Happy Valentines Day - bird style

 Last week I noticed three Downy, one Hairy woodpeckers and a couple of Northern Flickers in my backyard chasing each other around.  A male and female Downy would land near each other on the cottonwoods and spruce.  At first the female was quite coy and seemed to be flirting with the male.  She would hide behind a branch and peer out at him from behind it.

Every once in a while she would look out from the branch at him.  Just like a couple of teenagers in the halls of my high school as a budding relationship starts.

Finally she got aggressive and chased him from tree to tree.  In the fading light it was too dark for me to catch the action.  She finally tired of the games and went to the black walnut tree to look for food.

While he searched the cottonwoods for some hidden treats that some of the chickadees had stored.  He found a sunflower seed and harvested the meat from it.

As the sun set, he left for the heavy wooded area while she followed closely behind.  They have been back several times and it appears that the dating is in full swing - just in time for Valentine's Day.

What a great way to end a day in the wilds of Idaho.

SkyWatch Friday - Foggy Sunset

We have been having a lot of fog and freezing rain here in Rexburg.  This week the setting sun colored the foggy ground with a golden haze.

Just another ending to a wonderful wild day in Idaho.

See more sky pictures at http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Back again.

Got a phone call today asking me if I had died.  No, I am still alive, but very busy.  Taking tickets at wrestling and basketball four or five nights a week, planning activities for the grant, teaching, filling an order for 14 rustic chairs and getting some fishing done, has taking its toll on my time.  I have been getting pictures of backyard birds, but have not been out searching for them. 

The Lesser Goldfinch in my backyard has been really interesting for me.  The male has not been very coopertive for me, but I did get a few acceptable pictures.

Mountain Chickadees have also been flocking to my feeders.  This is the first year I have had these show up.  The Black-capped still outnumber them, but their personalities are a little different from them.  They are sure fun to watch.

A few moments of wildness in 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.