Thursday, February 10, 2011

Feathered Friends



My little feathered friends are so entertaining.  I'm having so much fun with my camera trying to get a photo of each variety.  I didn't realize how hard it was to capture a really good photo of birds.  The little stinkers don't stay still for long and about the time I get set up for a shot...off they go!   For instance, I saw a red-headed woodpecker stop by for a snack and by the time I grabbed the camera, he was gone.  But, he'll be back sometime and I'll eventually get him.

The birds are keeping us busy filling feeders and I need to get more sunflower seeds...that seems to be their favorite.  The suet feeder and a few other feeders out of sight in the photo above are almost empty.  I have suet and plenty of cracked corn.  We buy the cracked corn in 50# bags.  I think I'd better get a larger bag of sunflower seeds next time.

I'm not exactly sure what kind of woodpecker is in the lower right corner of the collage.  Anyone know?  And the Blue Jay next to him took on an ethereal quality due to the lighting.  He almost looks fake, doesn't he?   But he's very real.  See, there he is in the lower left corner!  The ghostly looking dove in the second down on the left is much lighter than my Mourning Doves and I've looked him up...I think I know what he is and he's a little out of his territory, but I need a closer look at his tail feathers to get an accurate ID.

The weather remains very cold and the snow is still with us.  No wonder the birds are so hungry.  We are all quite ready for spring.  And, of course, I can't wait for the Bluebirds to return.  I haven't seen them around for awhile now.  I thought they were going to stick around, but I guess they decided to hightail it to a warmer climate.  Don't blame them, I've often wanted to go somewhere warmer myself!!

Many thanks to Amy @ Verde Farm for hosting Farm Friends Friday.  Hop over to see Amy and see her pretty blog and visit the others participating in FFF. 

Until next time...

14 comments:

  1. I would say you are doing a great job of capturing the birdies. These are beautiful photos and they are so hard to get. I always admire the people that get great bird shots. What gorgeous varieties you have. Isn’t it amazing that they are such pretty colors? Great post! Stay warm and thanks for joining FF Friday :)

    PS-that woodpecker is what we call a Norther Flicker I believe. I had a backyard bird sanctuary in NC and had many of them--that is what this looks like to me but I could be wrong :)

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  2. Yes for sure... The woodpecker is a Northern Flicker...

    Don't have a clue about that solid white bird...

    Glad you are feeding the birds --especially in this weather. Mine FLOCK to the feeders at times like this. They also love the heated birdbath.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. The birds here are going through the food like crazy!! Great Pictures!!

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  4. Hi Cheryl!

    What beauties! I just love the Cardinal - and the Woodpecker is funny with his wings sitting on the ground - he must have been getting ready to fly away! I'm glad you are having fun with your camera, you are taking lovely pictures!

    I LOVE Kenny Rogers! I also love country music - especially the old country music from my era . . . :0) But I love classic country music too, like Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Eddie Arnold . . .you know, all the good ones!

    I just love to listen to them, isn't it funny how it just transports you back to that moment, somewhere in the back of my memory that has been long forgotten? I'll have to dig out some of my oldies and listen to them . . . ahhhhhh!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  5. That white bird is intriguing Cheryl! Lucky you to have him/her. I am glad you are having so much fun with your Canon because we get the benefits! You have a wonderful assortment of feathery little bodies there.

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  6. What a great mosaic featuring all the visitors to your birdfeeder. Thank you for feeding the birds. It must give a great deal of satisfaction.

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  7. I would say you did a great job capturing the birds and they all came together very nicely in your mosaic. I know from experience how hard it is to get good photos of them.
    I saw a bluebird here yesterday. Always a beautiful sight.
    Have a great weekend and stay warm.

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  8. Yep... Northern Flicker. Beautiful post, I love feedin/watchin the wildbirds, its really cool to see whos gonna visit our feeders/birdbaths :)

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  9. Luv the collage. I need to try and do that. I played with it in Picasa but I haven't posted it that way yet. Have a great day.

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  10. What a great collection of photos! I had a pair of Flickers show up in my yard once, and had to look them up myself. It seemed so strange that I couldn't recognize such a distinctive bird, but i'd simply never seen them before.

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  11. Fabulous photos, I've tried to capture some of the birds that visit us at the farm. No luck yet. The farm door makes too much noise. We are visited each day by 3 bald eagles. Absolutely breath taking, but the moment I go outside to catch a shot, they fly away. You've done well! Stopping by from Verde Farm
    http://welcometotheturnerfarm.blogspot.com

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  12. Cheryl...I think you are doing a great job with that camera. Great pictures. I love the birds. We just have not had that many in our yard this year. Plenty of squirrels, but not birds...
    Hope you have a wonderful Sunday and I look forward to skipping back over to your place..always Enjoy it!
    Hugs,
    Shug

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  13. Cheryl...I think you are doing a great job with that camera. Great pictures. I love the birds. We just have not had that many in our yard this year. Plenty of squirrels, but not birds...
    Hope you have a wonderful Sunday and I look forward to skipping back over to your place..always Enjoy it!
    Hugs,
    Shug

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  14. If you figure that woodpecker out, let me know because I have the rest of its family over here in my neck of the woods. Great pictures.

    You Valentine header is so cute!

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