Thursday, January 17, 2008

Flurries

I was in and out all morning.
I would warm up and go right back outside.
Wrapped in blankets and sipping my tea I stayed on the deck
as long as possible.

I put peanuts out for the Blue Jays and
fresh suet with bugs for the Woodpeckers and Wrens.
I bought a new Finch feeder.
Something a little easier for them to feed from.

Increasing clouds brought a few flurries.
Without the sun I became cold.

I am watching for the Northern Flickers and the Brown Creeper.
I read Eastern Towhees are in my area all year long.
I have never seen one.
It would be very fun to take pictures of the Eastern Towhees.
Their call is, "drink-your-tea".

16 comments:

meggie said...

An absolute treat.
I find that photo of the Blue Jay so sharp & clear.
Do you take photographs proffessionally, or are these just a hobby?

Q said...

Dear Meggie,
Thanks!
I am new to photography. I bought the camera two years ago this coming May. I sort of took to it!
I love taking photographs of nature. The birds and butterflies in my backyard are my "subjects" most of the time. I have been learning about light and shadows and stop action. I find I like the up close pictures the best. My area is not conducive to landscape photography. I have to get away from the city to do any of those. Once in awhile my husband and I will go "birding" and I will be able to get the sweeping scapes that are so beautiful.
Most of the time I sit on the deck, sip my beverage and just take pictures. I guess it is a hobby. I never really thought about it. I just take pictures.
Glad you enjoy them.
Sherry

Mary said...

As usual, Sherry - wonderful bird photos. YOU are Good!

Our towhees will be here soon. I had a female visit here for a while last spring but I've seen more males on campus.

We had snow last night while I was sleeping. I would have loved to see it fall.

Chrissie said...

Great photos as always, Sherry. I often wonder about you sitting out on your deck in the winter :-) Is it covered? Do you have a swing chair? Do you have a hot water bottle? We have rain every day for weeks! Just a little bit of snow would be a welcome change LOL.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Sherry, Love the photos. I think that little wren is telling you to turn up the heat. What a pout it seems to be in.

Towhees have been in our garden only a couple of times. They like to have a lot of duff to scratch in and a lot of cover.

Q said...

Dear Mary,
In response I posted a series of photos for you! LOL!
Juncos are good, as are penguins.

I've never seen a Towhee.
It's true that say drink-your-tea.
My goodness how fun it would be,
to have tea with a Towhee ~
and thee!

Snow??? You have snow???
Wow! Snow in North Carolina. I did not know you get snow.
Are your birds in shock?
Stay warm! Hope your cold is gone.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Chris,
You should see me! I bet to a human I would look a fright.
I am so bundled up I can barely move! I can take pictures and drink my hot tea, but that is about it.
The deck has an upper part and an lower part. I sit on a chair on the upper deck, (the chair swivels) when there is moisture since the chair stays dry. Also there is an 18 inch soffit that I can tuck under and keep the camera dry.
I wore two pairs of gloves today since it was so cold! Twelve degrees Fahrenheit, -11 Celsius, at 8am when I was out watching the sun come over the trees with Mockingbird and the Cardinals.
I thought I might plug my space heater in outside but my husband thought it unwise. I have seen the propane heaters but that would be enviromentally unsound. I can always go inside and warm up when ever I want to. I just often forget I am cold!
Days and days of rain would get to me. I need sun in the winter. Clouds and rain in the summer is just fine.
I hope you do not become depressed!
Keep walking and posting all the lovely landscapes. You live in a beautiful area. I have birds and bugs, you have the sea and the cliffs.
Spring will come soon. You will be out in the garden before you know it!
Already I can tell the daylight is longer.
Thank you for your friendship.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Lisa,
Little Carolina Wren is one of my favorite birds. So sweet and cute!
I am always pleased when he is about. Today a Red Tail Hawk hunted the backyard. All the birds went this way and that. Little Carolina stayed very near and was so happy to have all the feeders and the bug bites suet to himself. I have a little song I sing to Carolina Wren, (we call him, "teakettle") whenever he is near. Today we had "one on one" time and I sang his little song.
This is a bird I would invite in.

How very wonderful to have Towhees in the garden. I read they stay near the ground and fluff up the duff for bugs. I do have a nice hedge row for cover and good duff!
Maybe someday they will come to my backyard.
Lisa, thank you for being so nice. I enjoy your comments and our conversations. You know lots about birds and gardening. It is a pleasure to know you.
Thank you for being my friend!
Stay warm tonight.
Sherry

Deb said...

Such wonderful pictures - I agree with Meggie - the blue of the Blue Jays feathers are so sharp and clear. I am looking for a new Finch feeder as well. They don't seem to like the copper one we have hanging up (bought in the summer). The perches may be a bit slippery. I think it is more attractive than functional.

Q said...

Dear Deb,
Yesterday the Blue Jays looked so blue! I think it is because of the light.
My old finch feeder (10 years old at least) was falling to pieces. The upside down feeding was too hard for the Pine Siskins and I noticed the Gold Finches were having trouble. The new feeder has a lifetime guarantee. I also bought another nut feeder and a mixed seed feeder. All are the same brand from Wild Birds Unlimited. I have lots and lots of feeders. As more birds are finding my backyard I need more feeders. I do not want any trouble!
I would love to put a feeding station in the front yard but my husband is not sure of that. For now I have three feeders hanging from the front soffit and a few in the front trees. For the ground feeding birds I have saucers set out in front and in back. As long as I have snow the birds will eat that for water. One small drinking bowl is set up on the deck with a heater for fresh drinking water. I think it may not be a good idea for the birds to be bathing when it is so very cold. Once the temperature go above feezing I will put fresh water out in the bird baths.
When I am asked what I do I just say, "Backyard bird management."
LOL!
Enjoy your winter birds. Whenever I see the geese come over the house I think of you and yours.
Sherry

smilnsigh said...

I love the wrens.

But I see that 'someone else' arrived to spoil the party... Oh well, I'm sure he was gone eventually. :-) And the little ones could come out and play again.

Mari-Nanci

Q said...

Dear Mari-Nanci,
Different Hawks are around off and on all day. The little wren doesn't seem to mind too much. Once all the other birds scatter little "Tea-kettle" comes out onto the deck and gets into all the different feeders. I do enjoy him.
Sherry

Marvin said...

Wonderful photos as usual. The jay is especially stunning.

Q said...

Hi Marvin,
Thanks! I always think the Jays are great for the "blue-cold" look. We have four now that come for peanuts. I hope they tell the Northern Flickers fresh yummy peanuts are available. My only request is the Flickers let me get a few photos.
Sherry

Anonymous said...

It was bloody cold in Buffalo today! -5! I decided to go on a hike anyways as the sky was pristine and the sun was shining. It turned out to be a wonderful, but bone chilling experience.

Q said...

Dear Scienceguy288,
I have been watching the PBS program on the search for Absolute Zero. It has been many years since I was in chemistry and biology but I remember absolute zero! I remember the race to find it!
-5 might have felt like absolute zero! LOL
I often just cannot stay inside regardless of weather. I just have be out there with the birds.
Glad you came by. A friend of Monarch is a friend of mine.
Sherry