Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Bird Watching

I mentioned back in January that we got a beautiful snow (about eight inches) and because of very cold temps., it actually hung around for a few days.  My husband worked from home that Monday, and he was able to capture some pretty images of the birds at our feeders.


The bluebirds are always our favorite, and they did not disappoint that day.


His rust-colored breast looks so fuzzy in this picture.  :)


I like this picture because the little Junco (far right) is awaiting his turn on the suet cake.


We learned in a photography class a few years ago that you've captured a good, clear bird photo when you can see his eye(s).  Hal set his camera up in our living room on that particular day, and he was able to get some good shots of the birds.



Isn't he beautiful?


Love this picture of the Junco; he has his head cocked as if trying to figure out what we're doing.


His little head is tucked under here -- so darned cute.  :-D


The description at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website states "Dark-eyed Juncos are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors of the western mountains and Canada, then flood the rest of North America for winter."  That would explain why we only see them in winter, since North Carolina is a long way from the western mountains and Canada.  Their description is given as "dark gray upperparts, white belly, and pink bill."  You can actually see the pink bill in these pictures.



In this picture, a female Cardinal has joined the Junco on the suet feeder.  You can see her bright, orangey-red tail and lower body behind the feeder.


Here we have a Downy Woodpecker.



There's no red spot on the back of the head, so this is a female.


I'll finish up with a few "action shots."


You can just make out the Junco's wings and tail-feathers spread against the tree trunk.



We get so much enjoyment from feeding and watching these birds.  What kind of birds do you see in your part of the world?  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day.

Denise

10 comments:

  1. We have all of those as well. Our juncos like to eat off the ground, so I scatter seed for them in the snow. When they come, there are usually about a dozen of them. I do wish the bluebirds would stop by more often, I bought them mealworms and I haven't seem them lately. We love our birds too. Those plus the cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, finches, titmice and wrens are eating the feeder down every few days. DH buys them the good shelled sunflower seeds, then says he isn't spoiling them, LOL!!

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  2. Great photos of your birds - they are so pretty.

    We have red breasted house wrens, sparrows, black capped chickadees and of course my beloved hummingbirds. I have counted about 25 eating at my feeders and they sure let me know if their feeders are empty.

    Happy Bird watching.

    Mary

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  3. Perhaps that junco that visited your feeder will make his way over to our corner of the world for summer. We see juncos here, too, and some of them stay all year, I think. The bluebirds are so pretty. Your husband took some great shots. Did he get any work done?

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  4. It is entertaining to watch the birds come too the feeders. We have chickadees and robins and of course the crows! We get some feisty blue jays, too.

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  5. Love the birds photos. Taking bird photography can be very tricky. Love the little blue bird. We have juncos here, too. Mostly they around ground feeders, but when it is really cold and they are very hungry they venture up to the suet cake. Shy and polite, they are one of my favorites.

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  6. Oh I love seeing bluebirds- their color is stunning! They leave our part of the country for warmer areas so we don't see them at this time of year. Your hubby captured some great shots! We get cardinals, juncos, chickadees, gold finches, tufted titmouse, 4 different kinds of woodpeckers, mourning doves, pine siskin, nuthatches and wild turkeys! This is another reason I have loved living at our locations- good birding!

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  7. I love birds and you have captured great shots. I bought a similar feeder yesterday and my fingers are crossed. I've been putting dried mealworms out every now and then and yesterday I was sitting on the porch and three bluebirds came and ate them all. That was all I had so I rushed to Lowe's to buy more so hopefully they will come back today. The feeder is close to my porch and even with a zoom lens it is hard to get them. They are sensitive to sound and movement.
    What distance lens do you use?
    Enjoy the weekend.




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  8. Those are good pictures especially against the snow background. We got hardly any snow, and with this spring like weather I wonder if there is any hope of some!

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  9. Your husband got some fabulous shots - and bluebirds in winter! I've yet to see one in summer but have heard they frequent our area. I know spring is just around the corner when the juncos disappear from my feeders.

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  10. What gorgeous images Denise! The bluebird is my favorite but it was so neat to learn about the Junco. I wanted to tell you how much your recent kind words meant to me. They were truly a comforting balm.

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