The home birds are really showing up and very hungry.
I was trying something new....peanut butter balls rolled in corn flake crumbs...bite size (?). The Mockingbird grabbed one and immediately dropped it....must be too big, but came back later and got another one.
I do believe he is expressing his opinion of the photographer here....and it isn't a nice one.
I was trying to get shots of the different birds that I could crop close enough to study the feathers. I think this Mockingbird looks a bit young....his mouth still has that "pouty" look of a juvenile bird. He mostly comes and scares the other birds away, but doesn't eat a lot while I am watching.
It was a Blue Jay day....at least 4 of them out there. I never seem to get any real sharp close ups of them.
They like the "Driveway Diner" best and the corn feeder on the tree right above this area.
Mrs. Cardinal....still looking at feathers.
The ever happy Titmouse.
His feathers from the side.
The Carolina Wren posing briefly.
His feathers would be fun to really look at closely...the faint stripping and the little bars under the wings.
I thought he looked like he was trying to get his feet in a ballet position here :-)
Chickadee from the side.
I was trying something new....peanut butter balls rolled in corn flake crumbs...bite size (?). The Mockingbird grabbed one and immediately dropped it....must be too big, but came back later and got another one.
I do believe he is expressing his opinion of the photographer here....and it isn't a nice one.
I was trying to get shots of the different birds that I could crop close enough to study the feathers. I think this Mockingbird looks a bit young....his mouth still has that "pouty" look of a juvenile bird. He mostly comes and scares the other birds away, but doesn't eat a lot while I am watching.
It was a Blue Jay day....at least 4 of them out there. I never seem to get any real sharp close ups of them.
They like the "Driveway Diner" best and the corn feeder on the tree right above this area.
Mrs. Cardinal....still looking at feathers.
The ever happy Titmouse. 
His feathers from the side.
The Carolina Wren posing briefly.
His feathers would be fun to really look at closely...the faint stripping and the little bars under the wings.
I thought he looked like he was trying to get his feet in a ballet position here :-)
Chickadee from the side. I always wonder if I have both Black-Capped and Carolina Chickadees. If I do, I can't tell the difference, but sometimes it appears that some of my Chickadees are larger than other ones. I've read the descriptions in the books, but I really can't see enough difference to be sure. Since they don't "pose" very well....in and out very quickly....I never have really excellent shots to study.
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15 comments:
Wonderful shots Mary. Never heard of feeding them peanut butter balls. =) Hope you have a wonderful day.
I wish I could get the wrens and mockingbirds to visit my feeder Mary! I think the best way for you to tell the Black-capped from the Carolina is to study their song. I have the Thayer's bird guide software and it has all the songs and calls. The only drawback is it's cost, I think I payed almost $100.00 but it was worth it to me. I can play the songs with my computer room door open (to the outside) and the birds hear their songs and come runnin (flyin)! Especially the wrens, titmice and chickadees but I called in a golden-crowned kinglet too! The BC and C chickadees songs are different. BC says "fee bee" and C says "see dee see dee". You can probably find their song on the internet and listen. I think I read that where the two species mingle they may interbreed. So I don't know what song you'd hear there, but then I think I read that. Good luck
Hi Mary,
Your photographs of the birds are amazing. I think you get better with each post!
Eve's comment was very interesting! Wouldn't it be fun to have a recording that would entice the birds to come closer and check it out!!!!!
Have a happy day!
More really fantastic images Mary.
Kathy: Some of the birds really like peanut butter, so I buy cheap kinds and usually just spread it in holes in posts or on pine cones. This was an experiment.
Eve: I'm not very good at identifying bird songs. I definiely have heard the ones that say "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee". Since it is too cold to be out there listening right now, I haven't heard them lately. Will try harder to learn their songs this year. I like your idea of enticing them.
Dorothy: Thanks...it does sound like a good idea, doesn't it?
Roy: Thanks...I keep trying.
Hi Mary, I've heard someone mention that a Carolina chickadee when in song, sounds like a manic Black capped. Ie, alot faster. Might be something to listen out for when they start singing again. I love that you can get so close to your garden birds. My feeders of necessity are a bit too far from the house.
Super good close-ups Mary. It's fun to look at all the feather configurations.
I'm still waiting for some new sightings. I have so many sparrows and House finches this winter it might be difficult to tell if a newcomer was mixed in.
Lots of snow last night. We have over a foot now.
B.
...you have some real cuties here!!! I love home birds....
You got some great shots of your home birds. It's possible to study the details in the feathers from most of them. I would think the peanut butter balls would be popular -- many birds enjoy the peanut suet Betsy puts out.
Hi Mary, You and I did similar blogs today. I call them the backyard birds and you call them the home birds. BUT--we have most of the same ones...
Mockingbirds have NEVER come to our feeders. We have them around here though... I keep looking for one.
We have TONS of Goldfinch this year. Last year it was the Pine Siskins --but this year, it's the Goldfinch.
I also wonder whether I get a Hairy to my feeders sometimes... They look just like the Downy's but are bigger. AND--we get some BIG Downy's---so????? Who knows!!!
Great pictures...
Hugs,
Betsy
Love all the birds.The feather detail is so interesting.I know I sometimes miss the details in these birds.Thanks for drawing them to my attention again.
Blessings,Ruth
Stunning pics Mary and best wishes for the new year.
Mary: What a wonderful array of birds, you did a neat job of capturing them.
Fabulous captures! I LOVE the ballet pose!!
I thought wrens migrated, but have seen quite a few at our feeder as well. You certainly are "bird active"!
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