I took the whole weekend off from blogging. Lots of church and family and birding instead. I was spending way too much time here following every link that looked the least bit interesting.
I want to thank every one that commented on the new feeder system. I really appreciate all the comments. There were even some new people and I am going to look at all your blogs too.
Meanwhile, the birds have found the new feeders and are using them well and often. This is the first year that I remember the goldfinches turning yellow before they left so it's very exciting to see them like this.
Mr. red-bellied woodpecker is having none of this new fangled feeder arrangement, thank you very much--he'll stick with the old reliable log.
I couldn't not show the redbud open full. I was going to say Spring is really here, but they are saying we will have a frost tonight! The fruit growers are very worried.
Good to see that your birds wasted no time breaking in the new feeder system..LOL...Great pics! We are in a freeze warning too (I'm in SC also) but I hope to get up in the morning with no frost..
ReplyDeleteAngie
I'm glad the birds like the new system so much. Even though I am enjoying vacation, your post makes me long to see my goldfinches and find out whether the Redbuds are in bloom yet! What a lovely picture of the Redbud. Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteWe had frost here, but only this morning and then it's supposed to be warmer the remainder of the week. Glad all the birds are enjoying your feeding station so much!
ReplyDeleteHope the frost didn't do any damage out your way. It's cold here, but I think all of our plants will survive. Love the picture of the woodpecker. We have them in our yard everyday, mostly ladderback or pilliated. (not sure about the spelling) I've been trying to get some pictures to go along with my plants on my blog, but so far, no such luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Wadmalaw Gardens
Greg II
Hi All! Glad to see you didn't desert me when I skipped a few days.
ReplyDeleteAngie, it was 30° here this morning, but not even thin ice on the dog water trough. Did you have frost? Where are you in SC?
Mary, it's been cold at your home so I don't think you'll miss any spring stuff and we are so enjoying your pictures from AZ. Have you seen a roadrunner?
Jayne, I think we've seen the last of the cold too. We always seem to have cold day in late March--it just seems strange this year because Easter was so early.
Greg, I'm glad to hear your plants weren't damaged either. Good that you are learning the birds too--they are such fun to see. Your 'ladderback' woodpeckers are actually red-bellied woodpeckers--we don't have ladder-backed here in the east. But you are seeing pileated for sure. Don't you love to hear them too! I bet you have downy and red-headed too.
Today when I was filling the feeders a chickadee and a pine warbler lit on the arms of the feeder, less than a foot from me. They were very surprised to see me too!
It was 31 and NO FROST when I got up this morning. I'm in Darlington.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Wow, Bruce!! You busy little bee! I like the new system ALOT ;-) and more importantly, it seems the birds do! LOL Everything looks so cheerful and pretty now. Your Redbud tree is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSending positive thoughts your way-
No frost, no frost, no frost, no frost, no frost!
I can see the birds are loving this!!! That redbud is beautiful too, I hope the frost does / did not do much damage!!
ReplyDeleteWe will be taking some bird pictures under our big tree very soon. We have a painted bunting that visits our feeders often. He is hard to get up close and personal with though but we keep trying. Nice blog.
ReplyDeleteQuite a feeder contraption you've got there! Happy birding!
ReplyDeleteBruce, it sure did pay off having that wonderful setup. Seems you knew exactly what they wanted!
ReplyDeleteThanks all of you next set!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you didn't have frost either, Angie.
Your thoughts against the frost worked here, Lin. There was another painted bunting at the new feeder today too. My only concern is that the feeders used to be under the eaves and safe from rain. We'll see what happens.
Thanks, Joan--all is well. Will you have much below freezing in Pretoria--thinking about that as your winter approaches.
Thanks Greg. I hope you have some luck with photographing the painted buntings. The only really good ones I've gotten have been in the bird bath.
Hi Linda--this contraption is ever so much better than the previous ones, which really were kind of contration-y!
Thanks Aunt B--I've been feeding birds for over 70 years so I've simplified it a lot--no super market mixed seeds served here..LOL.
Now that's a SETUP.
ReplyDeleteTroy
We are lucky that Pretoria does not ever get near freezing!! The further South you go, the colder it gets.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I have posted some wildlife pics for you and although you know the story with it, I think it might be interesting for some bloggers.
Thanks for looking, Troy--you could probably whip one like that up in no time!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Birdgirl--I've just been looking at adorable Joe and Jack on your other blog too. What fun you have with them.
Thanks, Joan. They do have freezing temps in Joburg though--but that's probably more to do with altitude than latitude. I've just read the first chapter of your trip to Kruger Park--great stuff.
Well hello Bruce, I am delighted to find your blog too!
ReplyDeleteGosh, that's an impressive feeder set-up you have here! I love to see your goldfinches as they look absolutely nothing like ours in the UK (You’ll know that from Mike's blog though). They are such a beautiful yellow colour. I also love your Carolina wrens which are a little bigger than ours and the band across the eye is much stronger.
Bruce, I have to ask with all these birds at your feeders do you have some nestboxes too?
BTW thanks for visiting and leaving comments on my blog :-D
Hi Shirl--thanks for looking. Yes, I do have half a dozen nest boxes, used mostly by chickadees, titmouses, and bluebirds. I gave up on my martin apartments because starlings got in them and tore the partitions apart. One bluebird nest has already had five eggs eaten--I presume by a raccoon. I have moved it to what I hope is a safer place.
ReplyDeleteHi again Bruce, I was pretty confident you might have nestboxes :-D
ReplyDeleteJust a thought though - perhaps it wasn't the racoons that ate the eggs. We have had starlings trying to get into the blue tit nestbox last year. I only know this as we have a camera in the box and at the time and the female in the nest was being quite vocal! I opened the window to see two starlings flying away from outside the nestbox!!
Thanks for that suggestion. I would not have thought of it because we haven't seen or even heard any starlings here for several years. I also thought possibly a snake, but it seems a little early for that. The first time I looked in the box, the nest was pulled forward and tipped a little. I straightened out and when I looked a week later there were only 2 out of five eggse left. Then a week later there were none. There was no evidence of anything having been there, no eggshell pieces, not torn up pinestraw, etc. Do you think an anole could or would eat five bird eggs?
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