Hooded Mergansers and Canada Geese this morning.

As I do every day at this time of year I checked my favourite river  this morning where I usually find my first duck species every spring.  Last week it had been frozen over and today I found three pair of Hooded Mergansers there and a pair of Canada Geese. Wow! This was a very meaningful sighting for me!

 

There were three pairs of Hooded Mesangers in the river there.

It wasn't until I had returned home and downloaded the pictures that I realized that there were Canada Geese there too!

Mallard Ducks

Earlier this week on Monday, my husband and I determined to find some open water and some ducks.  We thought we would find open water at a river car ferry crossing and we did!  We found three duck species there: Mallards, Common Golden eye and Common Mergansers.  Here are photos of some of the Mallards we found there.

I am linking today to Eileen's Saturday Critters found at:
http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/ 

Bohemian Waxwings for Saturday Critters

Yesterday when driving into a parking lot of an store I saw one bird in a berry tree there and by the highlighted tuft on the top of its head I hope I had found a Waxwing.  And yes I had.. Oh Happy Day!  I love these beautiful birds.  Their main attraction on the tress were of course the red berries or crab-apples there.  the picking was very sparse but they were finding a few of these delicious red gems.

 

 

 

 

 

I stayed around and took what photos I could of these magnificent birds and so here are a few more.

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking today to viewing nature with Eileen. 

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/

 Happy first day of spring everyone!! May the snow soon stop and may it warm up soon also!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

l birds!!

White Pigeon for Saturday Critters

I saw the white pigeon again last Saturday.  |It looked healthy, like it wintered well.  I haven't seen it again, but I have looked every day since.  I want to get a better picture of it, as when I took this picture my camera was on a' photo illustration' setting  and I think the setting takes away from the realism of it. I have been seeing this white pigeon for a year or more now. I worry that something might happen to it.  It is a beautiful looking bird!

  

I am linking today to Eileen's , Saturday's Critters  which can be found at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/ 

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Feeding Tree Sparrows

In the third photo I believe I can see the sparrow's tongue! Yes, birds have tongues and in some cases it is quite hard and has a bone in it.
I find this winter that seed bells have been very successful for feeing the birds.The sparrows seem to especially like them.

Blue Skies and a BlueJay for Saturday Critters

Yay!!!  the last day of February and it has been such a cold month!!!  this morning the thermometer outside of my window reads -30 degrees Celsius, and that is one reason why this photo is so special to me.  I took this picture yesterday and the sunny, blue skies were so beautiful. The heat of the strong sun through the windows of our sun room really warmed the room up nicely, doing exactly what s sun room should do by creating a cosy, inviting warmth in which to sit and read in.
We used to have Blue Jays everyday, all the time.  winter their visits have been rather intermittent! the last few days they have appeared in our yard by twos or threes, or sixes.  yesterday I saw three in our big old maple tree along our snowy driveway! I hope you enjoy this picture as much as I do!  I hope the Bluejays return again today!!

I am linking this morning with Eileen at http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/

The first day of March returns tomorrow.  March is such a hopeful; month!1  Spring begins in March and so do a lot of starter plants for me in my house.  Tomato plants and Pansys are both high on my list.  Also, when and if ,the snow ever melts and goes away I will be looking for snow drops arising from the garden area where I planted the bulbs in the fall! 
Have a wonderful dsy everyone!

A Bohemian Waxwing

I have been waiting since the fall for some wandering birds to find our beautiful American bittersweet berries and it finally happened.  On Sunday, during our recent storm a passing Bohemian Waxwing stopped to feed.  It stayed around all day long and

yesterday morning I saw two waxwings at our pergola!!  The berries are nested among the branches which reach over the top of our pergola and they were overhanging the front side of it.

Yesterday the waxwings got on top of the pergola to feed among the berries. From inside our sun room I was able to get a good view of the hungry waxwings through the windows.  this was a good, safe feeding location as we were experiencing high winds and blowing snow all day long.         Towards the end of the afternoon the berry supply had diminished but the waxwings persisted in trying to eat every last berry.  In the photo below you can see the waxwing looking upwards to the underneath of the uppermost branches crossing the top of the pergola.!

As I watched the waxwing thrusted itself upward immersing itself within the berry laden branches at the top of the pergola. You can see  its cinnamon coloured tail hanging down as the waxwing  feeds and clings  to the branches and berries at the top of the pergola. A grand performance beautiful bird.!!!  Well done!!

I don't know if they will return again today as most of the berries have been all eaten.  Fortunately for the waxwing that it found an abundant supply of food on two extremely stormy blizzarding days. 

Have a great day everyone! 

I think it is going to be a Redpoll day as many hungry birds are gathering at the windblown feeder on our back deck this morning.  That story I will tell tomorrow.

Woodpeckers for Saturday Critters

Our numbers at out bird feeders have diminished recently due to heavy snows and very cold temperatures,but there are regulars which I can depend upon to show up every day.  So far this morning I have had out two regular sparrow species ( the Tree Sparrows and our two Song Sparrows) The female Hairy Woodpecker has just showed up and she is a regular!  The favourite feeder choice of this female woodpecker is the peanut feeder. The male Hairy Woodpecker is a regular also and in the photo below you can see a glimpse of the red patch on the back of his head , which identifies this hairy as a male.

The pictures below are of the female Hairy Woodpecker at out peanut feeder this morning.  Note: there is no red patch seen on the back of her head.

                        

 

And as a Happy Valentines wish for everyone today I am sharing this photo of a  male Downy Woodpecker displaying a red  heart shaped patch on the back of its head .

I am posting today to Eileens  Saturday Critters which can be found at:

viewingnaturewithEileenblogspot.ca 

|Red-breasted Nuthatch close-ups

I have forgotten to post these photos, partially because I take pictures of these birds every day.  We have two  Red-breasted Nuthatches feeding daily on their much loved peanut feeder.  We have had so much snow that I have moved some feeders very close to my window.  due to the deep and drifted snow I can no longer get out to our feeders and I have to refill or access the close ones by opening a window and reaching out to refill a few . Thus the reason sI was able to get such close close-ups.

This little bird looks so well groomed don't you think.  It is my favorite feeder bird this winter.  I am hoping that I can get a picture of both together when they are visiting.  I spend much time watching them daily.

Wandering white-tailed Deer for Saturday Critters

We have had so much snow that there is no where else to put it in our yard.  Its even difficult for the deer to wander about. The photo below shows a White-tailed Deer standing on the sidewalk beside our property  looking over the snowbanks there.

While looking out my kitchen pantry window earlier this week on a snowy morning, the snow was falling ( again!!!), 

and I saw this deer walking up my neighbour's driveway.  Once both deer ( there were two of them, you can see two dark shapes in the photo below),  got in my neighbour's yard there was no where for them to go  and nothing  there for them to feed on.

My neighbour across the street commented that they( the deer) had been nibbling on their lilac buds at his property as they passed by.
There are 42 days from today until spring!  It can't come soon enough and I'm sure the deer and  the little birds have the same opinion  of this winter's snowy overloads as I do. "If winter comes. can spring be far behind?" wrote Shelly in his Ode to the West Wind. Those optimistic words stand foremost in my mind every day!
I am linking today to |Eileen's Saturday Critters which can be found at: http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/
Have a wonderful storm free Saturday everyone!

Happy Groundhog Day

Dear Mr Groundhog,

Don’t be afraid,

If your shadowy image you see

Please DO NOT FLEE!

Stay around without fear

And let us know that spring is drawing near.

A sunny or cloudy day

Shouldn’t a legend make

For, anyway, many think you’re just a fake

Enjoy your day that’s named just for you

And please give us a good report, please do!

Because dear Mr. Groundhog,

I believe in you.

 

 

Another blizzard is forecast for our area today, however on a more positive note, with such a forecast, so  a groundhog perhaps won't see its shadow.. think positive!  An early spring may be forecast.  I certainly hope so!  there is no more room in our yard for snow!!!

 

Have a wonderful Groundhog Day everyone!!!

Common Redpolls for Saturday Critters

and yes!, we have Redpolls, finally.  I have been waiting and watching  for these llittle northern finches ,ever since the cold temperatures and snow  have set in.  They arrived at our feeders on January the 15th. and these are the first Redpolls we have had at our feeders within the past two years.  There are many, seemingly to swarm the feeders., but I haven't seen many of the red, rosy breasted handsome males.  Hopefully my photographic opportunities will improve over the weekend.

   above, the Redpolls have found the niger seed feeder and its proving to be a favourite with these birds.  They also like the seeds found in the cage feeder.

This little Redpoll above  was caught in flight hurrying from one feeding location to another. Oh, Happy Day! for both the Redpolls and my husband and myself as observers. I am linking today to Viewing nature with Eileen . Eileen's meme Saturday Critters can be found at:http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/
Have a wonderful day everyone although it is a cold one!

A Gray Squirrel Tail for Saturday Critters

 Gray Squirrels are an absolute nuisance in our feeder area and they are often feeding where they are not supposed to be.  For example somehow the cover was removed from the cylinder that held sunflower seeds in my cage feeder and who decides to check out the food source?   the Gray |Squirrel , of course.  My first hint of this unwanted visitor was a gray bushy tail at the top of our feeder, with a squirrel within the feeder, go figure!
                  

                  As I watched the squirrel I observed it  back out of the feeder and proudly sit on the top of the cage . I mention  this just in case you might be worried that the squirrel was stuck inside the cylinder. not to worry, this creature is very agile and flexible!( and determined, and maybe hungry too!)

 

You can see the cover of the feeder hanging down on the right side of the cage. I have learned to secure the cover to the cage so that it doesn't get lost, as it had once.  Luckily I had found it.

 I am linking this Squirrel tale (tail) of bird feeder woes to Viewing Nature with Eileen today.  Thank you |Eileen for hosting  your  Saturday Critter meme and for your continuing support.  http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/ 

Have a wonderful |Saturday everyone.  Brrr.. its another cold one out there and I have to go out to refill my feeders. :-(  Go away Squirrels!!!)

Song Sparrows

Often the first bird species at our feeders these cold, wintery mornings is a Song Sparrow.  although both the Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrows have a dark central breast spot I quickly check to see if I am looking at a Song or Tree Sparrow.  I  often adopt silly phrases when identifying birds and I think of a Song Sparrow as having a watermelon striped breast, notice those  dark, rounded, curvy lines on its breast?  They are quite noticeable to me and that is the characteristic I quickly 

 look for when deciding  on which sparrow it is.( Have I got you confused? Not to worry, as I said I adopt silly phrases to help me identify each bird as it arrives.Its a morning condition which is alleviated with several cups of coffee)    Also, the Song Sparrow is often perched at our white house bird feeder early in the morning and I  know who it is perched there early each morning... Tree Sparrows are more often ground feeders rather than feeder feeders!

We have two Song Sparrows overwintering around Bird Alley this winter..  They are cheerful sightings which I look for and rely upon each day. In the picture below a Song Sparrow is perched on the top of our pergola, with red American Bittersweet berries in the background.  These berries are very attractive and striking in their colour.  They began as yellow berries in the fall and as winter approached their yellow skins peeled off and their showy inner red coverings prevailed.  I am hoping that some day these beautiful red berries will attract Waxwings or Grosbeaks, Hopefully a Pine Grosbeak will show up some day to feed upon them.

See the beautiful dark streaks on this sparrows breast?!
Time for another coffee and then when daylight appears, hopefully my Song Sparrows will also.  Happy bird feeding and bird watching today everyone!!

This morning, right on schedule, the Song Sparrow is back feeding at the white house feeder!