LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, December 13, 2010

What a Variety

Purple Finch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Chickadee, Goldfinch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Junco, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cardinal, and Pine Siskin.  We have seen all these birds this morning.  What a treat!  Well, except for the Pine Siskins.  A week after we put the Niger and cracked sunflower seed feeders back up, the irruptive Pine Siskins returned in huge numbers.  So we took down everything except for the black sunflower and suet.  We still have a few, but they can't congregate as well on the sunflower feeder since there are fewer feeding stations and no platform.  At least the other birds have a chance to get to eat.

Like most areas of the country, we are having MUCH colder than normal temperatures.  Normally we don't have a problem with the water freezing, but today we've gone out on a regular basis to break the ice so the birds can get a drink.  They are really packing away the food and it's such a joy to see so many birds coming back and forth.  The trees are filled with birds waiting their turns.




No matter how common they are, Cardinals are delightful, especially in winter.

I drew the following names for the "Pay It Forward" blogger project.  They are Elora, Pat, and Tara Dharma.  I'll send each of them a handmade item within a year.  They, in turn will send handmade items to three of their blog readers within a year.  It's a nice way to "connect" with others in the blog world.

Stay safe and warm out there!

13 comments:

Rudee said...

What a gorgeous photo. He's so colorful against that backdrop. The only wildlife seen here today is a fat black squirrel. I don't know how he could bear the cold.

Carolina Linthead said...

I bought a new feeder today and put a sunflower mix in it. During the summers we mostly just feed the finches using tube feeders, along with the doves, etc., that work the ground below. Our neighbors feed everybody else, trust me, and I did a good job keeping the birdbath fresh, resulting in some spectacular pool parties! Now it is frozen solid and covered in snow :-(

SouthernSass said...

Beautiful photo of the cardinal! Stay warm!

Karin said...

Oh, the cardinal is gorgeous!!

Vicki Lane said...

We have the same cast of characters at our feeders, along with Blue Jays and Mourning Doves. They are going through the sunflower seed at a great pace!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I saw alot of the same birds at our feeders today --and will blog about it tomorrow. Thank goodness we don't have the Pine Siskins so far this year --but we have plenty of Goldfinches and House Finches.

I feel so sorry for the birds during this horribly cold weather. It's about 10 degrees right now --and the windchill is below zero... We got about 6 or more inches of snow here. Too cold to enjoy it though...

Stay safe and stay warm. And keep feeding those birds.
Hugs,
Betsy

Jayne said...

No Pine Siskins here yet... um, could you just tell them to stay in the mountains? I have bad Salmonella flashbacks of the winter they overran my feeders. Love your list of morning birdies! Have only had the Red-breasted Nuthatch once. Have a great day my friend!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I agree, cardinals are my most favorite. Especially love seeing them in winter photos.
Stay warm!!!

George said...

That's a great picture of the cardinal. Our feeders have been very busy in this cold weather as well, although we haven't noticed any Pine Siskins yet (I hope we don't!).

Barb said...

Beautiful Cardinal shot, and I love the Santa in your Header!

Toni aka irishlas said...

A cardinal's color just seems to "pop" against wintertime hues.

Sadly I've been working so much I haven't had time to admire my feathered friends around the homestead.

KB said...

You are lucky to have such a variety of birds at your feeders. Our bunch becomes very predictable at this time of year, with just a few species, including coyotes :)

Ruth said...

What a treat to have all those birds around on the same day. It is very cold here and the birds have to get their liquids from the snow. I watch them picking the flakes off the tree branches.