Bird watching

[ShrekDawg]

Anyone here like bird watching? Whether that's going somewhere to watch or attracting them to your yard?

We get a lot of birds and different ones in different parts because of the varied terrain we have and I love watching them!!

Recently I've been feeding them too and I love it.

We have a fairly big tube feeder in the backyard, a 3 tier platform feeder type thing in the front garden, and then I just found another tube feeder for smaller birds and hung it up in the front on a tree. So far the birds seem to prefer the platform. Same feed. Just filled/refilled both of those and also tossed tons of black oil sunflower seeds all over various parts of the yard and woods etc (our yard is huge). I still need to refill the feeder in the back but I ran out of the other kind so gotta open the new bag.

Anyway, I find the BOSS tends to attract lots of bluejays which is cool and all but they can be bullies and loud. At one point a few months ago we had like 7 or 8 of them at once haha I find the front feeder tends to attract more of the smaller birds. Chickadees, nuthatches, finches, etc. We had nyjer/thistle seed out at one point which they loved also but right now we just used a leftover Christmas seed blend but I love having the feeders in different places and different types of feed because the small birds have a safe, protected place to feed away from the bigger birds. There's also tons of small trees, bushes, and shrubs in the front yard for them whereas the back is mostly open and pine trees with a couple small trees next to the house.

I also find the BOSS attracts chipmunks and squirrels which I love too. The dog is less than enthused. Lol

It even attracts deer! Found that put the last time I put it out and they came almost to the backyard right outside the dog's window!

So this time I put it on the hill way away from him but I'm hoping they come!

A month or two ago I bought a squirrel food mix which was just whole corn kernels, BOSS, and I think some peanuts and maybe something else. Put it down in the same spot. The animals hulled all the BOSS but left the corn. And I put corn down last winter too but cracked but they didn't touch it. Bag says it attracts deer, etc. But like I said they only ate BOSS. Apparently our animals are picky and only eat BOSS. I can't figure it out. Lol oh well.

Anyway, I'm just really excited about buying more bird food and refilling the feeders and wanted to share it.

I don't really know much about birds or identifying them, etc. But I'm hoping to learn more as I watch them at the feeder

Soooo....

Sorry I got so long winded but anyone else love birds/wildlife like I do?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Semi gross with the trash behind them but some MASSIVE sea gulls. They were darker/black not grey and bigger than they look here. Especially in flight. Were massive.

And this cute lil guy. There were sooo many of them. He was brighter and darker than here. They lived like on the side of the pier and flew too fast to get a flight picture lol

I'll post the seals and raccoon in the wildlife thread.

And here is the big tom turkey outside the window and his hen

And a sign of some of the supposed birds there

 

[The Angry Hen]

Here is Snowy!

 

[keesmom]

Found this in the bushes today.

 

[keesmom]

I began bird watching at an early age. Used to drive my grandmother nuts talking about birds when she had to wath us.

 

[TwoCrows]

Here's the daily displaying Tom at the bird bath. The pic is a bit washed out (my phone stinks) but this is as close as he let me get. LOL Oh and thats a mini Big Foot to the left. LOL

 

[keesmom]

This was in a parking lot but like a quiet/wooded one at the entrance to a state park. Do you think it was the catbird then?

The picture you posted was a catbird.

You want some bunnies and deer for home? Please come and take some! We have no shortage of turkeys either.

Heck my parents are just north of Boston and they have residential turkeys. Two hens were perched on their deck eating out of the tube feeders last week.

 

[keesmom]

Our baby robins are growing quickly. They are starting to overflow their nest! It won't be long before they are out and about. I'll have to get a picture of them before they leave.

 

[barn206]

I have a small bird that has a nest under my window. It sees it's reflection in the glass and attacks itself all night long and very very early in the morning. I've been hearing him thump for 2 weeks now I put 3 feeders up . One is filled with cracked corn and that's where I'm training the squirrels to eat( it's been working). Lots of robins on the grass. I do have quite a few grosbeak though. Also I'm honored with the presence of a large orange headed pileator woodpecker once in a while. Tons of Bluejays but no cardinals yet. I have to say that I do enjoy having coffee in the morning and watching the birds.

 

[keesmom]

Here are the 2 varieties of grosbeaks I have seen around here. I haven't seen an evening grosbeak in over 30 years.

Rose breasted
male

female

Evening pair

We have all kinds of Black-headed Grosbeaks this year.

Once, 2 years ago, I had a female black headed grosbeak at our sunflower feeder. Not sure how she got blown up this way.