Not the only ones watching.....

We drove to Henderson, KY yesterday to check on the geese and ducks and found we were not the only ones out "bird watching".

 Right across from the field where the geese were gathering, this Bald Eagle was doing his own observing.

Maybe hoping for a wounded goose to attack?  I would think a full size healthy one would be a challenge.  Mike took these because it was on his side of the road.  But it did pose nicely for us!

Another " bird watcher".......we saw at least 4 hawks.  This nice Red-tailed was my best photo.

This one shot through the windshield isn't such a good shot, but at least it didn't fly away :-)  I really try not to disturb the birds too much while taking photos.  I realize that the daily hunt for food is serious business for them.

 Out in the flooded field there were a mixture of ducks....but pretty far away.  Some of the water is frozen and some not.  Here we have a pair of Mallards on the left, a Gull and some Shovelers on the right.  I think that one that is third from the left might be a Green-winged Teal, but not sure.

 A lot of the Snow Geese are still there, but they chose a field with lots of trees and brush between me and them.  Hard to get photos and lots of annoying branches in the way.

 Another group of ducks

 The geese.....not as many as before, but still in the 1000's, I'm sure.

 One fairly clear shot!

 More of the Shovelers.

A more distant view of the geese.....large band in the back with stragglers near the road. 

The Greater White-fronted Geese were hanging out on the other side of the road.  Not a large flock, but several dozen scattered along this little water area.

We also saw a group of about 30-40 turkeys!  They were behind branches, too.  Couldn't get out of the car without spooking them.

I was hoping for migrating sandpipers and snipe and more ducks, but we might be a couple weeks too early.  Still pretty cold.  Maybe in March?

Tufted Titmouse....

One of my favorite birds.  

I love these little guys, but they flit in and out so quickly and switch back and forth between the various feeders, so keeping up with them is challenging.

 They always looks so happy.

 "Wow....I found a really big peanut!"

 "Got another one!"

"Peek-a-boo!" 

 "Hmmmm.....which feeder will I land on this time.  Whichever one she isn't pointing the camera at!  I can out-smart her any day!"

 "I want all of these peanuts before someone else finds them!"

 Resting.....they never seem to rest :-)

"Maybe I'll try that suet stuff next."

Northern Mockingbird.....

The Mockingbird....a.k.a. "Mr. Mean".  I don't know why I always say "mister"....it could be a female for all I know.  They look alike.  

This is his stare of intimidation :-)  Are you scared??  LOL

 Mockingbirds are very territorial.  I can drive around the countryside and city and see them fly across the road to their bush or tree that they are protecting.  Or just sitting on the wires nearby.  Easy to spot when flying because of their white wing patches and white on the tail.

 At our house our resident mockingbird flies back and forth between the bushes, the trees and the house and garage roofs to keep trying to chase the other birds away from "his" food source.

 He likes our suet in the winter and will fly down and chase smaller birds away.  I have so many feeders he must get tired of trying to protect them all and most of the birds ignore him.

 Up in the tree waiting to swoop on some bird that gets near his suet.

 Just flew in to chase someone away.  Unlike most of the birds he is not out there eating constantly.  He spends more time flying around then he seems to spend eating.

Time for a well-deserved bite of food. 

 Portrait

Resting 

Close-up 

 Wing intimidation or balance....not sure which :-)

"Well, it is MY feeder and you know it!"

It's cold out there...

Yesterday the temps were dropping and some snow was forecast.  The birds obviously knew it was coming and were swarming the feeders all day looking for more food then usual for the cold night ahead.

 House finch males

 Do you think they know their red color looks nice with the red dish?  

 This one had a very red area above the tail.

Female Junco 

 Male Junco

Mrs. Cardinal.....notice the hopeful daffodil shoots. 

 Carolina Wren

 It kept making stops to hang on this pole, and I kept trying to get a good photo of it hanging there.  It is so fast!  Flits here and there and everywhere.

Upside down view. 

 Tail up

Against the dead leaves it really blends. 

 Mr. Cardinal, bright red and alert.

 Finches squabbling at the feeder.....Goldfinches and House Finches.

A couple of doves in the grass out front. 

 I love House Finches but they seem to be prone to a lot of problems.  Particularly eye problems.  This one looks like it is developing the puffy eye look.  Soon it will be closed entirely.  So sad.

This one has a feather problem up top and a weird beak.  The bottom beak seems a lot bigger than the top one and sort of misshapen.

Some Snowdrops that thought spring was just about here.....wrong!  Last night we got a bit of snow...just a dusting...and the temp is about 11 degrees this morning.  Brrrrrrrrr!