@Beckygardener Becky, I think your mystery bird may very well be the Orchard Oriole too! It sure looks like the same one I've been seeing here off an on the past few days!
@dyzzypyxxy Elaine, the Painted Buntings are shy little birds and they like areas with shrubbery so they can retreat quickly if they feel threatened. I used to see Painted Buntings at our old house where we lived for 37 years; the property had many trees and lots of dense shrubs for cover. Our yard at this house where we've been the past four years doesn't have much of any shrubbery so I haven't seen a Painted Bunting since living here. I'm not sure what all the ingredients are in a bag of mixed wild birdseed but I usually buy the bags that say Songbird blend. I think it's a combination of sunflower seeds, probably some type of millet and maybe safflower seed as well. I sometimes buy the fruit and nut blend also.
I usually buy my bird seed and suet from Walmart because it's close by and convenient. Sometimes I buy a bag of Kaytee dried/dehydrated mealworms
http://www.bing.com/images/sea... that I mix in with the seed and I also sometimes add Peanut Nuggets:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/C-S-.... I used to add raisins to the birdseed mixture for the woodpeckers but since we have a dog and the feeders are in the backyard where he spends time I don't put raisins in anymore because they are toxic to dogs.
