Happy New Year 2018

Wow!  It's been awhile since I posted!

 

 

Winter, Snow and Cold Weather

have definitely arrived.

 

The Cardinals add a lot of color.

He thinks he is pretty great,

but she is a beautiful lady.

 

 

 

Sometimes there is a lineup at the feeders,

and there are some who do not like to share their space.

 

 

It was so unusual for me to see

a Red-Headed Woodpecker

at this time of year.

Usually I have only seen them in the Spring.

 

 

This one seemed to have a rather unusual beak.

 



 

This little Downy Woodpecker was getting impatient

for the big Red-Head to leave the feeder.

 

 

The little Carolina Wren seemed to be having

a bad hair day....It was kind of windy!

 

The Nuthatch is such a regular visitor,

I often neglect to take it's picture;

however, it rarely sits still long enough

to have one taken.

 

Yes, indeed, Winter is here!

 

 

 

We're supposed to have a

wind chill of -20 for New Years....Burr!!!



Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day!

Eastern Phoebe

Finally, after many days of rain

the sun is shining

and the Spring Migration

of birds is starting.

 



 

I saw this bird flitting quickly

from trees to bushes, etc.

 

 

It took awhile until it sat still enough

for me to get some pictures.

 

It kind of reminded me of a Tufted Titmouse,

but it seemed too big and not quite the same.

 

After checking my Smithsonian Field Guild

and pictures on the Internet,

I believe it is an Eastern Phoebe,

which is definitely a new bird for me.

 

 

A Real Red-Head

A year ago was the first time

I had seen a Redheaded Woodpecker

in many years.

I was so disappointed when I discovered

our neighbors' cat

had tried to have it for lunch,

so I was really surprised to see one

on a tree near our feeders.

 

Here are a group of pictures,

not as good as I had hoped,

but he was pretty far up the tree.

 

 

 

 

Maybe he will eventually come closer.





Spring Fever

This year it seemed like we had

a taste of Spring in February.

Ever since it seems like it

can't decide whether it wants to be

chilly or rain.

 

 

The Bluebirds have been here for awhile.

They haven't made their nests,

as far as I know,

in either of our boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have noticed at the feeder,

while the female comes, she eats, but

the male seems to be taking worms with him.

 

 

That could mean

he has a family to feed.

 

A Red-breasted Nuthatch

was at the feeder a day ago.

The last time I saw one of them

was in 2007 in the Fall of the year.

Maybe just migrating through.

 

This bird is smaller than the

Nuthatch that we see all the time.

When I first noticed it,

it was frozen in place, like the picture below.

There apparently was a Hawk nearby.

The little Nuthatch and a small Downy Woodpecker,

who were both at the feeder at the time,

 did not move for about five minutes.

 

 

There was also another

Downy Woodpecker that stopped by,

who looked a little out of the ordinary.

 

She was sporting a pretty, fluffy hairstyle.

Maybe she just took a bath.

Pretty Girl!

 

 

 

 



Some Folks Call this Bird......

A Dirty Old Buzzard

 

 

However, this Turkey Vulture got caught in

a sudden rain shower,

and decided it was time

to clean itself up.

 

I was amazed at all the contortions

this bird made while

it was primping and preening.

 

 

You have to get those tail feathers

just right!!

 

One Final Inspection

 

 

Getting Ready for Takeoff!

 
 
 

Ready to Soar Once More.

 

 



Did You Get This Pose??

This "Lady" Pileated Woodpecker

just keeps coming back

to get her picture taken!

 

 

or maybe

it's for the food?

 

I should have enough pictures of her

to last a lifetime...but it's so much fun!



You....Looking at Me, Again!

I don't have time for you....

 

 

I'm Working Today!!



So Much for the Hairdo!

This is a

"Hang on to your Hat"

kind of day!

 

 Just Watch!

 

 

 



Indiana Weather!!

It has been said about Indiana Weather,

If you don't like it today--wait for tomorrow!

 

 

Well.......Yesterday

was a day for Bluebirds and Daffodils in bud.

 

 

Today...

it looks like this!

 

 

I guess Winter is finally

catching up with us.

 

Blessings on your day!



The Long and the Short of It

Just two female woodpeckers

sharing the suet feeder.

 

 

 

They look like the could be

a mother and child,

but in reality

the larger of the two is a Hairy Woodpecker,

and the smaller is a Downy Woodpecker.

Woody Woodpecker??

 

As a child, I loved the Woody Woodpecker

comics when we went to the movies.

The first time I saw one of these Pileated Woodpeckers

that was exactly who I thought of.

 

 

This is a female that recently

visited my suet feeder outside

our living room window.

 

 

She is quite a pretty lady!

 

A few years ago there was a male

Pileated that visited.

By looking at his picture,

you can see the difference in

markings between the male and female.

 

 

The red on the male's head

extends clear down to his beak.

He also has red extending from his mouth.

 

 

 

 

Quite a handsome guy!

 

It is always a blessed day

when we are able to see

such an awesome bird up close!