The Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers come to the suet feeders in my yard, the Red-bellied also come to the seed feeders on occasion but I've never, ever seen the Pileated WP visiting the suet or seed feeders. I see the Pileated WP's in the Palm Trees a lot and on power poles but for some reason they never visit the feeders.

I've had some eye problems that hinder sight somewhat, especially long views, thusly not too many birds have been a subject this year.
However, recently the birds have come to me. I work at the computer in our 'office' room; just to my left is a north facing window where a forsythia bush and a burning bush can be seen. Sparrows gather thereon thickly. So, I took some pics and was somewhat surprised at the results (through glass and screen).








Plato also likes the view.

Lin - Thank you!!!

jmorth - So sorry to hear about your vision issues. (I worry about my own vision as I get older.) What kind of birds are in your photos?

Speaking of the Rare birds wander off course from strong El Nino ...

Did anyone else read about this rare sighting a week ago?

http://www.al.com/news/index.s...

Would sure love to see THAT hummingbird in MY yard!

Sparrows

Thanks for the ID. I don't see Sparrows here, so wasn't sure.

J, I understand what you mean about vision issues! I had some laser surgery more than a year ago (for narrow angle glaucoma) and I swear my vision is ten times worse than it was before the surgery ... well, really it's just my right eye that seems to be a blur most of the time. I do have cataracts but supposedly not bad enough to be removed yet but vision in my right eye is making me very agitated ... that's the eye I use to look through the camera lens so I never know what my pictures look like until I download them to my laptop. I'm lucky because even though I delete many, I still get some decent shots too. It's just a hassle having vision problems!

Your sparrows look like Chipping Sparrows, I've been seeing them arrive in this area the past week ... love those tiny ones! That next to last photo is really nice with so many birds in one shot! Is that the burning bush on the right with those gorgeous red leaves??

Love your Plato ... and it sure looks like he's interested in those birds! Our Golden Retriever Bo takes off when I open the door and he spots birds in the yard ... thank goodness he can't catch them!

My garden helper brought her daughter to visit me today, and we had so much fun. She is 8yrs. old and was really excited to see all the birds visiting my bird feeders, so we stood at the window and I let her shoot pictures of them. She got some really nice shots. The titmous eluded us (sort of) as they sure don't hang around on the feeder too long. They grab a seed and fly off into the bamboo to eat it.







We also saw a Carolina wren, and this other little woodpecker on the other feeder. The wren wouldn't come out to get her picture taken but we did get a decent shot of the tiny woodpecker. Anybody know, is this a Downy Woodpecker or what? It was about the size of your average sparrow.

Nice shots from your little gardening friend! I especially love that little female Cardinal and the Red-bellied WP. That cute little woodpecker looks to be a male Downy. The Hairy WP has a much longer bill than the Downy.

Great shots!

@plantladylin
Yes, that is a Burning Bush.

My present eye problem is chronic dry eye - both eyes; compounded by my right eye having a detached retina that never reattached correctly (after 7 surgeries in the past couple of years). I actually have 3 eye doctors, 1 for the back of the eye (retina), 1 for the front of the eye (lens), and one for eyesight (glasses).

Like you I often can't be sure what pictures will look like till downloaded.

My Bush Stone-curlews brought up a baby to the yard tonight. It was too dark to photograph but they should bring it right up the drive way tomorrow. I can hardly wait - they are so cute. Watch this space. Usually the babies hatch in October. This is one of the parents.

I can't wait to see the babies Glen.

Love the eyes on that bird!

This crazy but today I first heard and then spotted sandhill cranes flying over! I thought I heard some the other day but never saw them. I told myself it was to late foe fall migration & too early for spring. They were headed in a southerly direction.

A few birds from the past week, please enlarge to see the whole thing and detail.

Northern Flicker trying to finds bits of suet that fell in the snow and all fluffed up against the cold.


Gold Finches in the snowy tree.


I had the bedroom window open and said hi to one of the Steller's Jay and he squawked back at me as they often do.


A Fox sparrow, these birds are hard to get a photo of as they are very shy and mostly hide in the bushes or the tree. Sorry about photo quality but lighting condition was poor.

An unusual visitor to my yard the other day, a Black-billed Magpie. I see these birds in our area once in awhile during the summer, they are mostly at a lower altitude around the Kamloops area, so I was very surprised when this one came to visit and stayed and ate some seed that I had thrown under the tree.

Enlarge for best viewing




We also have a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches hanging around, very challenging to photograph as they are in almost constant motion. Notice the pine cones in the feeder, that's the squirrel trying to hide the seed from the birds, once he put a wadded up paper towel and some animal hair in there.


Have had quite a few Common red-polls the past few days.

So many beautiful birds!

Oh I love that magpie

Oh Margaret, your photos are wonderful! I love seeing birds from other areas that don't travel this far south! Love the shot of that Stellar's Jay squawking at you ... too cute! And, oh my the Black-billed Magpie is a beautiful bird!

I love them all, but I think I'm kind of partial to the Flicker. Such a neat color and pattern on that one. The Jay is really cool, too. Isn't it fun to go virtual birding!?

What a bounty of fabulous photos from Margaret today! The Flicker looks almost completely different when it's all fluffed up as it is on the tree trunk. The Magpie is so striking & handsome. The nuthatches are so colorful. I love the Stellar's Jay saying hi to you.