Saturday 2 February 2019

Birds, feeder traffic

Saturday

I've been having trouble trying to take photos of the cardinal... you can see why. Dark days, blowing snow. The mourning doves, normally a ground feeder, like this feeder. I could not manage a photo. They are a bit flighty. Terribly shy. The cardinal is slightly more photographable.


Monday

They are busy at the feeders, no wonder. Thoughtfully (perhaps not), the replacement weatherwoman showed the temperatures to the south. I faithfully watch Your Morning, but this is a bit much. Funnily enough, she looks much like the weatherwoman on vacay: young, slim, blond!



Happily, after another blizzard Sunday (~5cm), we had some sunshine. I persevered. The mourning doves were nestled into the snowy tree branches, out of the wind. The cardinal took pity on me, or maybe he was so busy trying to doggy dig the seeds from under the snow.



This is a lucky shot! I'd done manual focus for the previous photo, and he just took off, seeing me in the window!


You can see the difference between the sun being in or out. The red squirrel's colours show so nicely. I counted 6 red squirrels, but spring is coming!


The American tree sparrow was looking for some seed. It was giving me the eye, as if I was to blame.


Downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, and mourning doves.


I persevered with the mourning doves. I know they are ground feeders, but they like the tray feeder.


Meantime, in the house... It probably came in on the wood!


Visit Eileen's meme for more critters!
Saturday's Critters #268

20 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Great persistence paid off. It's good to have a winter interest.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

You have a nice variety of feeder birds there. Love the pretty Cardinal. The red squirrel is cute. I was wondering how that feeder handles the squirrels. 22 below is just not good, I would not leave the house till it warmed up. It is just 6° here and it was too cold out there for me and the birds. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post today. Happy Saturday and have a great weekend. PS, thanks for the comment on my blog.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari om
Oh my word, that wings shot is fantabulous, Jenn... but equally enjoyable is that of the chickadee looking askance at the 'interloper'!!! YAM xx

Karen said...

I had a couple of lady bugs dive bombing me while I was trying to read in bed last night. They are waking up.

Phil Slade said...

Your persistence paid off Jenn. All birds are hard to photograph, so don't worry too much.

Thanks for the heads up re David's blog. All fixed now thanks.

italiafinlandia said...

Hello, your shots are very beautiful too!
Love the flying Cardinal...

William Kendall said...

Your squirrel shots make me smile.

Tom said...

...beautiful capture of the cardinal in flight!

Red said...

Lots of good bird activity around your feeders. they come in when thee's dirty weather.

Bill said...

The birds know where to go to eat and so does the squirrel. Beautiful captures, Have a wonderful weekend.

RedPat said...

Lots of action around your yard!
I thought of you earlier because a friend came in and was telling me the there is a Wild Turkey living in the area around Christie St & Bloor St - in the parks & along the lane way. I'm going to have to go and see if I spot it.

KB said...

The birds are lucky to have you in that terrible weather

Nancy J said...

Great bird shots, no wonder they dig deep to get a feed.the Mourning doves are so pretty. Still hot down here, but maybe only 29C, air con is so wonderful.

Irma said...

Beautiful series of photos, I really like the flying cardinal and the squirrel.
I wish you a nice Sunday.
Best regards, Irma

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I am in Costa Rica, Jenn, where the heat and humidity is starting to get to me, so the snow and cold seem especially appealing right now. Will be home on Thursday. Yippee!

Lowcarb team member said...

You've got some great photographs here.
Loved the one of the cardinal in flight.

All the best Jan

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Sparrow knows where the food comes from!

Charlene N. K. said...

Wow, what beautiful creatures! I love that flying cardinal shot, so amazing! I like to see the birds with a lot of snow around.
Thanks for your visit to my blog and the comment.

NatureFootstep said...

love your lucky shot of the cardinal :)

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Love the great selection of backyard birds!