Attack of the Cooper’s Hawk!
Another Cooper’s Hawk attack witnessed on November 22 out our back window. The young, but good-sized Cooper’s Hawk swooped in missing in the initial attack and then landed on the nearby brush
Red-bellied Woodpecker on Sunflower Seeds
Another first at our backyard feeders, this big male Red-bellied Woodpecker bypassed the peanuts and suet to eat whole sunflower seeds on our feeder!
Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe
Camera guy Mark Gomez sent in this picture of a juvenile Pied-billed Grebe from Stony Creek Metropark.
First Junco of Fall 2016
There are official signs of fall and one of them is the arrival of the first Dark-eyed Junco! I thought I saw one a couple evenings ago but wasn’t sure.
Carolina Wren on suet Video
February 10, 2016 I was watching the winter world outside the kitchen window here in SW Lansing, Michigan when I spotted this chunky little Carolina Wren eating suet like it was going out of style!
On Deck with Blue Jays and Red-bellied Woodpeckers
With the fall coming, I’ve been tossing corn kernels on the back deck and the Blue Jays and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are taking full advantage!
Red-bellied Woodpecker eating corn
A new observation at our backyard feeders. Red-bellied Woodpeckers had been gone from our backyard for a few months but one male recently returned to our feeders and is doing something unseen before – eating whole corn kernels off the deck!
Pine Siskins in Pine
These Northern forest dwellers, the Pine Siskins, had never stopped by our urban backyard feeders before two seasons ago when 2 of the cute little birds showed up. They’re about the same size as a large Goldfinch
The Male House Finch
I keep watching the vast array of House Finches looking for a Purple Finch among them to no avail so far. But some of the male House Finches are somewhat beautiful though common as House Sparrows
Chickadee Neck Deep
Black-capped Chickadees are another one of those overachiever birds. They work hard for their food and energy.
The Cool Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is one of my favorite backyard birds. Most days I walk out back and hear the overly loud call of this small but powerful bird, whether it is singing, cheering or ditting away, looking for love, and other Carolina Wrens!
Downy versus Hairy Woodpecker
Sometimes it is easy to tell the difference between a smaller Downy and larger Hairy Woodpecker but here are some woodpecker pictures showing how to tell the difference easily between the two woodpeckers without going just by size.
Mourning Dove in Snow
Not trying to rush winter but this is another picture I like – a Mourning Dove pecking seeds out of the snow from a past winter.
Goldfinch and Nuthatch on Nijer
Sometimes pictures just speak to you, and this shot of an American Goldfinch and a White-breasted Nuthatch on the Nijer seed sock is one I like.
Dreaming about Juncos
Funny that I posted about some of the birds that show up bringing in fall every year and then I had a dream last night, and there was a Junco in our back yard ushering in fall!
Crest-less Blue Jays
We seem to get this every fall – scruffy, balding looking Blue Jays that I assume are molting as the reason their head looks bald without much of a crest.
Pine Siskins invade our feeders
This only started happening the past two seasons but for brief periods we get invaded by cute little Pine Siskins that fly down out of the North woods to visit our backyard feeders.
Chipping in the Evening
It’s interesting that almost every evening the last birds to show up outside at our backyard feeders are the Northern Cardinals. They come in to the sunflower and safflower feeders chipping away loudly so you can’t miss that they are there!