Frenzy At The Feeder

With a significant snowfall in the forecast, the variety of birds vying for a perch on the feeder is great.  This chickadee was content to peck at the suet block while waiting his turn at the feeder.  Did you ever wonder why chickadees grab one seed and then fly away with it to crack it open and eat it…only to return a few moments later for another.  Well, chickadees have a hierarchy…a pecking order, if you’ll pardon the pun…and anyone who eats out of turn is likely to cause quick a ruckus.  Who knew?

This finch has a mouthful already!

A flock of cedar waxwings were frightened into this tree just as I was about to grab a shot of them on a colourful, berried bush.

This fellow, which we believe is a red-tailed hawk, was the bully of the day.  He swooped around the feeder for most of the afternoon and sadly, did get away with one of our resident squirrels.  It’s Nature’s way, of course.  And we still have to get rid of the remaining squirrel before spring–he and the girlfriend were living under our deck and they definitely need new digs before mating season!  My Dad has a live trap, so we’ll find him a new home.

S/he is not being quite so brazen these days!

We also had a common flicker, several mourning doves, and some juncos at the feeder today, but they were camera shy. :)

Grand Opening!

Persistence...

Despite unforgiving and seemingly non-stop wind, rain, several frosts, and even a few snow flurries, this Gerbera ‘Terra Cotta’ daisy seems determined to open!  Talk about persistent!  There’s another bud that’s showing some colour as well, but I imagine the weather will claim it.

The jays are back, the rascals!

Though they don’t actually leave, we don’t see much of these beautiful birds throughout the summer, but the moment the feeder is filled and the Bird Café opens , they flock to it in large numbers.  It’s so comical to watch them try to hang off the little rests, which weren’t made with such gluttons in mind!  I love their wonderful plumage.

Constantly trying to figure out a way to get at that seed.

The friendly little chickadees are back in large numbers, too — they are Winter’s darlings.

Sweet chickadees...how dull winter would be without them!

As for the rest of the “garden”, there’s still life in some pots.  As always, the geraniums are the stalwart ones, still green and full of buds.  I suspect Jack Frost will have a hand in their demise one of these nights.  They really must be hardy to have withstood the wicked winds we’ve had the past few weeks — to see them this green and healthy come November is unusual, especially as the deck is wide open to the elements.

It's a wrap for this year.

Soon, pots will be emptied and plants composted, the soil worked into garden beds and used as mulch around shrubs.  I hope to do some edging around the little impromptu bed I created this spring and enlarge it a bit.  I intended to plant some tulips and daffs, but we’ll see if I get to those before it freezes.  Tomorrow, I hope to take a photo of the front of the deck, from the sidewalk angle, and get your suggestions for some conifer plantings in the front.   So, on this November 1st, how does YOUR garden grow?

Skywatch Friday – Aug 27, 2010

Something yummy this way comes!

Something yummy — at least as far as these birds were concerned — must have recently hatched in the acreage across the road from our apartment.  The pasture was full of hundreds of these birds, all happily lunching on something that caught their eye.  The dark bank of rain clouds didn’t seem to dampen their feasting.

Happy Friday to all — more Skywatchers can be found here.