Timmy Bear and friends

     Sadie is saying hello to new friends.  In the flower pot is Timmy Bear.  He thinks he's a blooming star.  The little guy on the left is Tipper, and on the right, partly obscured by Sadie's hairy head is Tilly.  They, the bears had a bit of an adventure today.  They decided to go bird watching.....

     This area was sheltered, and a few juncos flew overhead.  The trio didn't seem to mind the cold, and wandered over to the picnic table for a better view.

     Timmy saw I was taking his picture, so he posed nicely.  Tilly was more interested in a chickadee, and you can see why the little one's name is Tipper.  He closely examined the snow flakes.  He has an inquiring mind.

     Later, Tipper pretended he was a brown bird, but he didn't attract any feathered friends, so he got even more daring.

     By this time, Timmy and Tilly had frozen bearhinds, and decided it was time to go inside.  Tipper had to be coaxed from the feeder.  He was having a great time blowing in the wind. 
     You never know what Timmy and his friends will be up to next.......



Snowman and birds

   
 Today I made a snowman.  I was just fooling around with 'paint' and this is what I came up with.  It's one way of making a snowman without freezing your fingers, or breaking your back trying to roll the big snowballs, then put one on top of the other....but it's not as much fun as building a real one.

More Snow

     It started snowing last night, and this morning there was freezing rain, snow pellets that hit the window so hard I felt it would soon come right in the room, then more snow and strong wind.  Not a good day for anyone to be on the road, though I know some must make their way to work through this mess.  I have driven once since Sunday, to get birdseed and milk, two important staples, and am considering cancelling choir practice for tonight.  I'm pretty sure no one will want to go out if they don't have to.
     Winter is getting to me, and it's only January.  I like the look of crisp white snow on the trees and fields, but when the roads get icy, I'm not very brave, and I don't have to be. Snow scenes are nice to paint, but......
      A little while ago, I got very upset.  I saw a large raven in the middle of the road, and he/she was merrily ripping away at something.  Being me, I immediately assumed that it was one of the squirrels, since both had been around earlier.  I tend to jump to conclusions, and this time thought the worst.  I grabbed my little binoculars and watched to see if I could tell if my suspicions were true.  Fortunately, it turned out to be some sort of a bag, and not one of my little friends.  I was quite relieved, and then chastised myself for thinking the way I did. 
     I've been watching http://www.knowledge.ca/ and seeing Oasis programs on Hope For Wildlife in Seaforth, NS.  They do great work there with injured wildlife.  You can find them at http://www.hopeforwildlife.net/ if you are interested.
     Now I'm hoping the power will stay on...........  Stay safe!

Cold, Cold, Cold!

     Today was bitterly cold.  It was a good day to stay inside.  There was not much activity at the feeder.  A few jays, and juncos braved the chill, and the squirrels were there for a short time. Backyard has managed to chew the top board and make his entrance hole larger.
     I felt sorry for the birds today, though I know they are quite able to manage the cold, but another new bird arrived today, and I've had a difficult time trying to figure out what it is.  It looked like it was very hungry and stayed most of the day, probably in the bush, but was at the feeder several times.  It may have been a female red winged blackbird, very dark brown on the back and heavily striped chest, medium bill, and larger than a sparrow, and a bit smaller than a dove.  I attempted to take a picture of the dove and the new bird together on the feeder, but it didn't turn out very well, and it is hard to see them. I assumed that red wings went south for the winter, but some must stay, or my identification is wrong.  I wonder if she'll be here tomorrow?
      Sadie says "take this cold and shove it!"  or she would say that if she could talk.  The wind today practically blew her over.  She is NOT impressed.  Still, I am pleased with her that she is willing to go out.
She did better than me today.

A New Visitor

     Yesterday afternoon, Backyard and his winged friends were feeding as usual, with close to twenty birds in the tree, at the feeder or on the ground.  Suddenly, as my eye was caught by a larger bird that flew quickly past one window and landed on a branch of the crab tree. All the birds disappeared!  Backyard didn't quite make it out of the tree, but sat without twitching a few feet above the new bird. This bird sat long enough for me to get a look at him, then flew off.  I had reached for my Peterson Bird Book, feeling sure that I had just seen a hawk of of some sort, then I checked the Museum of Natural History site to affirm my suspicions.  I am fairly sure that this bird was a Sharp Shinned Hawk.  I had never heard of it before.  The size and colouring describing this hawk, was what I had seen, and the reaction of the other birds....HIDE!!!....made me even more sure.  These hawks visit feeding stations and prey on the smaller birds that they find there.  The hawk is a beautiful bird, but I'm glad he didn't stay long, and even more pleased that my little friends took cover so quickly.  It is amazing.  Their reaction was immediate.  How do they know?  Little Backyard stayed where he was for quite a while, then I am pretty sure he wiped his furrowed brow with his cold wee paw, and thought to himself, that was a close one!  It was a good thing I learned to play statues so well.  Do hawks catch and eat squirrels? ......shudder.........  Oh well, back to the feeder.
      Today:  It's like a soap opera, or perhaps I should say feed opera.  Guess who came back?  Mr. Hawk returned to check out the site.  Fortunately, there were only a few Juncos who quickly flew out of sight.  There is a cedar tree next to the crab three and it is used as a shelter by the birds.  Now I am in a quandary.  I will continue to feed my feathered friends, but I don't want to feel like I'm serving a platter of fresh meat to Mr. Hawk.  Oh dear.  Maybe he'll give up?
     Later on, Backyard was being chased by Roadrunner, and he used his escape hatch in the feeder.  I laughed as Roadrunner sat on the rim eating away, and inside the tube was Backyard.  I can sense a story of some kind whirling around in my head.  I can hardly wait for the next installment.
     In the meantime, Sadie cannot figure why I am always looking out the window, and wants up to see what I see.  I think she is disappointed.  It's just birds......

There He Is - Gone

     My little wild friends put on a show for me this morning.  I enjoy watching their antics, especially when the squirrels join the fun.  This morning was one of those times. 
     First of all, I have named the squirrels, since there are definitely two of them.  The first, I call Backyard, because that's where he comes from.  The second is Roadrunner, since he runs across the road to get to the feeder. (He's very brave.)
     When I first looked out the window, there was Backyard, sitting in the tray, enjoying his breakfast.  The chickadees buzzed him a bit, but he didn't seem to mind, and the chickadees just ate on the opposite side of the feeder.  There were quite a few Juncos on the ground, for the rain had uncovered seeds from before the snow.  I saw Roadrunner making his way to the tree, and I watched to see what would happen.  As Roadrunner arrived on the branch of the tree where the feeder hangs, Backyard popped to the branch and then to top of the feeder his eyes on Roadrunner.
     Of all the birds that come to the yard, the Mourning Doves are the only ones that seem to startle the squirrels.  Roadrunner is sitting on the branch and Backyard on the top of the feeder, facing off, when a Mourning Dove flew into view heading for Roadrunner's branch.  Well!  Roadrunner raced down the tree with great speed and probably headed for home, and Backyard totally disappeared.   I watched for a few minutes, but there was no sign of Backyard.  The doves helped themselves to a snack and went about their business.
     Perhaps ten minutes later, I looked out and there on the top of the feeder, I could see what looked like a squirrel's head, but no body.  I looked again, thinking I was seeing things.  Then slowly, Backyard wiggled his way through the very small opening in the feeder lid and resumed his feeding.  He had actually hidden inside the feeder tube.  The opening is narrow, perhaps the width of my little finger, and maybe two inches long, certainly no bigger.  Amazing. I chuckled out loud.  What a smart little guy.  It lifted my spirits.
     I wonder what I will see tomorrow.


   

Just a blank..

     Some days, my mind works overtime, then, there are days like today.  I can usually think of a few things to write about, but today it seemed as though my mind was just turning over and over old thoughts, and that's not a good thing.  It's time like this that I wonder why I decided to blog.  I read a few blogs and find them so interesting.  Finally, I realize that I can only write about that which I know, that which is around me, the things that I can delight in, but not today.  Today was too dark.
     Perhaps tomorrow will be a brighter day.