Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas Birds


Except for showing my Cardinals in yesterday's post, I haven't done a bird post in a long time. AND---I enjoy having LOTS of birds at my feeders all year round. I sit on my throne (sofa) --and watch the little birds going back and forth most every single day. They are such a joy to watch. Some of our birds have disappeared (Bluejays, most of the Bluebirds, Brown Thrashers, Robins, Hummingbirds) ---but will be back in spring. I have seen a few Bluebirds --but not often.

The birds we have at the feeders regularly now are: Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, LOTS of Goldfinches, Some House Finches, and our woodpeckers (Red-bellied and Downy mostly).. There are Northern Flickers and Pileated Woodpeckers around --but they don't come to the feeders.

Yesterday, while watching my football team LOSE (sigh!) and while cutting out the latest coupons and making my grocery list for the week, I decided to see if I could take some pictures to share with you.

WELL----as you can tell from seeing the following pictures, none of them are very good. It was a cloudy day and the snow that is still on our deck caused a glare---plus the fact that I didn't realize that our lit Christmas tree was causing reflections (as you will be able to see) on the feeders and on the birds. I almost threw away all of the pictures --but then decided I'd show them and call them my Christmas Birds!!!!!!


Hope you enjoy some of my little angels. This female Cardinal in the picture above was busy stuffing her mouth!! Notice the reflections from our Christmas tree lights?????? Ha -Ha... Sorry I didn't get a picture of the males since they are so pretty this time of year with their red colors. I missed catching them at the feeders and I also missed catching the Red-bellied and the Downys. Oh Well--hope you enjoy the ones I managed to get.




A little Goldfinch sitting on the line ---waiting his turn at one of the feeders





We have lots and lots of Goldfinches this year---but so far, no Pine Siskins... (You may remember from last year that we had hundreds of Pine Siskins!!! I hope they go elsewhere this year! My 20-30 Goldfinches keep the feeders busy enough!)





I love this sweet picture of a male Goldfinch... He has lost his beautiful yellow summer color--and it's hard now to tell the difference between the males and females.





We also have some House Finches at our feeders. There aren't as many as there are Goldfinches but I love that red color on the males.




I added a string of lights to this male House Finch. Isn't he pretty????? He's definitely a Christmas bird!!!!! ha ha





Now---the string of lights is a necklace around his neck... Doesn't he look like it's Christmas????





The little Tufted Titmouse on the left wonders why he didn't get a string of lights around his neck. Doesn't he look sad???? AND--the House Finch is trying to EAT the lights to keep Mr. Tufted from having them!!!! ha ha






The Christmas House Finch on the left was enjoying wearing his lights as a hat ---and the House Finch on the right was looking UP searching for his own lights....

WELL---that's about all that I have to share today... Again, I apologize for the bad quality. Hopefully I can get some better pictures soon. In the meantime, let me say again--for the millionth time---how much I LOVE my BIRDS. They bring so much joy ---and right now, they ARE definitely my "Christmas Birds"...

Have a great Monday!!!
Hugs,

P.S. Thanks for all of your thoughts on my mystery critter prints I found on our deck after the snow. You ALL gave me some great answers but I have to say that my favorite answer came from Blog Friend SANDRA. Sandra said that Rudolph paid us a visit. I'm sure he was checking out the house---making sure he would have a place to land the sleigh on Christmas Eve. Thanks Sandra... That was a great answer!!