LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Birds Don't Seem To Mind

When we lived in the Milwaukee suburbs, rainy days were bleak indeed and I hated them. I drove more than 20 miles to work on three of the ugliest freeways you can imagine. Everything in my path was the same color of gray...the road, the sky, and the concrete barriers lining the freeway.

Even at home, the birds deserted us when it rained, searching for safer and drier areas. We had large trees the birds visited in the rain, but they were across the expansive lawn and the birds were not easily visible from our house.

Here in North Carolina, we live in the woods right alongside the birds. We have the added joy of watching them when it rains. We put squirrel baffles over most of our bird feeders and the birds seem to flock to these. They serve nicely as rain bubbles. The uncovered feeders also welcome a lot of visitors.

There is never a time in which we look out and fail to see a Tutfted Titmouse. We had several breeding pairs nesting in our boxes and woods and many of them are still around.



The rain seems to have flattened this guy's tuft, but he doesn't mind.


This little goldfinch was so puffed up I feared it might be ill. But I watched it for several minutes and it was fine...just a bit chilly in this photograph.

We seem to see our Red-bellied Woodpeckers more often this fall. Perhaps there are more of them around. I do know they had two broods of young this year.



And we have had White-breasted Nuthatches galore! Several breeding pairs shared our woods and delighted us with their antics.


Rain in North Carolina is ever so much better than rain in Wisconsin, especially in the fall. For one thing, NC has more sunny days than gray ones in the fall and winter. Rain and fog may last a short while and then out comes the sun. In WI, it stays gray FOREVER. The second wonderful thing about rain in NC is that it actually stays rain for the most part. There's hardly such as thing as winter rain in WI. In winter it's sleet at best making those gray ugly roads icy. At worst, it's 15 inches of snow!!!
In addition to watching the birds, I've been able to get some knitting done and read several books. Other than wet dogs and dirty dog towels, rain is welcome here.

27 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Good Morning Carolyn, Great post. We have the same birds here regularly--plus a ton of Cardinals. Our Red-bellied are so noisy this year... I had heard them squawking before this year---but they seem to be MUCH louder now. It's a predicament though for them since it's hard to squawk and eat at the same time... ha ha

I'm sure you don't miss that WI snow and ice...
Hugs,
Betsy

Deborah said...

Those birds are beautiful.
Do you feed them?

Karin said...

You all must be getting our rain. We are so dry up here! Seems to me I recall that we used to have a fantastic October, then a rainy, drizzly November and then for Christmas we'd have snow! Things are different now! Love Fridays post too with your dogs! You have such sweet birds in your neck of the woods!
Enjoy!

robin andrea said...

So nice to see your backyard birds. A wonderful thing that they stick around through rains and winter. You sound very happy to be out of Milwaukee!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I enjoy a nice rain shower and I adore NC too. Great pictures. Tell the little Tufted guy that my hair flattens in the rain too, but I do mind. :)

Anonymous said...

Years ago we had a minister up there who said that the midwest was a great place for Lent. He was right!

Down here we have grey days; up there we had grey months! (Except for those below 0 days with the sun and ice crystals!) Just received e-mails from two Wisconsin friends who are heading south for the next several months.

thanks for the bird ID's. Sooner or later, maybe I can keep 'em straight. I did think I knew goldfinches on sight, but that little puffer would have stumped me.

George said...

We've had very little rain the past few days, but our feeders get lots of attention when it does rain. We've seen more of Red-bellied Woodpeckers this year as well. They're always fun to watch.

Cheryl said...

It is wonderful when the birds live so close. Mine are mainly at the rear of the garden where the large oaks live.....

I love your woodpecker, one day I will get a photographs of mine and post them......at least I live in hope that I will.....

It is still raining here.....dirty dog towels are in abundance this end to......

Vicki Lane said...

Great captures! These birds are all familiar guests at our feeders! I love the brilliant red of the red-bellied woodpecker's cap -- almost afire. And the soft sweet eyes of the titmouse and the somehow sly look of the nuthatch.

Anonymous said...

That Tufted Titmouse is bringing back the greaser slicked-back hair.

Rae said...

Loved your statement about wet dogs and wet towels. I can relate so well. My dog has learned to lift each paw to get it wiped before he enters the house.
And despite the gray skies in Green Bay, the Packers had a great day yesterday!!! Way to go Aaron Rodgers.

Sam said...

I feel like I haven't seen your bird watching pics in a while, so it sure is nice to get a glimpse of the Carolinian wildlife again.

Erica Houskeeper said...

The birds are really pretty, and I'm glad the rain doesn't bother them one bit. I know what you mean about the difference between WI rain and NC rain. My hunch is that WI rain is a lot like Vermont rain! We've had the sunniest November in Vermont that I can remember. But I don't want to get too used to it -- I'm waiting for the gray to settle in!

Take care.

Valerie Cummings said...

Beautiful pictures of your friendly birds!!! We just love em! Hugs Joey and Kealani

troutbirder said...

I really liked your birdy pictures but otherwise this is all tooo depressing. Obviously were not that far from Milwaukee and at the same latitude...... Oct. was a total bust and you forgot to mention how the cold rain is worse than snow. Any inexpensive woodsy lots still available on the Blue Ridge??? Oh well, probably not.

KB said...

I love the Tufted Titmouse. They were so common when I grew up in the east but they don't live here in my part of Colorado. The flattened tuft made me smile!

I love how the birds puff up when they're cold. Great photos!

Barb said...

Your bird photos are a joy! The woodpecker is so colorful and the little Titmouse looks as though he has a flattened Mohawk!

Anonymous said...

I cannot wait! All my feeders are packed up and in storage but they will be first out of the box. I get so much vicarious pleasure out of your posts.

Dawn Fine said...

Glad you are enjoying the rain. I love the rain when I am in Oregon..because I know it is bringing mushrooms with it.

Kerri Farley said...

Wonderful post! Love your bird shots!!

I see more RB Woodpeckers in the Fall too, but I wonder if that is just because I can see them better since the leaves are gone.

Jayne said...

If I could choose, I'd be exactly where you are Carolyn. :c) How wonderful that you all were able to escape to the mountains and your very own Shangri-la!

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

Yes, I've noticed that too. It's EITHER rain or shine. Which I will gladly take!

I love rainy days... when I get to stay home :)

Love the little bird!

Janie said...

Your house sounds wonderful, looking right out into the woods. Your bird photos are great!

Leedra said...

The birds are so much fun to watch in the rain. Nice that you have a good spot to see them from...and knit too.

Janet said...

Wow! Those are terrific photos! I love all the birds we have... We got through a 50-pound sack of black oil sunflower seeds every 10 days or so. Of course, we're also feeding our share of the squirrels. But we don't mind... All creatures are welcome!

I love seeing the birds against the bright white of snow. It's my favorite thing about winter in North Carolina.

Best to you!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Hi Carolyn,
I love the photos of these birds. Each morning the birds wake me up chirping in the forest. It's such beautiful music to hear them singing. I need to get my birdfeeder up since winter's coming. I love to watch the birds at the feeder.

Twisted Fencepost said...

Beautiful pictures!
I'll take the rain over the sleet and snow anytime, too!