One For Me, One For You...

Today's warmer weather (and by "warmer" I mean it was only -10!) brought some handsome visitors to our backyard.  

These fellows took their time strutting their stuff just outside the kitchen window.

Inside, the kitty teeth were clicking away;  I expect Polly and Maddie were thinking "great - one each!"

Bird Watching

We are having a snowstorm, and the feeders are filled with Starlings - noisy, raucous, aggressive Starlings.  The young bird watchers are quite taken with them.

Those birds are so lucky to be separated from these hunters by a pane of glass (and probably the cats are lucky too!!)

Christmas Friends

We had snow again this morning and it finally looks like Christmas. This Red-bellied Woodpecker caused some excitement at our feeders as these birds are not common in our area.

What a treat to have a new friend visit for Christmas!
From our house to yours, we wish you all a wonderful Christmas. One more sleep and we're there!

Superbird Sunday

I am starting to think that our friend Flicker realizes that when he visits our feeders, there is a group of admirers gathered on the other side of the window watching his every move. When he arrives he sits for quite a spell, just gazing around the yard...perhaps allowing me time to fetch my camera. There was a fair breeze and the feeder on which he was perched kept spinning around. Here you can see his feathers are a bit ruffled.

A close-up of his front show his perfect colouration. I think he is such a beauty.

The black lines on his face indicate this fellow is a male - a moustache, if you will. The female has all the same markings but this one.

In the next two shots, you can see the yellow underneath his tail feathers. Someone told us that a common name for a Northern Flicker is "Yellow Hammer". When he spreads his wings to fly, it is yellow you see. What a perfect patchwork of colours and patterns he is.

I hope to catch him in flight some day; so far he has been too quick for me.

Look how well camouflaged he is in the trees, even with the red stripe on his head.

Yesterday

Everything has been so pretty since the last snowfall. The red holly berries are peeking out from under a blanket of white...
and the apples left hanging on the tree last fall look as though they have a dollop of frosting on top.

Snow always brings birds out to the feeders and yesterday the Northern Flicker enjoyed a long visit. He sat very still and surveyed the yard for quite some time before beginning his feast.

He started with a bit of suet for an appetizer...

...before being invited to enjoy the main course with an accommodating Blue Jay. You can see the size difference between the two in this picture.

Hey, where did that Blue Jay go? No manners for that fellow!

Inside, I knitted on the socks while watching his antics through the kitchen window. The muslin socks are coming right along; one is on the straight part of the foot, and the other has the ribbing cast on for the leg.

I also poked away at finishing up the foundation blocks for another Farrago. It's a nice change to sew without a deadline.

Snow Day

One more picture of a visitor from yesterday: this Northern Flicker stopped by to sample the home-made suet ball. What a handsome bird.

Snow Day

It's snowing now and the ice will start later this morning. Dave March has already announced that schools in Cumberland County are closed again today. When storms are brewing, our feeders are very busy with lots of visitors including a pair of Cardinals who frequent our backyard. Mrs. Cardinal is quite bold and relaxed and seems to pose for the camera. Her vibrantly coloured spouse, however, quickly flits in and out not pausing long at all. His plumage makes him quite a target.