. living somewhere around here), Carolina chickadees, and a few others that either I can't identify yet or don't realize that they are different from some that we already have. We have Carolina Wrens also for the winter and the goldfinches in their winter feathers will be here in time for Christmas especially since we are having some unseasonable -for us - cold weather. The cardinal and his mate and the blue jays are looking chipper in their bright coats. We enjoy feeding these birds and we have our feeders filled w/safflower seed because the squirrels don't care for it so stay out of the feeders. It's also fun to watch the purple finches drinking sugar water from the hummers' feeders.The butterflies are hatching, I'm guessing, as we have a big influx of them right now. Mostly sulphurs and fritilleries and a few monarchs. I enjoy everyone's pictures so much. My camera doesn't take the best of pictures and I have to shoot from inside the house as I can't stand for very long and the birds would fly off if I went outside and stood around the corner from where the feeders are.So, keep the pictures coming. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Ann

You're welcome Lee!

Ann...it sounds like you have a great place to watch nature! I think I would go mad if I couldn't watch the birds from every room in the house. It is very addictive...big time! Poor DH can't even get me to make eye contact anymore as I am always looking out the windows at the birds! LOL! I didn't know that Purple Finches would drink from the Hummer feeders...I would love to see that!

Here is another shot taken through the window and screen. Even though the pics are not sharp I still like the soft look and the highlight in their eye is always so cool looking...IMO!

Well i hate to rub it in Lee and Rose, but I just had TWO creepers here! I wish I could convince them to show up when there is more light!

Anyway, here's a red-bellied woodpecker from earlier today.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 4:01 PM

And a cardinal.

Jeepers ! ............... Creepers ? Lucky you, Mrs_Ed !!!!

Nice selection of birds, dellrose .................

Thanks Linth!

Mrs Ed...if you are trying to make me jealous...you have succeeded! LOL!

Go on Mrs_Ed rub it in. With your seeing two, you are entitled. LOL Lee

HA! Not like I could get a decent picture of the stinkers!! Maybe they'll show up tomorrow at the same time. This was the first time I noticed their call.

Red tailed hawk in the backyard this afternoon, being bothered by titmice, pretty bird though.

Nice pics Mrs Ed! I would love to see a Creeper.

I have only seen creepers out my window. Though at two different houses, the trees were the same type, silver maples with that really rough bark. I wonder if there are more bugs in there!

Mrs_Ed, I mainly see the creepers on oak trees and with the texture of the bark, it makes it difficult to see them. I've never seen them in a group or even 2-3. Lee

well, not to make this into a creeper thread (not a creepy thread, lol), This was the shot last year. You can see how well they blend in.

I never see them on my Ash trees out front.

JulieQ, sorry I have been gone all day so just saw your question about the berries.Best I have have been able to ID it as Morrows Honeysuckle or something very similar. It grows wild all around in the wooded areas where I live. It does seem to be a bit aggressive and invasive.

Only one pic for today...this Red-tailed Hawk I saw on the way homefrom a day of granddaughters school Holiday Programs. I saw it and turned the car around to go back and get the pic. Pulled off the to the side of a 2 lane highway..so not alot of time to get 'er done!! lol

Great pics ALL of you!



This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 9:57 PM

Nanny, you have a good pic of the Red-tailed hawk. Your certainly were determined to "get 'er done" LOL lee