Happy Monday everyone-I have had birds and bird feeders for many years. I have had quite a variety and some rare sightings of others that don't frequent the feeders as often or only at certain times of year. I have had chickadees, nuthatches(both wht and rose breasted ones). Several kinds of woodpeckers, tufted titmouses and the species that started my love affair with birds and that is the northern cardinal. This summer I had 7 males. Most men I have ever had in my yard. LOL
Also I have had yellow finches and the winter finches which are just finches where the male loses its yellow color feathers and then they all look like the females. I got a fairly decent shot of them although not as clear as I would like thru the window. There are 3 in this pic. Can you spot all 3?
Since earlier this year I started staying in my woman cave next door to Mom I had wanted to hang feeders closer to the windows in my frontroom so I could see them closer. One of the kinds of food I feed the birds most often is sunflower seeds I didn't want the mess of all the shells in the mulch.
The area where I have most of the feeders is grass and is outside my old bedroom in Mom's house. I purposely left grass there to be able to mow it and it didn't matter so much because the mess was contained to a small area.
Since it is winter now there are many more kinds of birds that visit the feeders and I have more time to watch and enjoy them so I got the no waste kind(nuts/berries and shelled sunflower seeds) Well at least not so much mess. While it obviously cost more, it is less mess which works for me so I can have the birds closer to my windows for the winter.
Now with all the varieties and rare sightings I have seen I had a first today which to a avid bird watcher is a real thrill and great fun. I thought I knew what it was but actually thought the species was smaller so I got to see a new birdie but also learned something new.
During the research process I found out that they are called "New world sparrows. They are bigger than a sparrow and have prettier feathers. They also kick with their feet while foraging for their food like another fav of mine which is the dark eyed junco.
So what is my new birdie? Meet the Male eastern Towhee. Pretty isn't he. Hope he comes back.
It is the little things in life that bring me the most joy. This fellow did that today.
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