Backyard birds

After going through a major surgery at the University of Utah Hospital, my doctor's told me to take short, slow walks - perfect - to my bird feeders.  Hopefully I will be able to get in the truck to explore other areas in about a week or two.

Here are some that I found yesterday at my bird feeders.

A Mountain Chickadee -  There are several with one of them very dark, but elusive.

 

A Black-capped chickadee, one that will sit on my hand and eat sunflower seeds.

 

The American Goldfinch are one of the most numerous.

 

The House finch that keep their distance when I am out there.

 

Had to show you this picture of an American goldfinch leaving it roost and headed for a niger seed sack.

 

Four of the invasive Collared doves that waste a lot of seed.

 

A Downy woodpecker that was hard to photograph because it was continually pecking and blurring the pictures. 

A great way to spend a little time in the semi-wilds of Idaho.

Pinyon Jays and others

I went back out to where I saw the Pinyon Jays yesterday and set up my blind and sit there for two hours.  The jays came in twice and I was able to get some better pictures.

I also watched over 30 American Goldfinch with three Lesser Goldfinch mixed with them.

I also had 20 Dark-eyed Juncos around me.  They ran from a very dark head to a light grey head.

Some appeared to be almost a blue head and throat.

I also saw Housefinch, magpies, Juniper Titmouse, Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans, starlings, Red-shafted flickers and Downy woodpeckers.

Another great day celebrating the wildness of Idaho.

Snow Birds

Yesterday morning I got up to six inches of snow and the birds were having a hard time finding a perch.  Each time they tried to land, the snow would give way and down they would come, birdy, snow and all.  Finally there were enough bare branches for them to gain some footing.  Here a male Housefinch is able to perch close to my blind.

A male Lesser Goldfinch is a bright spot in a snow-covered world.

As the day progressed a blizzard blew in and over a hundred birds, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrows, flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, Eurasian Collared Doves, Starlings, Sharp-shinned hawks and these Housefinch all came to eat.  They emptied my feeders twice and the hawks harvested a few of the munchers.

A great day to observe nature in the Wilds of Idaho.

Winter Goldfinch

The temperature is below zero and everything is frozen except - Goldfinches fighting over my nyjer socks.  They need a traffic controller, but it is too cold.  Here they fight over position at the breakfast table.

Fighting over a tiny seed is common.

Others fly in to join the feeding frenzy.

Mid air battles resemble the dog-fights of World War II.

After most of the American Goldfinch leaves, a lone one is joined by a Lesser Goldfinch.  Lessers are very uncommon to Rexburg.  But I have had about six hanging around the last week.

Just another wild day in Idaho to celebrate.

Backyard birds

With a foot of snow on the gound, the songbirds left around my yard is always looking for food.  Today with the warmer weather, they were still emptying my feeders.

Black-capped chickadees are very numberous.  Here one leaves its perch to attack the sunflower seeds.

The niger seed sack was a battleground for the American Goldfinch.

Here a Housefinch tries to crack a captured sunflower seed.

Just another wild day in Idaho.

American Goldfinch - GBBC

I am right in the middle of the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Tomorrow I will spend most of the day photographing and observing birds - but if the weather is good and a little warm, I have promised a grand-daughter a fishing trip.

The last two days I have set up my blind in the backyard to take pictures out of.  The American Goldfinch can be difficult to get close to, but a blind usually solves the problem.

American Goldfinch are one of the few birds that molt most of their feathers twice each year.  Here is one that has started getting its summer plumage even though it is cold.

There is always a lot of fighting around the niger sack when they meet to feed.

Here some also battle the larger Housefinch over the sunflower seed feeder.

My favorite picture of the day is a goldfinch artistically leaving the feed sack in a style good enough for the Olympics.

Just another enjoyable wild day in Idaho.

Backyard birds

This afternoon after I got home from church, filled the bird feeders and watched the fun and games. About 50 birds were fighting for the food.

I saw this single Hairy woodpecker working on the suet feeder and as I approached with my camera I was able to capture him on a limb.

A lot of American Goldfinch were working the niger seed sacks.

Black capped chickadees kept coming to the feeders, but the House finch and House sparrows kept chasing them away. So I stood by the feeders to allow the chickadees to feed. These little darters kept coming in and stealing a sunflower seed and flying off.

After the sparrows and finch had emptied the sunflower feeder, I went out to fill it again. The chickadees followed me to the shed where I keep the food. After filling the feeder, the chickadees followed me back to the feeder tree, flying down and taking a seed as I carried it back.

Just another wild day in the snow covered ground of Idaho.

SkyWatch Friday - Finally

After surgery on Monday and two days locked by recovery in the house, it was time to get outside.  With zero temperatures and low clouds everything was covered with frost.  Here the sun makes a futile effort to peek out of the clouds.

With the cold, most birds were fuffed up and nestled in the trees also waiting for the sun to warm them.  This American Goldfinch appears not enjoying the cold.

While my favorites, the Black-capped chickadees, continued to flit and flutter as I fed them.  A very bright spot on a gloomy day.

Landing and taking off, hiding seeds for later, and brightening my Christmas Eve.

Just another boring wild day in Idaho.  Have a Blessed Christmas Day and may you have joy that will warm you at this sacred time.  Check other pictures of the sky on SkyWatch Friday.

Black capped Chickadees

Yesterday after church I heard the familiar call of Black-capped chickadees calling in my back yard bushes.  I immediately prepared the sunflower and niger seed feeders and here they came.  I will enjoy the chickadees, goldfinch, house finch and pine siskin all winter long.  The cold days will be bright by the colorful birds in my back yard.

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch in its winter plumage.

House finch

Pine siskin flying into the niger seed sack.

With snow predicted tonight, I will make sure the feeders are full for tomorrow.  I want the birds to stay to keep my days bright with their colors and battles.  These are not the only ones that will visit my back yard, but they will be here every day.

More crossbills

I was jumping on the trampoline with my three-year-old granddaughter when a flock of about 30 Red crossbills showed up at the feeders this afternoon. There were the drab females and males of all different shades of yellow, orange and bright red. What a sight!!!!
I went in the house to get my camera and she wanted "grandma's" camera and we took pictures together until "grandma's" camera ran out of batteries. She loves the American Goldfinch and everytime the crossbills would attack the goldfinch, she would shout at them. It was very fun to watch her. She has been on many a birding outing with me. We are planning on going to the celebration of International Migratory Bird Day to be held at Camas National Wildlife Refuge area next Saturday.
At Camas and nearby Mud Lake Management Area are three Great Horned owl nests that I have not visited in about a month. The owlettes should have hatched out and it will be interesting to see them.
Also, if the rain finally ends, letting me have enough light to take some pictures before I have to be to school, I will visit the sharp-tailed grouse leks in the morning. I usually leave home at 5 and it takes me about 35 minutes to be at the lek. If there are no clouds, I can start shooting at 6:15 and then I leave about 7:30 to be to school by 8. If there is heavy cloud cover, I never get enough light for good pictures before I have to leave.