YardCrap BIRDS

Just Chipper !!

Here on the porch I play CHRISTMAS music from T-day until CHRISTMAS.  I have a large collection.  The birds love it.
It really aint Winter until my million Chipping Sparrows arrive.  It seems like they are not coming so cranked up a new album too loud.

Plácido Domingo, Sissel Kyrkjebø, and Charles Aznavour ‎– 'Christmas In Vienna'.
Got this in durning Summer and have refused to play it until December, but ~~~
Aznavour and Domingo are well known to me (and most people) but had nothing of Kyrkjebø.
Her voice is clear and wonderful.  Holding her own with these guys is no problem.
She has the sparkle of a Julie Andrews.

As it plays, this guy showed up :

How cool is that??  Can Santa be far behind, or at least a Junco?

Southern Flicker

One of my 6 woodpecker types.
The Flickers are here all year and are fun to watch.  Lately they have been on the other side of my house in the large Oak Trees.  Now for some reason they are coming to where I cut off a limb last year in the Elm Tree which is near my chair.  I have no idea what they are eating out of that hole unless some ants are way up there.  Sometimes two are eating from the hole at the same time.

Most times I see these guys on the ground under the Oak Trees.
These are not good photos, but good for today.

Not being good today is Prancy who is down at the Branch.  I don't think think she is looking to take a bath, what could she be up to?  I know she would never bother my White Throats?

Cedar Waxwing

Waxwings are showing up.  I have them all year, but the flocks come in more often in late Winter for the berries.  They often flock with the Robins in Winter.  Later on they will come in by the dozens.
My Bride claims they look like aliens from outer space.

Common Grackle

His name might say "common", but the bird is surely not common as to good looks.
A couple times a year a few drop by, wish they came more often as they are fun to watch.  Normally they eat a little millet and are off.  Today they were in for water.

 

Hiking Group

I was invited to join a hiking group this week. http://hikingsouth.com/

Just got back, and it was fun.  I will go again.  I thought I might see some new birds, but we made too much noise.  More so I guess it is the movement as me playing tunes here on the deck doesn't bother them all.  I saw a few ducks.

Winter Wren

I have a 'Winter Wren' -> backyard bird #125.  He has been around a couple weeks, but I never paid attention thinking it was one of my favorite birds - the Carolina Wren.  I took this photo and whoa !! hold the boat.

Zoom in and there he is:

 

Be still my heart less I expire from excitment.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I know I keep posting birds at the water holes, but right now that is where the action is!
I believe it is likely I have more feeders with more different food types than most of yall.  I have kept them well stocked for 15 years, always changing things out and looking for new foods to attract.  I spare no effort and spend too much.

Right now my woods are full of fresh seeds, acorns, berries, insects, etc.  My feeders cannot compete.  --- but, birds need water,  and I have that.  My yard has birds all day due to them coming in to drink.  That is kinda strange as sitting here as I write this on my porch, I am looking at Lake Hartwell.  Birds drink there too, but now many prefer my tiny, safe venue.  All backyard bird watchers need to put out a bowl of water.  It is cheap and effective.

I have year-round Red-bellied Woodpeckers.  They eat suet at the bedroom bird feeder EVERY day 24/27/365.  Most mornings they wake me up.  During breeding, they carry off chunks to the nest.  All the present ones were raised on my suet mix.  They drive the cats crazy as they like to announce their arrival.  My cat 'Crazy' waits for them to arrive and then crashes his body into the window to scare them.

It is rare when they come to any feeder I have with in view of my 'Catbird Chair'.  Like all birds and all critters, they require water.  You can attract all birds with no food, just water.

I have great photos of this guy, but these today are not bad if you consider they are 1600 iso.  As leaves fall away, more 'light' will flood in, but unfortunately it will always be at the back.  I am not complaining, just explaining, as I don't know of a better chair to sit in if you are a backyard bird watcher.  Still, these meet my goal of "good enough" to ID the bird.  Actually I think they are as fun as it gets.

Here is the guy as he jumped down beside a House Finch for a drink:

Brown Thrasher

Just as I posted below about the Hermit Thrush, a Thrasher arrived.

The two look a little alike.  The Brown Thrasher is bigger, has a yellow eye, and is streaked on the breast as opposed to spotted.

The Brown Thrasher lives with me all year.  He is a great singer.  He likes dense brush for a home.  I have that as not only do I have bushes, I pile my up my yard trimmings in a few spots as opposed to burning like most I know do.  Many birds are attracted to brush piles.

 

Dang, a Pileated Woodpecker just dropped by as I am writting this but got spooked before I got a photo.  Maybe tommorrow?

Hermit Thrush

This guy arrived to spend the winter with me a couple weeks back.  He shows every Winter as long as I have lived here.

I don't know why he is called "hermit" as he is not that.

He really likes the berry bushes in my yard. He is a frequent visitor to the frog pond.

My Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still hanging around.  Maybe they will Winter here? (nope)

Blue Jay

I have Blue Jays.  They tend to stay up high and not visit my feeders often.  They fly over and scream like hawks to annoy the other birds.  They are very entertaining.  They like peanuts in the shell.  They love acorns.
Here is one down today for water:

The photo is not the best, but anyone can see this is a very good looking bird.  For people who like a 'blue bird', the Blue Jay is hard to top.  It is hard to find a better looking bird, or a more interesting one.