Daily Pics - 4

I thought perhaps time to start a new daily pic thread. I'll begin with a few of the many shots I took today. The weather was beautiful and I was outside almost all day. Here's a Mockingbird taking a cool drink (or cooling his feet).

Tons of Cedar Waxwings around today, finding every berry producing tree in the neighborhood.

Closer look.

The first Downy Woodpecker I have seen.

One of my resident red-bellied Woodpeckers trying out an orange.

The Mockingbirds are nest-building.

Beautiful pictures.

Nice pics garden!

Thanks Stacysmom and Pelletory.

Great pics! I didn't know the Red Bellie would eat oranges too...my mocking bird is loving them. Have you ever tried grape jelly for the Red Bellies? I put some out last summer for the orioles and the RB loved it!

What did you put the jelly in stacie?

I'm not stacie :-) but I rigged up a little "fly thru" feeder by modifying a cheap seed feeder, removing the plastic sides and adding plastic cup stuck down with....(drum roll)...duct tape, LOL! I attached a long rope and hung it from a big elm tree behind the house, tying the rope off to our fence. I was trying to keep from attracting raccoons. I need to put some more out with the other feeders to see if the RBs are still interested, maybe the Mocking bird will like it too...
Here's a pic of the Red Bellie, I'll see if I have one with the Oriole...

Here's the Oriole...

Oh thats neat, and I happen to have an old feeder I can do that to. Thanks sadie! :-)

Sadie, I'm waiting for the orioles to show up here anyday. I always put out bowls of sugar water, but will try the jelly this year. The darn birds around here are eating better than me ! Is there anything else they like ?

Neat idea Sadie! I really put the orange out hoping the Mockingbird would like it, since he started eating the raisins from the feeder, but so far they have not shown any interest.

betterbloom - I had heard that the Orioles would eat oranges but I never saw them eat any, the grape jelly was the only other thing I tried. I had thought about getting one of those Oriole feeders that hold the nectar but never did.

gardenpom - this Mockingbird ate 2 oranges and then I bought a different kind and he hasn't touched it. I bought the other kind this weekend and am going to try it this week, maybe he just got enough Vitamin C, LOL, he's also slowed down on the peanut butter and oat mixture I put out but he is still guarding his feeder! Maybe it has something to do with the temps FINALLY getting above freezing.

I think they do prefer different foods when the weather is warmer. I have suet out which the woodpeckers like, but I bet they will not eat it much when the weather stays warm.

I think it depends on the wp. My downys eat it year round.

A female Pine Grosbeak, this is a far north resident. The male has a Rose-red head, chest, and back. I took this picture, near the bird feeder, at the Eagle River Visitors Center, Chugach State Park. I will have to go back again to see if she has a mate.

A Gray Jay was also hanging out near the bird feeder, at the Eagle River Visitors Center, Chugach State Park this afternoon.
They are also far northern residents.

I love the Gray Jay! Nice pics Gras!

Thanks Gras. I love seeing new birds!
Deb

Thanks Pell & Deb. When I finished sorting today's pic's, I found this better shot, of the female Pine Grosbeak.

Cute new birds! Love the Jay's tail.

Gardenpom - I had no idea we get the Cedar Waxwings. I have never seen any in my area, but now there is hope since you actually photographed them at your place! I am soooo envious of all the northern states folks and their mass variety of birds. I seem to see just the year round resident birds at my feeders.

Here is a female cardinal I was able to snap of picture of.

Also a goldenfinch I think.

Oh! I wish I could get cedar waxwings. I have bushes with berries, soak raisins, put out birdbaths and everything else I've heard will bring them but still NOTHING! They look like little robbers to me.

I've only seen one Cedar Waxwing with my own two eyes. Several years ago one landed on the rocks around my pond. I tried to describe him to my husband, but didn't have a clue what he was. Your comment:

Had to work today so I didn't have anytime left for bird pics but did catch this big boy in the yard this afternoon. Common Grackle

Pelle: Grackles are really amazing birds. I love that irridescence (sp?).

I didn't get a chance to get any pics today either. Before I left home this morning tho, I did spot a Red-bellied WP on the suet, first in several days, and a Nuthatch, but they both disappeared before I could grab the camera.

Deb

I usually hear the Cedar Waxwings before seeing them. They make a high pitched Eeeeee sound. You look up and they will be roosted in the top of a tree. They seem to send out scouts and when they spot food or water they call the others, before you know it there will be 30 of them. They will systematically dive on a water source, one by one or pass berries from one to another up a limb to feed each other.

Some shots from today, starting off with a Blue Jay and his prize.

Painted Bunting at feeder.

Mockingbird after the Firebush berries.

Grackle in all his glory.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Gardenpom: Thanks for giving me my Painted Bunting fix. :)
Deb