House Bound

And Enjoying Bird Watching

Snow is still on the ground, a residue of the snowfall a few days ago. It’s very peaceful watching snow falling and the quietness afterward as the snow absorbs sound pretty well. Though it was too cold to go outside, a joyful moment was still there.

We hang bird feeders along the patio roof during winter which makes it much easier for us to refill them and we can bird watch when circumstance stops us from doing anything else. It’s also easier for us to patrol and protect the feeders from European Starlings and House Sparrows. The down side is we have to sweep bird droppings and whatever else they’ve dropped off the ground underneath. In spring, after we move the feeders back to the garden, we use soap and water to clean the remaining effluent off the fence. But it’s worth the effort. We can observe our avian friends closely and they can also take shelter in the woodpile under the roof from predators too large to squeeze in.

These are some of what we enjoyed a few days ago.

A pair of Cardinal and a House finch waiting their turn in snow — A pair of **Northern Cardinals** and a **House Finch** await their turn for the feeders in snow

Female Cardinal — Female **Northern Cardinal** puffs her feathers up against the cold

Bright red male Cardinal — Bright red male **Northern Cardinal** looks like an ornament in the snow. We have plenty of them in the garden as many of them were born right here.

A little puff ball- **American Tree Sparrow**-also came for the seeds

Female Bluebird — A female **Eastern Bluebird** enjoying warmth from the heated birdbath. We have a flock of five bluebirds that stayed with us this winter.

Plenty of **Downey Woodpeckers** year round and they no longer seem to care when we are close by.

**House Finch** also flocking around throughout the year

Slate-colored **Dark-eyed Junco** visit us only in winter and leave for their boreal home by early spring

Female and young **Dark-eyed Junco** have more brown color on them

American Goldfinch stay with us throughout the year. The male only change his summer bright yellow coat to a much duller brown in winter. We take a hint that spring is coming when they start to drop the brown feathers. — ***American Goldfinch*** stay with us throughout the year. The male only changes his summer bright yellow coat for a much duller brown in winter. We take it as a hint that spring is coming when they start to drop the brown feathers.

Here is our most friendly resident- **Black-capped** **Chickadee**

Member of the Avian Chorus- **Song Sparrow**-as the name suggested, sing one of the sweetest songs during spring and summer

White-throated Sparrow — We have a variety of sparrows, this **White-throated** **Sparrow** is also a good singer

This **Tufted Titmouse** has been checking the weaved birdhouse our friend gave us a few times during the day. I wonder if he roosts in there at night.

**Hairy Woodpecker** is twice the size of the Downey Woodpecker and seldom come to the feeders. This winter we have a pair that frequents one of the suets daily.

**White-breasted Nuthatch** tend to eat upside down most of the time

**Red-breasted Nuthatch**– a smaller cousin of the White-breasted Nuthatch seldom comes to the feeder. They usually make a fast dash to the feeder, but won’t stay on it like its cousin.

There are others that are more elusive like the Carolina wren, the Pileated Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker. Clearly not wanting the publicity with being caught on camera.