SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - IT'S RAINING, IT'S RAINING, THE OLD BIRD IS MOANING...

 

Uh-oh! Groaner alert!

And uh-oh, mirror alert, unexpected visitor!

He's really friendly but hungry and had me tell you he is a vegetarian. He just heard about all the birdseed around here when he was passing through. The birds agreed to feed him and welcomed him to their table.

Thanks for dropping by, even though it is still raining groaners around here.

But we all know that's how it goes on a 

Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Have a great weekend everyone.

For our international friends to translate by using my sidebar widget.

Photo 1: 

"You have got to be kiddng me. It's raining again? There goes my new hairdo!"

Photo 2:

"It's raining again? Where is the mirror?"

Photo 3:

"What did one raindrop say to another?

Two's company, three's a cloud."

"Oh boy!"

Photo 4:

"I am very cute yes?"

"Back away and drop the mirror!"

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - TOTALLY, TOTALLY…

And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Birdfeeder. Totally Squirrelly!

Thanks for flying in and don't forget to keep your feathers from sticking. Stay away from that 'vel-crow'...

and have a great weekend!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - SARDINE PIE?

 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - A RIDDLE ME THIS - 9/27/24

Scrolling down

and

down

and

down

and

down

and 

down

and

one more down...

An envelope does indeed start with the letter ‘e’ and is designed to contain an actual, honest to goodness letter, but not the kind of letter I was thinking about.  Way to go little dove!

And by now you know how it goes on 

a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for looking 

and have a great weekend my friends.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - 9/7/24 - COFFEE TALK

 

My coffee is the secret ingredient to releasing my inner comedian. Sorry my friends, I obviously didn't get enough cups today.

And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird feeder, with thanks to Pinterest for today's inspiration.

Thank you for putting up with the groaners.

Have a great weekend!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - 8/17/24 - WHY?

 That question!

And a little louder!

and start putting the bird feed out again. I miss you too!

Thanks for stopping by and ...

FEMALE CARDINAL, MOURNING DOVE, A CAROLINA WREN AND A PLANTER

Today I am showcasing the female Cardinal.  Even though she is not as showy as the distinctive red-feathered male, she is just as beautiful with her muted colors. I took these photos of her in one of the trees in our garden.

The Cardinal is the official state bird of seven states. These are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. 

They are numerous in the Southeast, and it has been extending its range northward for decades.  We can see it now on winter days as far north as southeastern Canada.  You will rarely see it west of the Great Plains but it is quite common in the desert Southwest.

Here she is after flying down to sit on the deck rail, with a cropped version from above.  We are lucky enough to see both male and female almost every day throughout the year.

Females sing mainly in spring before the start of nesting, and those nests are usually well hidden in dense shrubs, vines, or low trees. She is the one who builds them, using twigs, weeds, grass, bark strips, leaves and rootlets, lined with fine grass or hair.

Another bird I enjoy is the Mourning Dove.  There was a family of six visiting this morning.  I love to hear them cooing in the early light as I wake up, and I often call them my early alarm.  Their call and their silhouette are very easy to recognize.  Its species name is macroura, from Greek meaning "long tail."  It is among the few birds that can drink using suction.  Other birds drink water by filling their bill with the liquid, then tilting their heads back relying on gravity.  

This is a Carolina Wren.  These photos aren't the sharpest as I took them through glass and a screen.  It is another regular visitor to our garden.

A male and female Carolina Wren will form a bond at any time of the year, and will then stay together for the rest of their lives. They like to make nests in unusual places, and if you have them near your home, you might find a nest in your mailbox, flowerpots, even in your shoes and pockets if they have access.  If you wanted to encourage them, you can set up a nesting box 3 to 6 ft. off the ground.  The box can also help to provide shelter during cold or extreme weather conditions, so if you install one, leave it up throughout the winter. 

Next I am sharing one of the planters we bought in the early summer.  We purchased two and both pots are dark green with the same plants.  The flowers growing above all the other plants, the ones with the red bell-like petals, are Honeysuckle fuchsia, more info below.  I'm going to have to start pruning as everything has grown amazingly well.  The planters are hard to move and are far too heavy for me.  We do have a dolly in the garage that will help with that.  I saw a hummingbird fly near them one day, a fleeting moment and haven't seen it since.   

I was concerned that the squirrels might take a liking to them, and I would find everything strewn all over the deck, but so far, they have left them alone.  A rare win with those little rascals.

I just looked outside from staring at my computer screen, and said to Gregg, "Look at all those doves?  There must be over a dozen of them."  Well, turned out what I was seeing was double vision.  My eyes took a moment to adjust from screen to deck rail.  Husband had a puzzled look as he looked out there, and when I told him we both had a bit of a laugh.  And a mental note it's time to get my eyeglass subscription updated!

Now for the Honeysuckle Fuchsia, also known as a Firecracker Fuchsia, with a botanical name of Fuchsia triphylla.  It prefers full to partial shade, though it can tolerate more sunshine if the temperature is mild.  They are mostly grown as an annual in the U.S.  It is super easy to take care of and resists almost all pests and disease. 

And that’s all for today.