January laziness and weird weather

Ok, so yesterday it was in the 60s and I conked out in the porch swing in the backyard while our bunnies were romping, my daughter digging in the dirt and birds were flying all around.  My daughter and I had gone to the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop here in Augusta, and we picked up two bags of shelled peanuts.  When we came home we filled the wire mesh feeders alternating with peanuts, soft yellow raisins and dark raisins, and more peanuts.  Within an hour of our putting out the feeders, a Tufted Titmouse showed up.  But, I didn't have my camera ready and he was so fast, my daughter couldn't get to the telescope quickly enough.  It was a good sign, though!  Thinking it's time to go back to Silver Bluff, S.C. for a walk soon...

Silver Bluff Audubon is quietly beautiful.

This Egret was so beautiful as he flew into the tree next to our picnic spot!

Last time we were at Phinizy Swamp Nature Preserve we saw some wonderful wildlife, if the weather stays this warm, we might end up there after school this week, too.  Oh, and, I also signed us up for the Great Backyard Bird Count and the kids and I are excited to get the materials in the mail to participate in the national survey of birds!  My son is excited that we can contribute from the C.S.R.A., which seems a bit underrepresented on the national map.

What a superb birdwatching day!

Who is it? A Warbler?  I see the yellow spot and the white wing bars, but I just don't know...

Ok, awesome birds, but many of them I cannot positively identify.  So, after the kids and I pouring through the Birds of Georgia Field Guide by Stan Tekiela, we are stumped on the following.  So, send your comments and help if you can!!!

As soon as we saw it we raced to catch our bunnies!

Vulture or Hawk???

Woodpecker chillin' after having a bit of suet.

So, we are really enjoying our backyard experience this winter.  But, with the temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s the last few days, you can hardly call it winter.  We've had the windows open at night for fresh air!
But, the birds are happy, the squirrels are fighting, the bunnies are romping, so it seems like Spring.  I worry, though, about a remaining chance for a winter blast in February that might shock all of this.  The daffodils have already sprouted and I've seen buds on the trees.

The first time seeing the mockingbird going for the suet!

Caught with a seed in its mouth!

Mourning Dove outside the diningroom window.

This silly Mourning Dove apparently did not like all the Nyger seed I mixed into the birdseed.  So he/she flicked out almost all of the seed in the process of finding all the tasty tidbits.  It was funny for the kids and I and made us all giggle because it almost sounded like rain with all the seed flying down to a plastic tarp below.  Silly, lazy, bird!

Angry squirrel waiting for me to move so he can steal seed & suet.

House finch male, taking a drink.

Love the male woodpecker's red head!

So, again, let me know if you can identify this little guy with the yellow streaks!

Low energy day, so I hung out with the birds.

Is this a Kinglet?  He's been flitting around with an identical friend at the suet feeder.

 

I have no idea how I was able to catch this photo, but I love the determination and direction of flight!

So, the kids are at school, my husband is at work.  I'm home with the bunnies, squirrels, and birds.  Not a bad morning for me, huh?  Just what I needed on this particular day.  So, here are the results of a little quiet time in the back yard.

Mama cardinal and black oil sunflower seed.

The last couple days, we've had anywhere from 6 to 10 cardinals, male and female, in the backyard.  I had no idea we had so many pairs in the area.  We hear the little "peep peep" sounds all the time now.

Male cardinal eating safflower.

Two female cardinals and a Carolina Chickadee in the middle.

I'm happy the chickadee has come back.  My son was sad when he went away for a while.  He's very cautious and won't feed if we are too close and he's the first one to fly when squirrels or too many birds come around.

Fat fat fat, but very cute cute cute!

 

I had to think of some way to prevent the squirrels from eating the black oil sunflower seed.  As much as I worried about spending $20 on a new feeder, I thought it would be the better bargain in the long run instead of letting the squirrels eat and dump bags of seed on the ground.  The cardinals took more than a day before they ventured close. So, I was surprised the shy chickadee gave it a try so quickly.

Chickadee trying out the new "squirrel-proof" feeder.

Female Towhee, the first time she has shown herself!

I'm so thrilled that yesterday the kids and I saw both Towhees yesterday and I was able to capture some photos today, even if not the best quality images.  They are so shy and stayed on the fence edge for a half hour before venturing down to the shrubbery.

Birds of Paradise--Or Wacky Space Alien Dance?

The kids and I watched this video on PBS and laughed so hard we got the hick-ups. Enjoy!

Bird of Paradise Mating Dance--New Guinea

We laughed and laughed!

Just saw this on Diane Sawyer's evening news.  

The kids and I got a kick out of this so click on the link below!

Sledding Crow

Wishing for a warmer clime

Pacific Coast, Costa Rica 2010

Ok, so Spring semester classes have started and temperatures have dropped to the '20s Fahrenheit.  I'm super busy and it's too cold to sit in the back yard for much birding.  Sorry folks, but I most likely will hold off on blogging for a month until classes settle down or some awesome bird emerges.  


But, I'll leave you with this unknown (to me) little guy who flew into our hotel lounge area by the pool and just chilled out with his cool hair-do.  Missing Central America something fierce right now.

Thinking global thoughts

I was thinking today about how interesting it is that birds are birds all over the world.  Growing up in New England, as a kid one of the highlights of Boston Commons was feeding the pigeons.  Breadcrumbs in hand and knobby knees, seemingly thousands would flocks in and the wind would be astounding and slightly frightening and fun at the same time. 
I took this photo above in 2004 in Zona 1, Guatemala City.  And, there, in Central America, what do we find?  Pigeons, of course!  And, kids who love to feed them : )