Feathered feeders

A feeder I frequently take pictures at has been empty most of the winter due to a pine squirrel.  Feeding the squirrel is not the problem, just the damage done by the squirrel in the proximity of the feeders.  Recently the feeders were filled and the chickadees immediately returned.  As did the squirrel.  Within a few days I heard the distinct nuthatch call.  I waited patiently and watched.  Soon a red-breasted nuthatch zoomed in to a perch, paused, jumped to the feeder, grabbed a sunflower seed, and flew off.  This sequence repeated over and over, affording a window of less than one second each time to snap a photo.  The pic could be better but the morning light was not strong yet.  The chickadees were more compliant.

Red-breasted nuthatch

Black-capped Chickadee

Frosted whiskers

This pine squirrel was enjoying digging in the snow for sunflower seeds.  At -11 F, he was hungry enough to not mind my proximity.

 Red-breasted nuthatch

Sitting pretty

Some feeder action.  The red-breasted nuthatch even stuck his tongue out at me!

Feeding frenzy

This morning it was +11 F rather than -11 F the birds were loving it! At dawn the feeders were vibrating with 30 or so pine siskins, along with some chickadees, redpolls, a couple white-breasted nuthatches, and a lone red-breasted nuthatch.  Standing very still for the photos, the pine siskins were all around me at my feet.

Pine siskins

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Common Redpoll

Up close and personal

The birds let me get really close today...4.9ft to be exact, the minimum focal distance on my 300mm lens. Chickadees I expect to be a bit brazen, but the red-breasted nuthatch was definitely being brave. The photos of the downy woodpecker are uncropped, he must have been very hungry to tolerate my proximity.

Birds everywhere

Lots of birds to be seen as many migrate for the nearing winter. I got a much better photo today of the red-breasted nuthatch. I also spotted a yellow-rumped warbler and a green warbler, as well as numerous woodpeckers.

red-breasted nuthatch

male Hairy Woodpecker

female Hairy Woodpecker atop a wooden bear carving

male Hairy Woodpecker

Junco