Two New Backyard Birds in my Yard

Purple Finches

I got so excited last week.  On Wednesday (3/26/13) during the morning,  I spotted THREE colorful birds on my plate feeder.... SO--I immediately got my camera and took some pictures....At first I thought they were House Finches ---but they just didn't look quite the same.  They had more of a raspberry color about them AND there was more color on them than on our House Finches.... Guess what?????  I had  PURPLE FINCHES at my feeder for the first time.  (Don't ask me why they are called "Purple" Finches --since they are definitely not purple in color.....??????)  I had seen Purple Finches when in Arkansas --but had never seen them here before.  As you can imagine,  I was very excited.

The picture above shows all three of the PURPLE FINCHES.   Be sure to click on the photos to see enlargements.

Purple Finch

I  cropped one of the photos of the PURPLE FINCHES to get a better photo of one of them.  What a gorgeous little bird!!!!

Red Crossbill

THEN---that afternoon (same day),  I saw another colored bird at the feeder.  I really didn't have any idea what this bird was ---so I took some pictures and sent one to my birder friend, CHRIS,  to find out the name of this bird....

He wrote me back and told me that I had a RED CROSSBILL at my feeder.... Wow---was I even more excited???  Another LIFE bird for me!!!!!!  I apologize for the photo since there was a shadow on part of the bird/feeder.  I lightened it some ---but the bird was much prettier than the picture shows.

What I do want you to see is the way the bill does 'cross' each other.... (Click to enlarge.) SO---Crossbill is a perfect name for this bird.  I did not have this bird pictured in any of my 'local' bird books --except for the Birds of the Smokies.  They do have Crossbills there ---so I guess he just came my direction just to visit!!!!  How nice!!!  That little guy just made this old woman VERY happy!!!!!

male Eastern Bluebird

But--there are other special birds in my life.  One is this little male EASTERN BLUEBIRD.  To tell you how much I love Bluebirds,  I ordered some MEALWORMS and a new bird feeder JUST for them.  How do you like the new feeder?  I put mealworms in the bottom and suet on the side containers...  Neat, huh???  Love the fact that it has a dome --so I can leave it out when it rains.

female Eastern Bluebird

Here is a female EASTERN BLUEBIRD at the Mealworm Feeder.  These little birds are nesting ---so I wanted to provide a special treat just for them!  Mealworms are expensive--so I may not  be able to afford getting them year-round ---but right now,  I'm enjoying being able to give them this treat which they love.

male Red-bellied Woodpecker

Here's a good picture of one of our resident RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS.  He is being nice and waiting his turn at the Suet Feeder.

Flying Finches at the Plate Feeder

I seldom get photos of birds in flight....  BUT--when I saw all of these finches on the plate feeder,  I jumped for my camera and snapped this one JUST as some of them flew away..

Goldfinches

Our adorable male GOLDFINCHES are getting their 'mating' colors now!!!!  They are very drab during the winter ---and then turn bright yellow (and black) in Spring/Summer....




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Deer in the Snow in our Front Yard

I'll close with two more of our recent snow pictures.  We had snow for about three days (March 22-25, 2013) --but never did get alot of accumulation. (maybe an inch or two at most).   However,  we caught four DEER trying to nibble on our English Ivy in the front yard.  Of course,  that is a NO-NO... I grabbed my camera and ran outside to get some pictures before running them off!!!!!  But---I felt sorry for them ---out there on that cold day in the snow!!!!!  As you can tell, it was snowing hard when I took this shot.

Deer in the snow

Here is one more picture of two of them --as they ran into the empty lot across the street.  Aren't they beautiful creatures???

Hope you have a wonderful day.   I feel the need (call it burn-out) to take a blog break.   I love blogging --and have been doing it since 2006.  BUT--for the past year or so,  I have been struggling  to keep it up--including all of the commenting on your blogs..  Both George and I have said that it has become work instead of pleasure, which is not good...  I know that many of you take breaks --so I'm going to try it.   Not sure when I'll be back ---but hopefully April 15 or so.  I want to work on Family History and work in the yard IF Spring ever gets here, along with other things.

I will still be emailing  and will be on Facebook some (which is simple)---so feel free to write, especially if something happens which I would want to know about... Many of you know that I'm an email person ---so don't hesitate writing me.   So many of you are very very special blog friends --and I don't want to lose touch...   Not sure what my future holds when it comes to blogging...  But--I'm thinking about making some changes (like I have done off and on in the past).  In the meantime,  thanks for loving and caring about me.   Love you ALL.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Around our Home in December/January

Today I will share with you some of our birds, deer --and a beautiful picture (above) I took of our sky one evening in December, 2012.  Isn't it gorgeous?  We had so much rain and dreariness in December --that when we did get a pretty sky (here and there), we had to get out and take a picture...

We see deer around our home ALOT all year long... Recently,  I'm sure they are hungry --so we seem to see them more on the golf course fairway behind our home.  Even though there's not much for them to eat in our yard now,  we still spray Liquid Fence to keep them OUT of the yard.  BUT--I love deer.  Aren't they gorgeous?  There were about 4-5 of them that day--and they were staring at me.... ha

One of the deer came a little closer ---so I could get a better shot with my long lens.  Isn't he just gorgeous?

And on another day,  another group stopped by --and I got this picture of one of them who came a little closer into our backyard.  Love those big ears--although they aren't nearly as large as the Mule Deer.. Have you seen them?

I showed you some of my Backyard Birds in THIS post on December 17,  so today I will show you a few more of my little Darlin's....  I've talked about all of our Goldfinch this year... But--we also have some HOUSE FINCHES around... Here is one (above) of the Male House Finches... I love his RED colors.

The Bluebirds have been coming around alot lately --as do most of the birds when it's winter and COLD... This is a gorgeous picture of a male Bluebird --with a Goldfinch and a Tufted Titmouse I think to the left.  EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are still some of the prettiest little birds around I think.

Here is a picture of two Bluebirds at the suet feeder...  Bluebirds ---as do most of the birds--will eat most anything during the winter.   They seem to like the suet and also the fruit/nut combination in the plate feeder.

I love our little DOWNY WOODPECKERS.  Like the Red-bellied Woodpeckers,  they are with us year-round---and love the suet...

Here is one of my all-time favorite birds,  the huge PILEATED WOODPECKER.  They (like the Red-bellied Woodpeckers) make alot of NOISE before coming to the feeders.  AND --even though they are very large birds,  they seem to be able to handle themselves quite well at the feeders...  Sometimes they come to this feeder and hang on --and other times,  they come to the other suet feeder...

Finally,  here are a couple of photos I took of another favorite bird,  the NORTHERN FLICKER WOODPECKER...  I love these birds --and was lucky to catch him on the deck...

Here's one more of that gorgeous Northern Flicker.  He's looking up at the suet feeder waiting his turn for some dinner!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing pictures around our home this past month or so... There's never a dull moment living here in the mountains of Tennessee...

On another note,  prayers for the family of Leontien--who lost her battle to cancer on Wednesday.  Many of us have followed her on Blogger --and have prayed for her.  She certainly fought the good fight.  I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone fight as hard.  God rest her soul.  She is now out-of-pain and with God....

Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Too Close for Comfort

Mama Deer taking off --running up the street!!!

On 8/14/12 at about 5 pm,   George took some trash out to the garage... He came running back inside telling me to get the camera.  There were FIVE deer (a mama and 4 fawns)  VERY close to our mailbox in the front yard!!!!!!  YIPES----if we hadn't have seen them,  and if they hadn't have seen us----they may have enjoyed our gorgeous roses.... Like I said,  too close for comfort!!!!!!   BUT---we saw them and they saw us!   Mama immediately took off up the street to the empty lot on the other side of the road.  The little ones followed her.   HOWEVER,  I did manage to get some great photos of them --so I'm sharing them with you today!!! Be sure to click on them to enlarge them!!!

Fawn #1--prancing up the street after Mama (Look at that tail!)

Look  how close they were to some of our ROSES!!!!  Yipes!!!

Another fawn--trying to catch up to Mom!!!!

I love this photo of two of them prancing together headed up the street toward Mama!

This little one was lagging behind...  He is in our yard.  See our mailbox?????

I could hear him saying:  "HEY--Wait for Me!!"

"I'm trying to catch up... I REALLY am!"   (Isn't there always one child who lags behind?)

Hope you enjoyed seeing these beautiful critters.... We love them ---but do NOT want them eating our flowers or plants...  As long as they stay away from them,  they will be on my "Favorite Wildlife" list.... IF and WHEN they eat something in our yard,  they will no longer be on that list!!!!!! ha

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  We certainly did!!!  We went to Georgia on Friday and did some hiking --searching for new waterfalls.   We saw 3 on Friday.  Then,  on Saturday,  we visited Cupid Falls (which we had seen before) --and while I attended my sweet almost-daughter-in-law's bridal shower,  George found three more waterfalls,  two new ones and one we had seen previously...    SO---when it comes to waterfalls,  we saw 7 waterfalls this weekend ---with 5 of them being NEW to us!!!!!! 

The shower was great ---and Dawn and Jeff got LOTS of beautiful gifts...  She got so much that it was hard getting all of it into her SUV.....   My son, Jeff, is so blessed to have Dawn in his life!  The wedding is in October.

Have a fabulous Monday!

Hugs,
Betsy

DEER and BIRDS

Aren't the little fawns adorable?

I thought you might enjoy some recent pictures of bird and deer activity in and around our home.   I'll start with the deer...  This is the time of year when  Mama Deer will bring her little ones out into the open to eat!!!!  I have been watching for them,  but they 'love' to hide from me!!!! ha...  I do have 3 recent photos to share... Hope you enjoy them.

This Mama was alone and running from me.   However,  I snapped a good shot of her --with the afternoon sun showing off her beauty!

Here is the latest picture I have of the little fawns... They certainly are growing fast... Look at those long and lanky legs!!!!

Here is a photo of two Mourning Doves sharing (sorta) the Plate Feeder with a little Carolina Chickadee.

This is a cute picture of a White-breasted Nuthatch talking with a Goldfinch... I think I heard him say: "Come on Down, Mr. Goldfinch.  There's enough here for both of us."

Here  is Mr.  House Finch --enjoying some dinner!!!  Since it's getting late in the season,  many of the colorful birds are now beginning to lose their pretty colors.

Mama  House Finch  ( or maybe this is a juvenile) is enjoying a short nap after having dinner...

Here's another picture of my resident Mourning Doves...  They come to the Plate Feeder in the late afternoon/evening.

Finally,  here are two pictures I got of one of our Hummingbirds.   YES---they finally came to our home to visit ---and we see (and hear) them at both of their feeders now off and on all day.  We mostly have Ruby-throated Hummingbirds here.  This feeder is in our front yard near one of our rose beds. 

This is a picture I captured  of one of the Hummers at the feeder on our back deck.  The females don't have a ruby-colored throat like the males do.

Hope you enjoyed seeing our birds and deer.   Since we live in the woods,  we also have other wildlife critters nearby....  There is a family of raccoons which visit our deck during the night (to eat any left-over birdseed)...  We also have bats which take naps during the night on our front porch.... No pictures yet of either though...

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Hugs,
Betsy

Deer on Bald Knob, West VA

This is our guide.. The deer obviously know him.  He is taking them a 'goodie'!

On September 16, 2011,  George and I were in Cass, West Virginia riding an old steam engine train up to Bald Knob (elevation 4700+ feet).  IF you missed my post on this ride,  click HERE to read about it.   As I mentioned in that post,  when we got to Bald Knob,  we enjoyed watching some deer coming for some snacks...  Apparently,  they come every afternoon when the train gets there--because they know that someone will bring them some treats!  Here are my photos of the deer at Bald Knob!!!!

Mama Deer will come right up to our guide... The baby is not quite sure!!!!!

The guide walks closer to the train... Mama follows.. Baby stays behind!!!

Now --there are THREE interested deer around!!!

Looking up at us (on the train),  the deer is saying: "Anyone got any food for me?????"

Mom and Baby are leaving.. Guess they got enough to eat!!!!!

We are leaving ---but the deer is still standing there hoping for more food..  (The guide had told us to throw crackers/bread/popcorn out for them.  They got alot of snacks!!!)

This was just so neat ---watching the deer 'begging' for food...  Our guide was just marvelous.  He talked to us on a microphone the entire trip---giving us history of the area all along the way...  He'd tell us when to look a certain direction for great views... It was awesome!!!!!

IF you ever get to West Virginia,  be sure to go to Cass --and ride the train... SO much FUN!!!!!

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy