Criss Cross

This has long been one of  Rusty's nicknames.  It was on display this morning.  Maybe he could be a model?

Yes, it is a "bird" feeder...

It seems like I'm feeding squirrels and deer these days (no turkeys yet this season) but my objective is to attract the birds.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Same

I like how it is peeking around the feeder

I included this to show the coloring underneath on the nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker

Nuthatch on the tree...Downy on the feeder

Lucky shot of the nuthatch taking flight

Black-Capped Chickadee

Nuthatch again

Chickadee joining the nuthatch

Woodpecker again

Not quite Bambi and the creatures of the forest but...

I was watching deer eat with squirrels and thought of this scene from Bambi...

 

 

Not quite the same but here you go...

 

Squirrels! Squirrels! Squirrels!

What's Up Doc?

I should name this one Yogi...always after the feeder.




Six squirrels getting along for the moment.

Dean and Jon...here's your "tree kitty".

American Tree Sparrow

Sparrows can be hard to tell apart.  Fortunately I was able to get close on this one to confirm the markings.

Interesting clouds last night

 

 

Same picture a little closer...

 

Christmas with the Andrews 2014

Hosted the Andrew Christmas for the 2nd year in a row.  We didn't get outside but had fun playing games inside.

 

 

Waiting for the gang

 

 

 

Did the squirrel see his shadow?

The answer is "yes"!  He was trying to get beneath the snow for something. 

Sun Dog

It's hard to take a picture looking into the sun.  We've seen sun dogs the past few days.  Here is a picture from our street this morning.

Deer, Birds and Squirrels (Oh My)

Here is some "pre-snow" activity in my feeding area.

First up a doe...

I'm seeing the usual birds at my feeder (Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Dark-Eyed Juncos).  I'm pretty sure I saw an American Goldfinch the other day.  I had some last year.  I did see a Bald Eagle fly over our house the other day.  But what I think I can confirm is I saw a Hairy Woodpecker (vs a Downy Woodpecker).  They look very similar but are larger than a Downy and I wasn't sure I could tell the difference.  These are not good pictures, but to me, this was larger than a Downy.  So here is a Hairy Woodpecker (to my eyes)...

 

I'm trying to get close to the feeder without scaring the birds.  On this day, I was able to capture a willing White-breasted Nuthatch...

 



And now the clowns of my backyard, Fox Squirrels.  The first picture will show five squirrels feeding.  A sixth was on my fence.  And you will see one sizing up my feeder and then trying to crawl down (with no success).