Spring activities and sights around our new home

Spring means getting outside - Miss Fatcat Eleia has started her exercise program including climbing trees to see where Mr. Chippy might be hiding, or Mr. Squirrel? She's a busy girl but definitely needs to reduce and shape up.

Christopher on the other hand, figures he is older and requires more sleep and his activities as you can see by the dust on his coat and bits of grass includes more rolling around on the lane or lawn to expose his tummy for petting and scratching. Which I admit, he gets lots of. He usually prefers to snooze in one of the deck chairs.

This set of birdfeeders is well attended as you can tell by their emptiness... the scarlet/orange crest of a red-bellied woodpecker can be seen on the edge of the suet feeder. Lately it has proven attractive to a pair of orioles. I'm hoping they will mate, nest and stick around for a while - such lovely colour. I put out orange sections now - they carry them off - so I'm optimistic.

This set of feeders hanging from the clothesline is very popular with the American goldfinches. There are only a few seen here, but often there are up to 30 or so fluttering like gold pennies around the yard.

Bloodroot suddenly appear amidst the detritus left behind by Hydro crews scouring the landscape underneath power lines... so pretty but gone within a week as summer visits briefly and has them wide open and then gone leaving only their leaves.

The dogs rest in the shade alongside the newly planted beginnings of a garden restoration. This is a favourite afternoon spot with lots of damp black earth to scratch into hollows to cool hot tummies. Not hopeful for planting grass... maybe I leave that space as a dog parking place?

Finally the day glows to an end across the lake - the sun moving northward along the north-western edge of this beautiful area. There are many beautiful views around here, but I haven't yet discovered the opportunities to find wildlife where I can get close enough to photograph them.

Hope you are having a wonderful spring - and thank you to all of you who keep checking back to this blog and encouraging me to get back to writing... So at least once a week, more often if possible - I'll be here.

The line-up

Every morning I'm wakened by the gentle but insistent woof of my blonde Labrador - Bliss. As soon as I stir, Eleia the calico cat comes bouncing in for a cuddle before I go downstairs to be greeted by the big boys.

It's usually between 6 and 6:30 a.m. this happens. Often I struggle to wake if I've been up reading or writing late the night before. Eleia makes sure that I respond to the call though if she's inside. Often she's slipped out through the screen that she has cleverly torn off the window ledge to give her freedom.

This morning was one of those mornings. But Christopher was on the bed and licking my fingers was his cue that I really should get moving, he was hungry.

But first things first. Dog Invisible Fence collars had to go on, then birds had to be fed. I don't leave the feeders out over night any longer since raccoons seem to know and raid them, often breaking them in the process of lifting them off the hook or limb and dropping them on the ground.

So this morning I sat outside on the deck with my coffee, dogs having been fed and watched the lineup at the one feeder closest to the wee church. There were two male purple finches - scarlet in the morning sun rather than rosy. A female purple finch waiting her turn, several redwings flew over to the larger feeder on the other side of the yard along the treeline. That gang includes grackles and most often mourning doves.

Not this morning. A mourning dove landed on top of the little arch leading out to the lower west garden much to my surprise and as you can see a couple of house sparrows took over where the finches had left off. An American goldfinch arrived and then one of the four male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks that hang around. He began eating greedily.

Then I heard a soft cry. Looking around I saw a smaller female grosbeak fluttering her wings and tail feathers, a sure sign that she was a baby and needed feeding. Or else it's mating season and Mrs. Grosbeak wants some courting. She retreated to the nearby blue spruce. (I'll have to take field glasses and see if there is a nest.) Mr. quickly followed her.

It was a busy morning at the diner. I don't often take time to go and watch the line-up but I think I will for the next while. As I was enjoying coffee, bird song, and the show, I was dive-bombed by a series of tree and barn swallows.

Later heading out into the pasture for the first doggy walk of the day - 15 tree swallows were on the hydro wire that crosses the road. I ran back for my camera - what a site - all fledglings I assume since three of the next boxes in the past couple of days have been suddenly silent as I walk past. The barn swallows too have fledged - there are two nests inside the drive shed and the adults become very irate if I walk in to get some garden tools or put something away.

So the dogs and I followed the neatly mown pathways (not my work but a neighbour's son who kindly helped out recently) and then of course they became silly.

Most often they roll at least once or twice in the tall grass of the pasture, (in winter its the snow that they love to roll in and Spirit will snorkle along for the longest time). This time they couldn't resist the dewy grass of the path. If I could have gotten closer you would have seen the grins on their faces. 

And so it was a great start to the day.

Hopefully it will end well - though they (the forecasters that is) are calling for thunderstorms - wherein both dogs will got outside and bark like fury.

But last night we were treated to a brilliant apricot sky and bit of flame as the sun set. Perhaps your day will end like this tonight

Back yard visitors - regular and passing through

A four day gentle rain fall left much of my tiny back yard lush with thick grass growing where I don't want it, but also glorious perennials, fresh tomatoes and some new visitors.

Hiding on the fence rail amidst a glorious display of rudbeckia is I believe a tiny black and white warbler. There have been a few warbles passing through, stopping for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It feels a bit like Union Church Free Cafe some days during migrations.

Since I keep one or two seed feeders filled, I'm finding lately they're empty by the end of the day, where in the heavy heat of summer, only a few seeds were taken.

Local residents - a collection of about fourteen noisy and busy house sparrows - are very active right now which sort of surprises me. Are we to expect a sudden drop in temperatures when the kids return to school?

This fellow hides in the Siberian elm next to the deck.  I let two of these trees grow from a hedgerow to replace a glorious old American elm that fell victim to Dutch Elm Disease shortly after I moved here, much to my dismay.
However I've placed a small tube feeder on this tree and the birds seem to love it.

I'm not sure what kind of baby this bird is - an immature house finch or rose breasted gros beak? A few more visited this morning - you can decide.

Here the same bird sits amidst some seed I scatter on the rail - looks like a grosbeak to me - but there are more. (Apologies for the blurriness of the photo - I use only a little Nikon Coolpix that is at least two or more years old. Sometimes I'm lucky and get good sharp photos, but if I'm in a hurry - not so great.)

This morning three similar immature birds sit on the silo feeder. The rosy breast on one says they might be house finches. On the other hand they have large beaks. Perhaps they are young rose breasted gros beaks after all?

Such fun and completely possible given that there were two male rose breasteds hanging around along with one female from early spring until about a month ago. They obviously nested, I suspect in a large blue spruce that leans lovingly against the southwest corner of the drive shed. The lower branches would be safe enough from prowling predators.

What do you think my bird loving friends...you're all much more capable of identification of these three than I?

Well given the comparable size here with an American goldfinch which moved up to the "upper level" on the arrival of the little bird below - I suspect these stripe-breasted avian babies are house or purple finches.

But this little one at the lower level I can easily identify. There are several black-capped chickadees that hang around all year and their cheerful dee-dee-dee always delights me. I see in this photo one of the ones I can't identify with the rosy breast is waiting above on a branch.

Watching bird activity is another form of meditation for me. I become completely engrossed in the comings and goings and forget about anything else but the moment.

The morning garden will welcome all kinds of visitors today including the birds, wasps and bees searching for a drink, the chipmunk that has decided to brave the dogs and cats and many butterflies. A tiny yard full of activity and joy - lots of visitors, regular and just passing through. What kinds of things bring you joy and help you take your mind away from problems, troubles or whatever, allowing you to stay in the moment I wonder?

Early mornings in the Valley

The sun's rays just begin to caress the tops of the hills and set the skies aflame. Snow glued to the branches will drip away slowly as the day progresses, but our mornings start long before that.

We've already been out  -when the sky was just beginning to lighten - putting the bird feeders in place for the day. Raccoon marauders love the black oiled sun flower seeds as much as the birds do, and prowl the perimeter of the property when it gets dark, then darting in to cadge a meal. It drives the dogs insane and their barking makes me similarly crazy. So into the back of the car with the feeders at night and out in the morning.

As we get ready for a walk, instead of carousing as they usually do, the dogs sit nicely for me while I try to get a picture. Spirit, ever attentive being a black lab, and worried or wondering why I want him to sit and not play the way I usually do, stares into the camera lens with his nearly black eyes. Bliss, bored and somewhat resentful that he's not playing glances at the birds nearby on the ground. I'm sure he's wondering if he can catch one, or thinking how good the game is going to be when I release them from their sit.

One of the games that Bliss plays is with the birds. There are several very smart little chickadees that come to the feeders, grab a seed and then make for a nearby bush or tree. The game is that Bliss runs to the foot of a tree, looks up into the branches until he sees one, then begins to prance and bark. The chickadees make for another tree. He chases after, spots them or it, and begins to bark again. This game of tag or hide and seek is a favourite when Bliss is waiting for me to fill the little toboggan with wood for the fire, or fill the feeders, sweep the walk, shovel snow, clean snow off the car, any one of a number of little outdoor chores before a walk or a ride in the car.

And the little birds wait too - high in the branches of one of the elms that line the edge of the property. They gather in a huge flock which seems to be growing. In this photo I count about 60. It seems, as they swirl and float from tree to deck to feeder to tree to bush and back, that there are hundreds.

There are feeders on all sides of the house. Filled mostly with suet and black oil sunflower seeds, but also niger seed not particularly a favourite in winter because they are so small, but they empty all too quickly and need daily replenishing.

And finally the bigger birds take their turn. The mourning doves, one of the many that dwell in the spruce tree on the west side of the church, was brazen enough this day to continue its search for seed on the deck. More often they leave and flee for the safety of the trees across the road at the tiniest movement in the house or nearby. The blue jays - the gang of thieves I call them - boisterous, raucous and full of joie de vivre, tackle all the feeders, jay-size and finch size, it matters not. If there's seed, they're sure to be nearby.

All in all the bird family that frequents this property is a pretty large number, and they show up early in the morning, returning every two or three hours for another nosh. There are American tree sparrows, white-breasted nuthatches (sadly no rosy breasted ones that I've seen this year), chickadees, house sparrows, American goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, at least half a dozen blue jays and maybe more, pairs of downie, hairy and red-belly woodpeckers, many soft cooing mourning doves, dark-eyed juncoes and once in a while hawks come to call. My neighbour says there is a goshawk hanging around. The sharp-shinned is a regular visitor and grabbed one of a pair of starlings the other day - in breeding plumage already and with red legs - that was all that was left - a pair of wings still attached to the collar bone and two red legs, claws curled in the snow amidst a lot of feathers. Sad but part of nature.

The pair of ravens that dwell in the small valley across the road behind a neighbour's home, call to me regularly in the morning as they head out across the fields. Their distinctive throaty call lets me know all is right with the world this day.

And today since the sun is shining, and it's calm and full of the sound of wings and occasional bird calls, I know all's right with the world this morning as well. Hope it is in your neck of the woods.
***
And my apologies for not posting every day as I have in the past. These last few months have been busier and often it's more difficult to get access to the internet to write. Bear with me. I think of it every day as it's such a delight, and the people who comment are always so kind and have the most interesting blogs for me to follow as well. I'm sure I'll get back to regular posting soon. Enjoy your day everyone.

Goldfinches

On the long weekend my oldest a friend along with her partner came up for lunch. He took this glorious photograph of a goldfinch that was sitting in the tree at the end of the deck patient waiting for us to finish lunch and vamoose.

The bird finally gathered its courage since we weren't moving away any time soon and descended to the railing to grab some seeds keeping a wary eye on us.

There is something very beautiful about these little bits of sunlight that grace my property every day. This particular bird is one that has decided not to go elsewhere for its daily intake of seed, and visits mostly with a family of house finches. It's fabulous when I get the male house finch and the male goldfinch together... the red and the yellow so startling against green leaves or against blue sky. And both have glorious songs, long and evolved trills and whistles with many ascending and descending notes - lovely to hear.

It always amazes me how accustomed to human companionship or habits the birds can become. They seem to watch for me to put the seeds out in the morning - all of them, goldfinches, house finches, chickadees, grackles, blue jays, woodpeckers... even now when there is tons of other food around for them, there they are for a quick meal or snack as soon as the feeder is placed on its perch.

My next project is to try to figure out when the birds go to bathe and see if I can catch a photo of one or more at the edge of the pond, drinking or bathing.

I watched a robin the other day giving itself a bath for the longest time. He must have taken ten minutes to duck his head, throw his head covered with water up and back and flutter his feathers. He jumped in and out of the water a few times, squatting down when he was in the water to lower his belly into it. It was a fascinating experience since I've never really taken the time to watch the whole activity from beginning to the bird flying away. Usually it's much quicker or the bird is startled and leaves. The entire performance quite absorbed me and left me smiling for the rest of the day. I felt privileged to have watched it.

Hope something makes you smile all day long today.

Chowing down

Even though were into June - nearly the middle, and despite what forecasters predicted, we've had only a few brief days of extraordinary heat. Enough to bring all the iris in my garden out. They are remarkable as are most flowers this year. Lush, abundant, magnificent in colour.

But because it's been cool, at least that's what I assume, the little birds are back at my feeders. This morning, the bright cadmium yellow bits of sunlight were singing and playing among the high branches and landing on all the feeders devouring seed.

They were joined by several finches, a few chickdees, though only a few and a couple of jays, a white-breasted nuthatch, several woodpeckers, both hairy and downie, red wing blackbirds, a couple of mourning doves with their soft cooing and grackles. My lone starling is nurturing her babes at the moment. She's inhabited the owl box,and I'll have a real cleaning job to do once her brood has fledged. Starlings are the messiest housekeepers, worse even than I am.

Several swallows are also sitting. Six of the boxes are full. And there are ongoing hummer wars as two ruby-throated males duke it out over what I think is only one female... maybe two. Those feeders are closely guarded and give me lots of entertainment when the battles are in full force. I've been narrowly missed by a couple of buzzing missiles while seated on the deck trying to enjoy coffee, but dodging fast flyers instead.

Ah spring!

Sad though that while the cool weather has meant I get to see more of some of my favourite birds, the farmers are concerned about crops and storms continue to plague many places around the globe...once again making me wonder what's down the road with climate change and can we do enough soon enough? I'm not as optimistic as I once was.

But for this evening, after a long day at the computer making charts and notes and agendae for meetings, I'm going to enjoy the birds's songs and their busy flight to gather a few more seeds before dark.

Have a super evening.

Four's a crowd

Yesterday I posted an image of goldfinches with a lone rose-breasted grosbeak. Almost immediately after I had finished writing I closed down the computer and went to the kitchen for more coffee. Looking out the window as always I noticed a couple of grosbeaks at one of the feeders. Strange, I thought, there were two on the feeder when I left the "studio" (my wee extension of the larger living room or great room as these open spaces are often called these days). I looked out the kitchen window to the deck and saw three male grosbeaks.

I couldn't believe my eyes when everywhere I looked I could see a few more of these beautiful gentle birds. There must have been a dozen passing through and seeing the accumulation of birds in the trees and shrubs that surround the church, stopped for breakfast.

When I was able to find my camera, I saw this image, two males one of the two females and a lone goldfinch crammed onto the feeder. It's the first time the female has been within camera range.

I continue to wonder why the birds prefer this feeder? At the moment there is a huge hairy woodpecker sorting seeds with its typical back and forth head motion, moving its beak from side to side to throw seeds away with abandon as it searches for just the perfect one.

And in the time it took to write that sentence, a bluejay moved in, also tossing seeds out of the wee tray.

When I finally take down some of the feeders in a week or so, it's obvious I need to get out the repair kit and a tin of paint and do some touch up on this little house but I have a feeling the birds will miss it. This is the customary spot for one of the three hummingbird feeders I put out each year. If I spread those apart a bit, the dominant male sometimes protects only one and gives other hummers a chance to feed. So the goldfinches and grosbeaks will have to settle for one of the other areas to chow down. Or not?

If anyone knows why birds choose certain feeders or places to feed besides there being lots of ground cover or nearby perches, please let me know. I'm endlessly curious about this.

A mixed bag

The boys have gathered, or a few of them any way. They inhabit the small feeder as if daring anyone else to join them in their conquering of the castle.

This particular rose breasted gros beak is one of two males which I often thought might be a pair, not the usual mated pair, but definitely buddies. Until, that is, I saw them battling over this particular feeder which is really way too small for such large birds. But the two of them until then had occupied it quite peacefully.

Then I noticed two female grosbeaks...aha I thought. The four continue to hang around together and none seem to care that the feeder is very battered. Whether it's the location, or the tray or the amount of seed, it's a favourite.

The goldfinches are three of many males. For a long time it was only males that visited, but now they are joined by a large number of females.

They seem quite comfortable with the larger bird, which also surprises me. The blue jays, redwings, starlings and grackles quickly drive the smaller birds up into the trees, but not these colourful grosbeaks.

Following the various groups of birds throughout their day has become a part of my own habit as I work in the garden or at my computer, do dishes or make food in the kitchen - more often peering out the window than watching what my hands are doing.

And then there are the squirrels and the frogs in the pond... and the fishes who are getting fat on goodness knows what. But those are stories for another day.

This morning is about the grosbeaks and their smaller companions - colourful, regular companions, with beautiful songs to enrich my day.

Rainy day diners

Rain mornings lately have not diminished the number of birds that visit my many feeders. One or two of the feeders have seen there best. One I've repaired with duct tape, another with tiny nails, but I know a wholesale replacement will likely be necessary in the fall.

This goldfinch, shot through my kitchen window, beside which I have hung this tube feeder of black oil sunflower seeds, is a brightly coloured and most welcome daily visitor. He is one of about 60 goldfinches that visit every day and sing their "sweet sweet sweet" followed by a completely delightful burble of trills and musical notes.

They are creatures of habit. I can tell the time by their attendance at the feeders.

First to arrive are the black birds, the redwings with no mates, red epaulets barely visible, irridescent green-necked grackles and a few starlings. They are marauders, mobbing the larger feeders sometimes even the smaller ones, hanging on, wings flapping, tails turned under to try to balance on perches way too small, but ever greedy for a gullet-full of seeds.

Blue jays also are among the first to arrive when I put the feeders out between 5:30 and 7 depending on how long the dogs let me sleep in the morning. But at eight, the goldfinches and their companions the purple finches (only two pairs), house finches - also only two pairs, and some little white crowned sparrows arrive. They descend to the deck and along the rail. This is one of their favourite feeders: the little house that was designed as a bakery but has seen way too much snow, ice and battery from raccoons. Sometime visitors are the woodpeckers - downy, hairy and red-bellied. They show up throughout the day, both males and females - regular visitors but not at particular times. The others all return around 9 and then again every two or so hours until about 6 in the evening, then they disappear.

Another is the tube feeder pictured here, and still another a tube feeder filled with nyger seed. It is usually emptied by noon, as is this green tube feeder.

So I bought another feeder. This holds five large yogurt tubs full of seed. Obviously lots of seed falls on the ground. I've watched as a finch will select a seed, and throw it to the ground, search for another and follow the same routine until exactly the right seed for that bird has been found and then it is taken to another spot, cracked open and eaten. So on the ground there are lots of seeds. And lots of waiting goldfinches and white crowned sparrows.

Now that the weather has turned cold again, the birds are emptying the feeders quickly. It is such a pleasure to watch them all, though obtaining their photographs is going to challenge my patience considerably. These goldfinches above will hang about as long as I hide inside. But outside? Not a chance...

I guess that's my lesson this spring - patience. You'd think I'd have learned that by now!

Sitting on my deck

Yesterday I did not a whole lot of anything, but read and enjoy some time off from the garden and other things that have kept me on the go for a bit.

I had been putting out bird seed two days earlier and was buzzed by a familiar hum. The hummers - or rather a hummer - had returned. As I sat on the deck reading, several birds became quite nervy and moved onto railing or feeder to continue with their meal. The hummer - a little male - finally came in close and sipped at a spot on the feeder where there was a drop of sugar water. As soon as I moved to get the camera, of course it left and perched here in the nearby lilac bushes until I was no longer alert and watching for him. I'll figure out a way to get his glorious red throat in a photograph one day this year...And before long there will be many of them. Females will come, there will be great courting flights - those huge arcing swings that males make around a female they are trying to impress. Eventually there will be babies. For the past few years there has been at least one hummingbird nest in the spruce that leans on the drive shed.

Another brave visitor was this female rose breasted gros beak. She's being faithfully courted by two lovely  males, heart-red Vs on their chests gleaming against their snowy white vests. Such a drab little gal to be attracting so much attention, but she does, and has raised her feathers on her head in a crest to show she's not entirely sure I won't try to grab her.

And then there were three - I know I've posted tons of photos of these little golden sprites that bring me so much joy. They're up in the trees singing and cheering me on throughout the day, always so beautiful. But with the glimpse of spring in the background - the woods along the river and then the other side of the valley with the lovely rosy cast to the maples in the river bush and the softest of spring greens on the hardwoods as you look up the hill, pale against the dark evergreens and browns of yet to leaf others - it's hard not to show you how beautiful it is here right now. The apple tree seen through the deck opening is just beginning to leaf out - blossoms in about two weeks I expect... and all in all - my very very favourite time of year!

If you want to read a beautiful bit of poetry/prose about Spring check out Wild Bill's blog at www.wildramblings.com - he is an ecologist who loves to share his part of the world, and does it beautifully.

I hope you are enjoying this long spring with its gently warming days, light breezes and softest of greens dotted with bits of colour from both birds and bulbs that open daily. And to those of you who are suffering through spring floods, my heart goes out to you with prayers for safety through this dreadful time. It doesn't quite seem fair that I have so much to be joyful about and you who are enduring nature at its most tyrranical must suffer. But such is this crazy world.

The gangs all here

Evening sun caressed the lawn and trees and the birds gathered to have a late snack before settling down for the night. I was surprised to see the rose breasted gros beak, purple finch and goldfinch all gathered on the feeder, the soft sunlight making them seem to glow.

This feeder has been through the mill. Raccoons have taken it off it's hangar frequently and tossed it to the ground breaking off the roof and cracking the sides. Weather - an always uneasy guest - has also taken its toll and it needs a refreshing paint job as well as I think, a larger tray and certainly some repairs to its sides.

The birds don't care. This, along with a tube feeder of sunflower seeds on the east side of my home, is the most popular of the feeders for the small birds. Occasionally the grackles will sit on the edge driving away the rest of the birds - they are so greedy - and this year so plentiful. Four blue jays also are regular visitors when there is seed on the rail, but mostly it's the preferred feeding station of the finch gang.

This spring has brought many more of the small birds to my feeders. It's been cool and they need the extra fat found in nyjer and sunflower seeds. I've had several different kinds of sparrows, fox, white throat, song, white crowned. As well the juncos and chickadees continuing to visit this year. It's such a delight to also have the other birds return, meadow larks, tree swallows, a lone bluebird dropped by, and the warblers are beginning to pass through. The air is filled with song. Soon it will be warm enough for one of my favourites - the hummers to return.

And then there is the garden.

Slowly but surely grass has overtaken many of the small gardens around the property. And just as slowly maybe not quite so surely, I've been pulling it up. It's a process. It's a joyful process since it grounds me and fills me with the feeling of nurture and nature especially as I listen to the water burbling in the pond, the birds' song and soft breezes. And of course there are my two silly dogs playing chase and pull with a torn and favoured stuffed toy.

May this day bring you all good feelings wherever you are.

Regular visitors

A purple finch and its mate are now regular visitors to my feeder on my deck. This couple have joined a group of about 50 or 60 little golden pennies - the flock of goldfinches that habituate these feeders, singing their lovely "sweet sweet sweet" song.

Other visitors are blue jays, and grackles to this particular feeder... but I realize in looking at the photograph that I have to be more careful in focusing... the background is much more clear than the bird here... too bad, it has a huge seed in its mouth and seems to be really enjoying himself.

Here are several male goldfinches chowing down along with a single female in the lower left corner. I've noticed that the females are in short supply this year. This is interesting. I wonder if they're on their nests already? It's possible I suppose. I have a huge blue spruce at the edge of the drive shed that I call my bird tree. I see the purple finch, house finches and goldfinches flitting about in it - and last year I was pretty sure that a hummingbird or two had nests in there.

And another shot of the goldfinch gang - I leave my deck door open so that I can hear their lovely song and I can't resist taking way too many photos. The joys of digital!

May you have golden pennies somehow in your day today!

Morning song

Every morning as I let the dogs out for their morning ablutions, I hear the most delightful birdsong, twittering, warbling, trilling interrupted by the occasional raucous yell from a blue jay or crow.

While the dogs are checking out who visited in the night, I refill and put out the bird feeders. This morning a young jay greeted me with "What took you so long, the sun's been up for hours?" Yes I was a bit late and was scolded by many blackbirds as well..

After about an hour, while I sit with my coffee, share toast with the dogs and read email, the deck is lined with tiny birds... I couldn't resist grabbing my camera and trying to capture the activity through the window. It makes for a slightly blurry shot, but you can get the sense of how busy it is.

The goldfinches are now all in breeding plumage as you can see... and a busy bunch they are, grabbing seed, fleeing to the trees and shrubs if there is the tiniest move from inside... and returning with glee to chow down on black oil sunflower seeds.

Something about their cheerful appearance - like little bits of sunlight flitting around - or gold pennies whirling in the sunlight - makes me smile.

Spring is my favourite time of year - have you guessed that?

Even if my feet get cold sitting at the computer, I open the doors to the deck now just to hear the delightful songs and bring the outside in.

Hope you enjoy each day the way I am - even the gray and gloomy ones have birds to fill the air with song... and I saw a bluebird on my deck the other day. Hopefully it will nest nearby and I can watch their activities.

Have a special day!

Gathering of friends

With the return of snow, many of the little birds have flocked to my feeders. This group of American goldfinches and common red polls came to visit and have breakfast lunch and an early supper.

They make the most wonderful sound, chittering and chatting away, singing to each other. You can see some of the goldfinches are just starting to turn that bright cadmium yellow that shouts "Look at me, I'm the prettiest!" their breeding plumage.

One little red pol in the centre seems to be gossiping with a small group. Fun to have these little ones around.

When I tried to count this morning there were more than a hundred in trees, on the feeders, in the air all making a great racket. And then there are the ravens...! I'm going to try some patience today and see if I can get a photograph of these huge birds who are polishing off the seeds that the little ones had discarded, I'd scooped up with a shovel and placed on the edge of the field next door. The ravens have dug up the seed and exposed it, nibbling away as if its popcorn and they're at a great movie.

Sun for the past three days! - don't mind winter if I can have sun! Hope you have a sunny day wherever you are.

The morning was filled with birds

Because I had to take these images through my window, they are sort of blurry and cloudy, but in this photograph  if you look really closely there is a cardinal in the tray of the feeder in the foreground. This is an occasional visitor I believe... and frankly with cardinals being a family favourite - I'm really pleased that he has risked the long flight from a nearby valley to come for a visit.
Yesterday was very cold - with the threat of snow, and so all my feeders right round the house were full of birds. The minute I went outside, they flew away, so I settled for trying to capture some of them through the window. It was a complete delight to see them fluttering and when I opened a window or walked around later the sound of wings flitting from one branch to another, one tree to another seemed like miniature drumming.
So here and below is a small sample of a few of the visitors...

Two woodpeckers hop up my scotch pine towards a deep tray  feeder where a cardinal eats sunflower seeds inside. There were at least two pairs of hairy woodpeckers and three of downies throughout the day. The cardinal is a rare sight, and hardly visible here.

A hairy woodpecker sorts through the seeds to select its favourite on the small cage feeder . Watching the woodpeckers fling seeds from this feeder, hanging on, tail tucked under for balance is such a treat. They make me laugh as they select a seed, then head for a tree branch and either tuck it into a hole for a later meal or can't wait and crack it open against the bark.

American goldfinches grab breakfast at the tube feeder and the small cage feeder in the background (lower left). There were at least 100 small birds yesterday including English sparrows, American tree sparrows, juncos, nuthatches that were joined by about a dozen mourning doves, a selection of blue jays - (I have to get some peanuts for them), many woodpeckers and a couple of dozen chickadees who are all residents of this property or the nearby hedgerows. Such a welcome sight on a cold and snowy day.