More left overs......

We got icy rain last night. I forgot to post last night and don't have anything really new, but some more shots from the snowy day I didn't post yet. How to frustrate a Blue Jay (a.k.a. the Peanut Thief).......string some peanuts on a wire....
.......he was really irritated that he couldn't just grab one and take off with it! I actually strung them for the Titmouse, who I thought might have fun pecking on them to get the peanuts out.

Mike spotted this squirrel way out on the frozen lake getting a drink?

The Cardinals love this little clip on dish that is intended for mealworms. However I just put sunflower seeds in it.

My "Christmas Card" Downy shot :-)

I loved this photo of the male Downy peeking around the trunk of the tree.

Downys are just so photogenic in winter and snow.

The Goldfinch was peacefully eating all by itself at this feeder when the Downy suddenly hopped on to join it.

"Just keep your distance, please."

The female House Finch in the snow.

And the "Brat Pack" of House Sparrows.......always in a large group. This is only s few of the 40+ that were eating all the seeds on the deck.

World Bird Wednesday....Carolina Wren

It's World Bird Wednesday! Time to show our favorite birds to the others. For more World Bird Wednesday...click on the icon.
My bird today is the Carolina Wren. I've been seeing a lot of it the last few days. It is such a busy little wren, constantly moving....which makes picture taking difficult.
Of the feed that I have to offer, it likes the suet best.

During our recent snow it posed for me nicely while it took a rest from the wind.

It chooses some pretty silly postures for eating at times.....surely this isn't the easy way to reach this?

Here we have it doing calisthenics on the suet cage. Why it chooses to eat from the bottom...who knows?

It checks every one of my suet feeders!

....and the ground.

This was funny. This bird can hang on anything....anything! So where does it choose to try to get the suet? At the place where it is furthest from reach! All it would need to do is move around to the side of the cage and hang there instead. I'm getting the idea that this bird may not be too smart at times.

Determined....but not smart!

That is my silly little Carolina Wren for World Bird Wednesday!

Odds and ends at the beginning of the week....

I have some photos from before our snow that I wanted to post, so I guess this will be an "odds and ends" day.One of the Robins who have been helping eat the crab apples perched on the rim to get a drink and to preen a bit.
All fluffed up......looks like a miniature turkey!

OK....start at the tail

Checking each feather

Now....much prettier!

I don't get to see the Red-breasted Nuthatch too often, so I was pleased to see it stop by the fountain for a drink. Not a very attractive place for photos, but at least I got a few shots.

That heater in the water is doing a good job so far. The only trick is keeping the water level up high enough for the little birds like this one.

Time to add another liter of water!

Portraits on a snowy day.....

We had snow flurries all day on Sunday, so the birds were pretty frantic all day. Junco male
Junco female

Goldfinch

House Finch male

Downy

Cardinal female

Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Squirrel......alert for something.

I've taken so many photos today.

I just can't stop watching them when they are out there in the snow feeding.

Squirrel Sunday.....

I may have a new squirrel....and a new feeder.....but it looks like its up to the same old tricks!"Hey, where did this come from? It's got seeds in it! It must be for me!"
"How do I get it open?"

(It's not for you, Star....it's for the birds, so leave it alone)

"What!?........ALL feeders are mine!"

"Hmmmmm.....its sort of lightweight and tips, but I'll figure it out!"

(heh, heh, heh)

"Are you laughing at me? This is NOT a squirrel proof feeder. It's cheap plastic and I'll just gnaw my way in, so there!"

(You do that, Star, and you will not get any sunflower seeds for Christmas! Santa knows who's been naughty or nice.....and believe me, you can't fool him!)

"I'll be back......after Christmas!"