This male cardinal photo placed 1st in the Composition category of the annual North American Great Backyard Bird Count photo contest. The contest is jointly sponsored by the Cornell Ornithology Lab and the Audubon Society.
It is fun watching the downy woodpeckers chasing each other around the yard. This female is taking a break from the games. She has an immature look about her compared to the other female, so I think she may be this year's juvenile.
Early this afternoon, all the birds scrambled and the bluejays started their loud warning calls. When I looked out the front storm door, I saw a kestrel perched on the side yard gate. He took off as soon as he saw me.
The bluebirds are still here, so I restocked the mealworms. A second tree sparrow showed up, so now the lone one has company. The hairy and downy woodpeckers are zooming and chasing all over the place. It looks like they are just having fun playing. Canadian geese are still heading south, several large "V"s flew over the past few days.
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