Few more winter bird pics..........

[CathyA]

Redbellied woodpecker
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3040_zpsc4807ffb.jpg


Titmice
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3091_zps9d4ac894.jpg

Carolina wren
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3096_zpsaf27c170.jpg

Downy woodpecker
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_2998_zps98f40119.jpg

female cardinal
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_2984sharpened_zpsdd894a86.jpg

[Rosemary]

Beautiful pics!
Looking out the window this morning, I saw what appeared to be a rather large songbird far back in our yard, hunkered down in the snow. I was watching it because I could not figure out what kind of bird it might be or why it would be doing this.

Then it came up out of the snow with a mouse or vole in its claws! I don't think it was large enough to be a red-tailed hawk, which are fairly common in our area, so I'm not sure what it was. It flew a short distance and then ate the rodent. Hooray for winter pest control!

[razz]

Lovely pics! Thanks for sharing.

[catherine]

I could see these on a calendar. Snapfish has GREAT calendar-making capabilities. I made a family one last year and it was so easy and came out really well. It's only January--and I'm sure you have a million pictures from all the seasons you could use. Make a calendar--I'll buy one!

They're beautiful. I love the female cardinal! I never see those often--although maybe it's just because they're not all red.

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone! I'm afraid all these beautiful, interesting birds right outside my window distracts me from other things I should be doing!

Rosemary........I'll bet it was a Kestral. I've seen one eating another bird in the yard. they are fairly small, compared to other hawks.
The other hawk who especially likes to eat smaller birds is the Cooper's hawk.......but even the juveniles are pretty big.
Look up Kestral and Cooper's hawk and see if they look like the one in your backyard.

In this deep snow (15") and sub zero temps, I haven't seen any squirrels at all, even though there are plenty of their nests around. I put out dried ears of corn for them, but it seems like they're not even venturing out.
There are alot of doves around the seed I put out..........and one of them seems to like to sit on the heated birdbath with its tail in the water. Must think its a spa. haha
I can't believe how awful it must be for wildlife during this "polar vortex".

catherine....thanks for that suggestion about the calendar! That would be a neat thing for christmas presents next year!

[gimmethesimplelife]

Thanks for the pics! In far SE Arizona there is a small city - Sierra Vista - that is known for it's bird watching. I have read they get a good deal of tourism due this. Rob

[CathyA]

Maybe when I don't have chickens anymore, and DH is retired, I would love to travel around to the various birding places!
I have to admit though, when we have gone to state parks around here, I don't see as many birds as I do right it here at home!
I would love to see other kinds of birds though...........like Roseate Spoonbills.....and different types of cranes........

[pinkytoe]

Great photos! We are thinking about going to the Texas coast in a month to see the whooping cranes. Supposedly one of the best areas around for bird watching.

[KayLR]

Awesome photos, Cathy! Just this morning we had a "first sighting" for us, anyway--a Townsend's Warbler. Pretty fun! The top one of yours looks very much like my favorite bird, a Northern Flicker, only your guy has more red on his head.

[Jilly]

Purty. Your eye for composition is stunning.

[CathyA]

We used to have alot of flickers, but not many for a couple years. Not sure why. Their call is very distinct.
We are in the flyway for sandhill cranes. Its great to hear them every Fall and Spring. However, last year in January we heard them........which made me wonder what was going on!
Haven't seen any Towhees this winter. They were pretty common last winter.

[KayLR]

We've had some towhees...but mostly nuthatches, chickadees and juncos so far. The nat'l wildlife refuge in my town is a major habitat for sandhill cranes. We see them often, that is, if you either get up real early to see them, or get there right at dusk.

[new2oregon]

Thanks again.

[iris lilies]

Those little titmice are adorable. And the photo os the bludebird against his red water dish is very nice.

[Tussiemussies]

Thanks Cathy for sharing these pictures. It really is nice to be able to see these birds. I wish there was something I could do for the poor animals in this "polar vortex." Thank you for feeding and watering all of the animals you can. You are very kind...

[iris lilies]

Gosh, it's cheering me up to think that this cold spell may cause a few squirrel deaths around here. Anything to cut down that population would be good.

DH has a little mousie buddy in his compost pie and he calls the mousie "Willard." I asked him what the temperature was in Willard's nest in the middle of his compost bed, and Dh estimated 45 degrees. I would imagine that a few vermin are hiding out there now.

[Gardenarian]

I love it when you post photos! Are you a professional?
Just beautiful!

[Florence]

Thanks for the pics! In far SE Arizona there is a small city - Sierra Vista - that is known for it's bird watching. I have read they get a good deal of tourism due this. Rob

SE Arizona is birding heaven! We spent a week in Madeira Canyon and it was fantastic!!

[early morning]

CathyA - we saw our first Sandhill cranes migrate through here -west central Ohio- several years ago and it was awesome. We aren't on their usual route, I'm not sure what happened but one of the fields down the road was full of them one evening. Saw my first bald eagle flying along the Little Miami river on Monday, too! (not the first cranes or eagles we've seen, but the first in Ohio!)

And thanks for posting your pictures - they are just lovely! Any chance of more? :)

[new2oregon]

I love your pictures!

[CathyA]

Thanks again everyone. I feel so lucky that we have all these birds on our property.

This first one I like to call "Mourning Dove at the Hot Rock Spa". haha It likes to sit on the warm rock that holds the bird bath heater in place.
The second one is a male cardinal. I just love their splash of red in the snow.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3306_zpsa81220b9.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3415_zps6e9db5ab.jpg

[CathyA]

This is so exciting! We used to have Bobwhites alot around here, but they've seemed to disappear for a few years now. I saw 3 together in the yard today! But I've never, ever seen them here in winter. What's going on??

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3492croppedandzoomed_zpsa1d60774.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_3484Bobwhitecropped_zps99771206.jpg

[Jilly]

The word has gone out that birds that want, or need, free publicity have only to visit your yard.