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| Downy Woodpecker |
We have had a very mild winter overall here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. However, a cold front came through our area on January 11-12 which brought us about 2 inches of snow plus some very very cold temperatures for a few days.
During that cold spell, my sweet little backyard birds FLOCKED to the feeders all day long. They ate so much I had to refill the feeders several times. I am so pleased that I can feed the birds --especially this time of year. They count on people like me who do this. I felt so sorry for the little birds out there in the cold ---but Georgie didn't think it would be a good idea to invite them all inside to get warm!!!!!! ha ha ha....
Needless to say, I took a bunch of photos of some of the birds who visited us during that time. Hope you enjoy seeing these sweet little birds. The picture above may be one of my favorite pictures that I've taken of a Downy Woodpecker. Isn't she pretty?
Be sure to click on the photos so that you can see larger views.
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| Tufted Titmouse |
The little Tufted Titmice are such sweet little birds. The are very active ---and go back and forth to the feeders for hours!
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| Eastern Bluebird |
Here is one of my favorites, our little Eastern Bluebird. This male looked so cold even though he is all puffed up to stay warm!!!!!
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| Dark-eyed Junco |
Everytime we get some snow, the Dark-eyed Juncos (which seem to love snow) are always around the feeders. They seem to stay below the feeders --and are happy eating some of the spillage.
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| Northern Cardinal |
This male Northern Cardinal thinks he is hiding from me in the Rhododendron. Since he is that bright red color, I'm sure he finds it hard to hide!!!!!!
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| White-breasted Nuthatch |
Another favorite of mine is the White-breasted Nuthatch... When I am on the deck filling the feeders, there is always a Nuthatch in a nearby tree. He just talks to me while I'm out there... Chatter Chatter Chatter!!!!! (He's probably saying: "Hurry up, Lady. I'm hungry!")
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| Gray Catbird |
I had a hard time deciding who this little guy was... He was really puffy and his gray color is darker in Winter... After researching, I think he is a Gray Catbird. The birds love my 'heated' bird bath this time of year --since they need water, and many places, it is frozen now.
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| Eastern Bluebird |
Finally, here's a picture of a female Eastern Bluebird. I enjoy seeing the colorful males, but the females are just as beautiful --in their own way!
I have another set to show you sometime... I always enjoy watching the birds anytime of year, but winter is very special. I still want to invite them inside to get warm... What do you think????? ha ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy
74 comments:
What fun to have so many birds visit your feeders and heated bird bath! I think my favorite pic from these, is the male blue bird. Have a wonderful day, Betsy.
Lovely photos..we get many of the same. I have no goldfinch, but perhaps they show up later in the spring and I have forgotten?
You have such a variety Betsy. My favorites are the Juncos with there natty attire and tidy behavior.
I too put a heater in my water fountain and they do love it. Now if we could just get some snow.
Thanks for sharing your birds with me. I have so few at the feeders. Perhaps it's because of that stray cay which keeps showing up.
I once made some hot Readybrek and placed it outside on a cold snowy day and the birds had so much fun just standing in it whilst eating and probably smiling too. I have many feeder out too and my favourite visitors are the coal tits and the long tailed tits. :)
...lovely shots of your winter birds! I love your Gray Catbird and your Eastern Bluebird. Matty likes them too. He was reading over my shoulder while we waited for his bus. He noticed you live in Fairfield Glade..."Hey, isn't that where Grandma and Grandpa live?" he exclaimed! :-)
Loved every picture, Betsy! Especially the blue-bird and the cardinal. Yes, I think you should open the door for a few minutes and invite all the birds inside to get warm...tnat is all of them who can get inside during the first two minutes before you close it to prevent you and George from freezing! ☺
Hehehe, know who else likes the heated bird baths? Raccoons! Yep, my neighbor has one and it is the funniest thing to see them sitting in the bird bath like it's their own personal Jacuzzi!
We love the bluebirds. They house on our porch each year. I love how puffed up your little fellow was - it must really be cold!
I always feel sorry for the birds when it is so cold outside. When we had -46c (-50F) temperatures last week. I went and bought some high fat bird seed. I wanted to fatten them up to help keep them warm. It's almost gone but thankfully our temperatures have warmed up a lot.
Thank you for sharing your birds Betsy!
xo Catherine
I can just hear the birds telling their friends to go to your house. Letting them know all the goodies just wanting for them to munch. LOL You are such a good bird momma!
Your feathered friends are well cared for ... heating their *pool* too!
Great photos! The birds here in WI are eating me out of house and home. Sure do love watching them fight over the bird feeder. haha!
the two bluebirds and the cat bird made me smile, they are so cute and fluffed up. i like that little titmouse a lot to. glad they came to your smorgasbord and I am trying to picture them all in your house...
Your photos are superb Betsy! I am with you; I always enjoy seeing a female Bluebird. I think it’s because I view her as the “underdog”.
John and Ellen
connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com
I saw Juncos outside yesterday, so I need to brave the elements and put some more feed out in the feeder. You have motivated me! It's seriously windy out there, and we have had about a 40 degree temperature swing down then up and now going back down in the last 48 hours. Fun times in Indiana weather!
Great pictures, Betsy!!! Love those Bluebirds! I must get a heated bird bath!!!
You've captured some great photos here, Betsy. It looks like everyone benefits from your feeders, even you. :)
I wish I had a heated birdbath. I keep running outside with hot water and pouring it in mine, trying to keep it thawed.
What beautiful birds you have had visiting and I'm sure they're very happy to find your yard! I do love your wonderful captures, Betsy! Hope you have a lovely week and that you and the birds stay warm!
Sylvia
just beautiful. you got some great shots. love the round, sweet eyes on the bluebirds, and lucky you to have nuthatches around!
I hope there is some natural heating mechanism in their little bodies that help them in the cold winters. Brrrr....
Holy Cow! What great photos!! I especially love that puffed up bluebird:)
Great pictures of the birds Betsy. You got some great shots. We have the Dark Eyed Junco when it snows, too. I think they show up because they look so beautiful against the snow!!! Diane
That warm water is a great draw to bring them in.A lovely selection of friends.
Well, the nuthatch is special today, because they are so cute and I don't thoik you have posted very many. But my favorites are the beautiful puffy bluebird and the eating titmouse. Your pics are so clear and sharp, it looks like they WERE in your house!!! Are you sure you didn't sneak them in when George wasn't looking?
Love the pictures - especially the bluebird!
I always love your birdie photos...and I love these as well...I've never understood how such tiny little things survive such harsh environments...
Have a beautiful sunshiney day!!!
Such a lovely variety of pretty birds. We get most of them here but what I do envy you is your Eastern Bluebird. I have never seen one other than in photos. This post reminds me that I need to check those feeders to make sure they are full, thanks Betsy.
Great shots Betsy and this reminds me I need to check my feeders.
You always have a beautiful variety at your feeders. Hard to beat the gorgeous Cardinal!
You sure do get lots of different kinds of birds at your feeders. Nice to see all the pictures.
Hi Betsy. You do have a lot of different birds at the feeders. I have only saw one Catbird around here and the Blue birds always leave here in the fall. I just love the Blue birds.
I love them all...so cute. But that bluebird has to be my all time favorite!!! Have a great day Betsy!
Hi Betsy and like you we are having a pretty mild winter so far in the Lancaster,Pa area. We did receive some snow this past Saturday giving us around 5 inches of snow, and that should be melting by the end of this week. Richard
Bird watching is a great way to spend your days during the winter. Thanks for taking care of these creatures and for sharing their beauty with us.
Hi Betsy, I love your bird shots. I have been putting out some cracked corn for the birds as well as suet, thistle seed, etc. I've noticed one feeder getting empty so quickly and late one night surprised some deer by the house. I think I know now why that particular feeder is always empty so fast!
Have a great day!
My fave is the red cardinal. I have never seen your birds in person.
You certainly are tweeting well here my dear friend.
Wow, those are good shots Betsy! Of course, the bluebird is my favorite.
Your bird photos are all beautiful. My favorite is the eastern bluebird although I've always loved the cardinals as well.
I feel sorry for those poor little guys out there in the cold too.
They are all so sweet looking! We've only put up the thistle socks this year. The deer kept knocking down our regular feeder last year!
You have had more snow than us!!! (I'm jealous!) the birds are beautiful!
I saw one bluebird yesterday and two robins....I'm hoping that is a sign of spring. I am so ready.
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Oh, I would invite them in too! But seriously, they do look good in your backyard. I'm glad they are feeding at the feeders.
You take such good pics. I love the bluebird best, because I hardly see any here.
Hugs
It is so nice to go to bed with such beautiful and happy pictures in my head. I LOVE your birds.
Love them. sandie
They are all beautiful so I feel mean to like one more than the other.. I do like the cardinals.. Poor things out in the cold. I'm so glad you feed them, we used to also when I lived there. Over here we have so many native bushes that supply food.
Great photos Betsy. That brightens a snowy day seeing these babies eating and bathing.
Loved seeing all your birds! I feel sorry for them walking around in the snow. I bet your heated bird bath feels like a hot tub to them! :)
What a joy and pleasure it would be to see all these pretty birds. Your photos are excellent.
Beautiful pictures. We had snow over the weekend, but today is in the 50's and it's almost all gone. Mildest January I can remember in a long time and I love it!
Beautiful photos. I too can sit and watch the birds eating seeds I have provided for them. Prince has a corn feeder that provides the turkeys and deer with plenty to eat. Maggie and I walked down the old farm road today and got within fifty feet of a flock of 36 turkeys. We turned around and let them go about their food finding. Maggie was a good dog and did not bark or try to chase them. Peace
I rarely see many varieties of birds at my house. I'm always excited to see an occasional woodpecker, instead of the usual pigeons, doves, and grackles. You have such a variety!
Hi Betsy, So glad we did not get severe weather last night. I just love the various photographs you have shown today. That Junco is one I really miss seeing here at my new place. Glad you have the feeder out. I bought bird food today so will have a feeder out quite soon. Have a great Tues. tomorrow!
Such great shots of the birds. I love seeing all your birds. I have been bad and not filled up my feeder lately. The squirrels were getting a little too piggy and not sharing with the birds. :)
Beautiful photos! I love birds shots.JoAnn
haha, i love that little joke. But you should have made a birdhouse bigger enough for them, sufficiently heated for to be like having a first class Bird Hotel.
Fantastic photos of such amazing birds. My favorite is the Eastern Bluebird because he is so "fluffy" looking. But each one has special qualities that are beautiful. A heated bird bath? Never heard of that. How thoughtful and yes I would imagine during the cold spells most of the water in bird baths is frozen solid. My grandmother loved the beautiful red cardinals. Blessings.
I love the puffed up blue bird and the bright red cardinal. You spoil them enough with food and warm water. Don't be silly birds are outside animals.
Sounds like our snow finally got over your way, hope the freezing rain doesn't follow. The little birds are all so cute. That little Gray Catbird is adorable but it does look cold and miserable. Maybe you could invite just a few inside.
Thanks for sharing your cute backyard birds. The junco in the snow looks like a little toy and I love your puffy bluebird. :)
Betsy, those little birds are so lucky to have you there feeding them. You got some really nice pictures. Hope you're staying warm there! :)
The Eastern Bluebird is my favorite out of this group.
Talk about a mild winter, the bulbs we planted in the Fall are starting to come out of the ground.
Great! We sure do get the same birds! I haven't seen any Catbirds, however. They won't show up here until closer to spring. We've had a mild winter so far, too. Aren't bluebirds wonderful? So colorful and cheery!
Photographs superb, really excellent shots!!
I'm so glad you feed the birds, too, Betsy! They are like little winter flowers and it's so nice they give you so much joy.
I never cease to be amazed at how many different and pretty birds you fin.
You are covered up girl.. I thought I had a lot coming.. but you're right about the feeding.. when it does turn a little cold I can't keep the feeders full.. love your little birds.. they are adorable..Susie
What beautiful pictures, Betsy! And I'm so impressed that you knew what kinds of birds you were photographing!
you have so many different birds at this time of year. but then again i don't have a feeder out. our winter has been mellow so far as well. lovely week to you Betsy.
You have quite a 'flock' hanging out at your place Betsy! They are all so cute and I know all are welcome . :)
Great pictures of the birds! The catbird looks chilly, with its feathers all puffed out!
Awesome. I like the tufted titmouse at once, yeah its cute and sweet ;)
You are so amazing to be able to capture the birds in good angles always! Your patience certainly made perfections! I bet you sweet talked the birds to pose for you! Ha ha!
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