Bob the Mourning Dove - Part II

Poop or treat!! Whoops....I mean Trick or Treat!!

Red-bellied dreams come true!

The wait is over - a Red-bellied woodpecker has come to visit me! In the summer they ignore my feeders. But in winter I become quite popular with them. I saw the male briefly. And then the female obliged me. The first photo was shot through the window - and then when I opened it - I was only able to get off one shot of the back of her before she flew away. Usually they are not this shy.

Bob the Mourning Dove

Bob the Mourning Dove considers his options.

"Should I poop first in the birdbath or should I drink first?"

A flash of red

A flash of red - and voila - the male Downy Woodpecker. My winter woodpeckers are coming pack. Now I'm just waiting for the Red-bellied.

Female Downy Woodpecker

I had the female and male Downy Woodpecker come to visit this morning. I was so happy! They really are gregarious birds and not shy. I was hanging out my kitchen window to shoot photos of them and they just gave me a quick glance and continued eating. I'll feature the male tomorrow.

Nuthatch with a nut!

Visitors I've had today - Cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch and White-Breasted Nuthatch.

Bird that allowed me to grab my camera in time to snap one photo:

White-Breasted Nuthatch!

Meow

Once again Shelley has told me no to going outside. My promises have fallen on deaf ears and the birds outside will never know my friendship. And here I sit, taunted all day long hearing "chicka dee dee dee!" Doesn't that bird know any other songs?!

Meow?

Upside down Nuthatch for Eve

Eve at Sunny Side Up was right yesterday, I forgot the upside down shot of my White-breasted Nuthatch. If you look closely at the bottom of the photo, you can see the seed that the nuthatch has wedged into the crevice of the tree.

The 3 sides of the White-breasted Nuthatch

Here is my front side where you can see my beautiful white chest!

Here is my side view, don't you love the blue on my wings?

And here is the back view. No further comment needed!

More Chickadees

I was hoping to get photos of the flock of chickadees together but they moved so fast. I had to concentrate on one chickadee at a time. Some were curious about me - I mentioned the one yesterday landing on my head. But I also had one land on the railing right in front of me just looking at me - so close I could touch him - and too close so I couldn't photograph him. My goal this winter is to have them eating out of my hands.

Hungry Chickadee

Yesterday I had a flurry of Black-capped Chickadee activity. There's a family (or gang) of about 9 that were flying around sampling all my feeders. I had one land on my head for about a second as I was refilling a feeder - can I tell you how much that thrilled me?

How do you like this view?

Episode from the Sorpranos

Listen Shelley. I don't appreciate those baffles you put on your bird feeder so I can't get to the bird seed. Now I think you can spare me a few peanuts.

I mean look what happened to St. Francis.....I don't want anything else to happen in the yard.....I'm just saying......

Tis the season

Do you know of any Halloween parties I can attend?

No birds but how about this view?

This is Bradford Lake - home to my beloved Loons in the Spring & Summer. No birds on this day but wanted to share this autumn view.

More Gull Photos on Bradford Lake

I wish I could've caught the front view of these sea gulls - but I still liked the way their reflections looked on an autumn touched lake.

I will follow you

My husband couldn't make it up to the log cabin this weekend but I wanted to dedicate this morning's post to him. Honey - as I watched these 2 gulls fly across the lake - I thought of us. I would follow you anywhere.

P.S. I apologize to my blogger friends for this brief moment of mushiness!

Canuck Madness!

I love using that word "canuck" to describe Canadians! I just like the sound of it! By the way - why are these geese called "Canadian Goose" when they always seem to be over here in the U.S.? Just my silly question to ponder today.....

A cat's promise

Seriously, if you'd just let me go outside, I would eat some...I mean find some birds for you. Really....you can trust me.

A saucy note

"When piped a tiny voice hard by,

Gay and polite, a cheerful cry,

Chic-chic-a-dee-dee! saucy note

Out of sound heart and merry throat."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A white-breasted Nuthatch Beauty

I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful white belly on a bird!

Some of my favorites - Part III

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the Loons best!
I love their haunting call, the way their chicks ride on their back and admire what good parents they are. And have you ever seen such beautiful black and white patterns in feathers such as theirs?

Some of my favorites - Part II

I love my birds big & small!

Here is my beloved chickadee - a small bird with a ferocious heart!

And here's my large eagle - so majestic and beautiful to behold!

Some of my favorites - Part I

I will be out over the weekend but wanted to share some of my favorite photos. I look forward to catching up with all of your blogs!

I never get enough of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I think they have one of the sweetest bird faces!

Another Pileated Photo

I forgot I had this photo as well when the Pileated moved to the other side of the tree. You can see his eye a little bit better. I have big plans to buy some big suet cakes to keep him around and get better shots!

P.S. I will be at the Log & Timber Show in Chicago the next few days so I will have automatic postings of some of my past favorite photos. I'll be sure to catch up with all of you when I get back!

Duck Love!

Can you see the female giving the male her bashful pose?