The female house finch was looking particularly pretty as she posed in the poplar tree out front. The bright early afternoon sun cast an interesting glow on her.
Here is one of the red-bellied woodpecker's classic poses when they first arrive at the feeder area. This female was dominant over the bluejays, getting first shot at the peanuts I put out.
We got an early dose of snow this week which always makes the birds a bit frantic about finding food. The bluejays were perched in all the tall trees around our house waiting for me when I went out with peanuts and black-oil sunflower seed - their favorites. All 20 of them come swarming in before I have finished distributing the food.
I saw the first tree sparrow that has arrived from up north. He should be joined by others soon. We usually have about a dozen over the winter months. They look just like the chiiping sparrow, but have a dark dot on their breast.
A northern shrike visited our front feeder area this afternoon looking for a songbird snack. He did not get anything. All the birds hid in the bushes as he arrived. Two chickadees ventured out as if they didn't see him as a threat. He thought about chasing them as he hunched down to fly toward them a few times, but decided against it.
Unusual Goldfinch Plumage
Posted:
November 18, 2008
I noticed this goldfinch because it really stood out from the others. I have never seen one before with a white cap like this.
This northern shrike was here this time last year. All the song birds scrambled as if a hawk was in the area, but it was this little predator. Two chickadees ventured out from cover about 10 feet from him, but he didn't chase them. Guess he figured it wasn't worth his energy - they are too fast.
Here is the young female bluebird that is coming in regularly with the 2 adults. She had her head pointed into a stiff breeze that was ruffling her feathers.
I stayed very still and pre-focused on a spot where the cardinals usually stop. I was able to catch the female cardinal only 5 feet away munching on a sunflower seed.
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