Indiana Winter - A Little Bit of Everything

From Frigid to Frozen

 

 

Several days ago

we were experiencing

wind chills of down to -40

with snow.

 

 
 

Today we might be called

the Frozen Chosen.

 

 

Fortunately, it is melting.

But, did I mention

there is snow and high winds on the way

tonight!

 

Some might say,

"Our weather is for the birds!"

but

I'm sure the birds would say,

"We've had enough!"

 

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!!!



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 Migration

In early May, suddenly our trees seemed to be bouncing with colorful birds.  Some were just passing through, while others have decided to stay for awhile.

Early one morning as I was looking out at one of our birdfeeders, there were a couple of beautiful red-colored birds.  At first I thought a Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, but then it hit me--Mrs. Cardinal does not look like that!

 

 

 

After a taking some more pictures and a closer look,

I discovered it was a Summer Tanger,

a bird I have never seen here before.

Then there was another bird

I only saw once a couple of years ago,

A Redheaded Woodpecker.

He seemed to spend a lot of time

around the bottom of the feeder.

 

Then there were a number

 of my favorite Spring visitors: 

some Red-breasted Grosbeaks.

Then to add a little more color,

the Baltimore Orioles were back. 

There had been a large group of them here

two or three years ago, so I was really happy

to see a group of them again. 

This visit I was able to see Mrs. Oriole also.

            Another bird I haven't seen very often:  

                 Hermit Thrush--I think.

Just to add a little more color,

a couple of birds I see year around:

The Goldfinch

 

 

and the Bluejay

 

 

What an amazing couple of weeks!

 

Things have slowed down a bit,

but I still need to share about our Bluebirds.