November Brings the Birds to the Bird Kitchen

Black-Capped Chickadee  (taken on 11/6/14)

Most everyone knows that I  spoil feed my Backyard Birds...  I don't take (or have) time to take too many pictures these days  --but since it has been awhile since I published a Bird Blog Post, I decided that it was time to do one.

I have 11 different feeders in my Bird Kitchen ---and I have to store them in a large container we have on the deck,  every night!!!!  If I didn't put them away from view,  the Raccoons (which always visit us at nights) would STEAL eat everything...

SO--each morning,  fairly early,  I put out the feeders.  Then I ring the dinner bell (a windchime) ---and step back inside the house.  The birds flock to the feeders for breakfast....It's so much fun to watch them.

We have different birds at different times of the year... Right now,  we are watching LOTS and LOTS of Finches (mostly Goldfinches) at our feeders... I didn't count them when I saw them on Saturday (8th),  but there were probably 40 Finches on the deck...

Hope you enjoy today's pictures --and remember to click on them for enlargements.   None of the pictures are very clear since I was shooting through a dirty window and screen --and the lighting on the deck was not very good.  But--you'll get the idea of all of the joy I have watching 'my' birds!!!!

Above is a cute picture of one of my favorite little birds,  the Black-capped Chickadee.  We have these birds year-round ---and when I'm outside, they love to chatter to me from the trees around the Bird Kitchen.  Wish I knew their language---but I'm sure they are either saying: "Thanks for the delicious meal"   OR   "Get in the house, Lady,  so that we can EAT in peace."  Which do you think they are saying??????ha ha

A Black-Capped Chickadee and a Tufted Titmouse on the Plate Feeder  (11/6/14)

Finches anyone????? We have more finches right now than any other bird.  They love to 'hog' the feeders......UNTIL???????  (11/4/14)

.... the Mourning Doves visit!!!!  The Doves are so big --- they TRULY can 'hog' the Plate Feeder.  (11/4/14)

The Finches are patient for awhile (see that one waiting?).... BUT ????  (11/4/14)

...Then --they decide to descend upon the Doves!!!!  One Dove (named Mabel) flew away --but I heard another one (named Joe)  say to the third one: "Henry,  let's get outta here and get away from these noisy Finches".  (11/4/14)

Did you notice the Eastern Bluebird in the photo above this one????  Anyhow --we have several Bluebirds (year-round birds here) who love to come to the Mealworm feeder...  I love this photo of the Mourning Dove staring at Mr. Bluebird.  Wonder what he is thinking???  (11/4/14)

I love this:  watching the cute little Eastern Bluebird (perched on TOP of the Arbor) waiting to get a turn at the Mealworm feeder.  (11/4/14)

I love this picture of Mr. Bluebird grabbing a mealworm.  (11/4/14)

Another photo showing Mourning Doves,  Finches and a Bluebird  (11/4/14)

Here's one more showing a bird in flight --along with the Doves, Finches and a Bluebird... The Mourning Doves are SO big compared to the small Finches!  But that doesn't seem to bother the much smaller Finch in the plate with the Doves.

On  11/8/14,  look who came to visit!!!!   It's a Pileated Woodpecker (even larger than those Mourning Doves).  AND it looks like this guy is getting fattened up for the upcoming long winter ahead!

BUT---as you can tell,  even the big Pileated Woodpecker doesn't scare the Finches away!!!! The Pileated Woody didn't pay any attention to them since he was going after the suet... AND--the Finches didn't pay any attention to Mr. Pileated... I guess they know it's 'safey in numbers' when it comes to being around the bigger birds!!!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my Backyard Birds... I am blessed to have so many here to enjoy!!!!  There are many more who visit --and I just need to take some time to get some more pictures to share.  I do enjoy these sweet little birds.

We are still very BUSY in the yard these days (getting up leaves,  cleaning out flowerbeds,  planting spring bulbs,  etc.)...  It's just THAT time of the year!!!

Hope all of you are enjoying November SO far... Get out and enjoy Nature before it gets too cold.  Speaking of COLD,  we are supposed to get VERY cold beginning this Thursday --and then stay cold for awhile....SO--winter is coming!

Hugs,

Emoticons

Summer Backyard Birds

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 

I've had a lot of fun this summer watching and taking pictures of my Backyard Birds when they visit the Bird Kitchen on my back deck.  All but one of today's pictures were taken in August of 2014.   The first batch are just a variety of some of our many visitors.. The last group are from my favorite little birds,  the EASTERN BLUEBIRDS....

Hope you enjoy the photos.. Be sure to click on them for enlargements....  SO---get another cuppa,  sit back and just enjoy!!!!!  Above is another of my favorites  (Ahhhh Shucks --they are ALL favorites!!!! ha),  the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.. All of the woodpeckers love the no-melt Peanut Suet....

NORTHERN CARDINAL on the Plate Feeder

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the Suet Feeder

PILEATED WOODPECKER  (our biggest visitor, also at the Suet Feeder)

HA HA, What a Face!  Mr. PILEATED is giving ME the 'look'!!!!  I think I heard him tell me to "Get Outta Here" -----Ya think????

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I bought this new bird feeder in July for peanuts for our Blue Jays (which we have many)... The new feeder is domed which protects the bird food when it rains.  It also helps protect (sorta) the food from the squirrels...  BUT--since buying this one,  I will say that the Blue Jays don't like that feeder... They are TOO large for it --and since it is light-weight,  it swings too much for them.  SO--I have made some adjustments this month.  The smaller birds love this feeder --so I now have Fruit and Nuts in this feeder.  The Blue Jays will continue to grab their peanuts from the Plate Feeder (which is heavier and larger)...  BUT--I do recommend this domed feeder --which is similar to the domed feeder I use for the mealworms for the Bluebirds.

Here  is a photo of part of my Bird Kitchen.  There's something new there.  Can you see it?  Look in the upper right corner.... We have a new bird feeder made with Stained Glass.  Isn't it gorgeous?  This actually came from an antique store --and was given to me for my birthday from son Jeff and daughter-in-law Dawn.  I love it!!!

We have a new bird house on the front porch  (also given to us by Jeff and Dawn).  I have been concerned about our little Carolina Wrens --who want to nest in the garage (a NO-NO)... Now they are nesting in the hanging basket you see there...  SO---hopefully they will use the new little nest box the next time they raise a family!!!!!



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These last 6 pictures (some of which were taken by George when I was in the shower)  are my favorite ones.  I love our EASTERN BLUEBIRDS ---and they live here year 'round.  They begin nesting each year in Spring (in the nestbox we provide for them), and have had at least TWO families this year..   Sometimes they have THREE families ---but I'm not sure they will this year.  They are happy here and love the mealworms we provide.   I love this photo of Daddy in flight --as Baby is BEGGING.

Note that the Baby Blues are as big (or bigger) than the Daddy...

This one has been cropped --so it's not very clear.. BUT--I wanted you to see a close-up picture of this precious Baby Bluebird... They are very spotty --and full of little fuzz like so many baby birds are!!!!!  TOO adorable!!!!

YUM------Baby is enjoying some delicious mealworms!!!!   Daddy also tries to teach the little ones to feed themselves. 

Now we have TWO Babies begging for dinner!!!!  Is Daddy Blue looking at ME ---telling me to leave them alone??????

Both Little Blues are being patient while Daddy gets some more mealworms to share with them... Once Daddy turns around,  I wish you could hear and see those little ones.  They shake all over and make the cutest little tinkly sound!  It is truly awesome!

The other thing I wanted to share today was to tell you that the older brothers/sisters (from the first family born this spring) also help Daddy with caring for, feeding and teaching the young ones.  At some times,  there are 5-6 Bluebirds in or around the feeders.   They are SO much fun to watch.  Wish you were here!!!

Hope you had a good weekend and have a great week ahead.
Hugs,

Emoticons

Feeding the Baby Bluebirds

Daddy Bluebird coming to the Mealworm Feeder --eating some himself,  and taking some to one of his Babies!

First of all,  WELCOME to any of my Photo Blog followers!  I decided to stop the Photo Blog for now and resume a Wednesday post on this  (my main) blog!   Hope you all enjoy it, and will sign up to follow me here.

I am so fortunate to have Eastern Bluebirds in my yard year-round.  Spring/Summer are my favorite times to watch them since they nest in our nestbox in the backyard ---and then begin bringing the little ones to the feeders after they have fledged.  Mom and Dad Bluebird usually raise  about 2-3 different 'families' per year,  with each group consisting of from 3 to 5 little ones..

The first group here this year started with FOUR eggs.  We are not sure that all 4 of the babies made it --but as of now,  we have seen 2 of them! Mom and Dad are EXCELLENT parents and once the little ones fledge,  the parents keep a close watch on them as they learn to live in this big-ole world!

About a month after they leave the nest,  Dad (who is the main feeder of the babies) starts bringing them to the bird feeders.  Mom is always nearby --and keeps a watch on all of her babies... They are SO much fun to watch.

Today,  I'll share a group of photos I took beginning on Sunday,  5/25/14.  Hope you enjoy seeing my photos...  Some of them are not the 'best' --because I was taking photos through screen doors and 'dirty' windows... ha.. BUT--you'll get the idea!!!!!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

See that mouth-full Daddy Blue is carrying????    That is for one of the hungry babies!!

At first,  the babies stopped on the TOP of the arbor (above the feeders)... Daddy would feed them up there (which made it harder for me to get pictures)...

I don't want to forget Mama Bluebird.  Even though she doesn't feed the babies,  she is always around watching and protecting them.

Here's another photo of Daddy with one of the babies on the TOP of the Arbor.  I love seeing those precious little speckled babies--even though they are about as big now as their parents... (The parents obviously feed them well!)

Daddy Blue and one of the babies were watching a Blue Jay who was trying to get his turn on the plate feeder!!!

I love this photo of one of the Baby Bluebirds... Precious,  don't you think?

OKAY!!!!  One of the little ones finally got brave enough to fly down to the plate feeder.  (He still counts on Daddy to feed him though --and doesn't quite know how to do it himself yet.)

Daddy Blue was trying to teach the little one to eat from the feeder.

Again,  they are 'looking' at that Blue Jay  (who desperately wants one of those peanuts on the plate feeder)

Look at the BIG mouth --begging for food....  AND--as you can tell from the mealworms in Daddy's mouth,  that baby is going to get fed.... Adorable,  aren't they?

This is my favorite photo from this set...  I love watching the babies beg for food... AND--you should hear them crying...  They make the cutest little sounds one can imagine!!!!   Wish you all were here to see this...

UPDATE:  Didn't mean to confuse anyone --but some thought I was suspending THIS blog too.. I am not and will continue to post on Monday/Wed./Fridays.

Okay----that's about it from Betsy's Bird Kitchen today!!!!!  Have a fantastic Wednesday.

Hugs,

Emoticons