Mourning doves

I was so happy to see these two mourning doves! We hadn't had any at all for months. I'm not sure if we didn't have the right feed out or if there were other reasons, but they came back shortly after we put out different feed.

Here is one other reason we may have not seen many mourning doves. Direct source link.

Gold Finch

Robins in winter

A good many years ago, a naturalist told us that robins flock together in the winter and that they migrate only regionally, so it may be that the Kentucky robins come to Ohio for the winter?  Also seeing a robin in February doesn't necessarily mean that spring is coming. Last Sunday I saw a lone robin and thought about the naturalist's information.  This last week was particularly wintry. Then on Thursday I saw the flock. I counted twelve or thirteen of them in the tree out front.




I really like that this picture came out well.  Often using digital zoom makes a picture grainy.  This one even looks good on the big computer screen.


How many do you see this tree?




I love watching birds in winter!

Nebraska trip Part 2

For several weeks my mom made posts on Facebook about a gold finch that kept flying at their kitchen window. I was actually able to witness it and get a short video of him.

For the Birds

Go here to see the rest of the bird pictures.

She really got to going while taking her bath. It was so much fun to watch.

We've decided to stop feeding the birds until winter because of the raccoon who is destroying all our flowers. He's been digging them up, turning over pots and he even knocked over the bird bath which is heavy. It makes me sad and mad at the same time.

This morning I went to the garage to get something from the refrigerator and discovered this. His eyes weren't even open yet. We're pretty sure it's a vole.





We found several more during the day and put them outside. Last year they summered in the grill. This year it's the garage. Next year I hope they go next door.

Indigo bunting

Amy said I need to post on my blog so here goes...

Every year it seems like we see an indigo bunting once for such a short period of time that getting its picture is impossible. This year has been different. I know I've seen it at least twice, but I'm pretty sure I saw it another time, but it flew away so quickly I'm not positive.

A bit of spring

I'm the first to admit that I love winter. It's probably my favorite season, however one just does not see these things in winter. Here's to spring!



A couple years ago, or was it last year, we bought two blueberry bushes. Of course, they are no where near being bushes yet. In fact, they don't look like they've grown much in the last year. They're about 12-16 inches tall and still look very much like saplings. But this year one of them has blossoms! The birds might get to enjoy about five blueberries this summer. :) Someday I hope to get some myself.



While sitting at the kitchen table schooling I looked out the window to see three different birds at the feeder. I interrupted Amy's reading and asked her to get a picture. So if you're not a bird enthusiast the mourning love is on the left; the brown-headed cowbird is in the middle; the red-wing black bird is on the right.



This guy showed up in the middle of the school interruption. This time I practically ordered Amy to get a picture I was so excited. We've seen the rose-breasted grosbeak here before, but it's a rarity.



This is the second year to have geese at the pond. Yesterday there were three families (one with goslings, two without) visiting. They can be messy, but they're usually gone by summer when we'd be out there. Those little goslings are so fun to watch.

Krider's Red-tailed hawk

We had another "get the camera" moment this afternoon. Amy was standing at the kitchen sink when she saw this guy in the bush. I don't think we've ever seen a Krider's red-tailed hawk here before, at least not so close. Usually when we see a hawk its gone before we can get the binoculars or the camera, but this one stayed a good while.

Puzzle #53 and the mourning doves

I just love the birds in winter.


Amy got a few good shots of the mourning doves eating. This feeder was in the tree, but somehow the lid came half off, so dh just put it on the little bench on the deck.

Today's bird happenings

More birdbath fun... Testing the waters.

"What fun it is."

"Aah..."

"I think I'll go back for more."

And then I got to see a great blue heron. We had one visit a couple years ago. I was glad to see one today. I had to take the picture through the screened window, but it didn't turn out to badly.