Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Hairy Woodpecker..........


This is my first time every having a hairy woodpecker at the suet.  When I saw it I thought I was seeing a giant downy. The viewing sent me to the bird book and I realized it wasn't a freak of nature. The red markings on a hairy are like two brush strokes of red not like the male downy which has a full bar of red on the back of its head.  When I read that the hairy is the size of a robin I knew that is what I saw.


Going back and looking at these pictures I can see the face of the hairy is a lot like a raccoon with a black mask marking over each eye. The downy's mask is a little different and smaller. The bird book said I would rarely see them but I have other bloggers who say that they see them often. I will be keeping my eye for the big bird again.


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Hold Still Red One..........







I kept waiting for this guy to move around on the feeder and he wouldn't.  Finally he did make a move and so did I.   I went to the other side of the window and got a better angle.  He hasn't been around much but I am going to solve that problem.  When I get to the store today or tomorrow I will buy black sunflower seeds.  I don't know where the female has been but she must be at a better feeding site.  We did get very cold and that brought a lot of birds back to the feeder. We still only have a light amount of snow on the ground.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Red on Red..........



I don't always have one these each Christmas but this one was at the right place at the right time for me to pick it up and buy it. 

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Leaning Twilight Zone......


It is a photo that I took earlier and I don't understand how I got this effect.  Houses leaning in all directions and nothing right with the world.  I guess the lady and child are standing up straight with the little girl next to her.  The guy with the teddy bear also is right with the world as well as the posts on the front of the bridge. When I look at the house in reality I do see that it is leaning some with the snow it sits on making it be uneven.  I suppose they all may be a little tipped.  I don't see it unless I try to focus a group of them on a camera.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

New Camera.........


I received a new camera for Christmas.  It is a slim featured one but with all the best bells and whistles. I finally figured out how to download the photos and all is working well now.  New things mean learning new ways to work a camera.  It is an Olympus Stylus and will be easy for me to take along in the car. The photo I am sharing today is sort of confusing but the top shiny object is a large clear  angel compared to the smaller one below.

Friday, December 26, 2014

December 26th..........


It is the day after Christmas and the snow is almost gone.  When there is not snow on the ground the birds don't need to flock to the feeder.  The suet feeder keeps the woodpeckers coming though and that is good.The sparrows may drop in during the evening hour and have a last bite to eat.

Late in Migration

 While walking in my yard I see a monarch butterfly sitting on a zinnia flower. It was a surprise as the monarch migration has passed throug...