Anyone home?
This Chipping Sparrow waits to see if the fairy living in the base of our pine tree will come out to play. This photo was taken on March 20, and I realized this morning (while watching the darned cowbirds swarm the seed I had put out) that I haven't seen a Chipping Sparrow in several days. They must have headed north already.
Where's breakfast?
This mockingbird stayed on the fence while I sprinkled seed out there for him, instead of taking to the trees until I had gone back indoors again. Brave? Or bossy?
Darn wind - it's messing with my 'do'
I thought the goldfinches had all moved on, there had been no activity on the finch feeders for a week or more, but last weekend, I caught sight of this little guy, and a couple of his friends, on the one feeder I left out for them, just in case. Is it a goldfinch that got left behind, or is it something else?
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
7 comments:
I love when you post bird pix. So much fun to share.
We still have hundreds of chipping sparrows here. Can't remember when they left last year.
This is mockingbird mating season and the males are often a little more bold. Do you put fruit in your seed mix? Mockingbirds are primarily insect and berry eaters, don't usually go to feeders.
You're right, that's an American Goldfinch. Odd that he's alone. We've had a recent flock of Lesser Goldfinches. I thought they were year-round here but didn't see them much this winter. Maybe they were snowbirds.
I'm waiting for the first Summer Tanager and the first Painted Bunting. Last year was lean for both species and I'm hoping this year will make up for it.
Hi Kathleen, thanks for your comment. After I posted the pics, I was outside in the garden and noticed a female goldfinch on the feeder, so our friend above has his wife with him.
I think the seed mixture I have has fruit in it - I'll make sure. I actually don't use feeders in the back garden (other than the sock feeder for the finches and the suet feeder). Instead, I sprinkle the seed along the top rail of the fence. I can accommodate more birds that way and we usually get a flock of chipping sparrows, a couple of pairs of cardinals, a couple of pairs of blue jays, a red-bellied woodpecker, a couple of Carolina chickadees, a flock of mourning doves and more. There are always mockingbirds in the trees around us and on the fence, but now you mention they don't usually go to feeders, I'm trying to remember if I've actually seen them eat from the fence with the other birds -- I not sure if I have. We'll have to keep an eye on the tree in our front garden. There's still a nest in it that mockingbirds raised a family in last year. I hope they nest again!
These are such little cuties ... lovely photos. I just love that bad hair do on that goldfinch ... gorgeous. I always enjoy seeing the birdlife from other gardens ... thanks for sharing.
I don't get many birds (or small critters) at all in my garden. I've got a 4 1/2 year old west highland terrier that does a great job of keeping everybody at bay.
I love the first picture! The fairy door and windows are really cute. We don't see Mockingbirds here. Love all the bird pictures, they are fun to watch this time of year.
Hi Eric, Where I used to live, I had a stray cat take up residence on the patio. Actually, when got married and moved in with my husband in our new house, I brought the stray cat with me and we made him a house cat. But prior to that he often left "gifts" in the form of dead animals and I often saw him stalking the birds.
Hi Catherine, Sitting and watching the birds has become one of my favorite pastimes. They're so entertaining.
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