At the Feeders and in the Trees #42

 I hope everyone is remembering to feed the birds. Their food source is low and it sure is cold outside. 

A Carolina Wren gave me an interesting pic the other day. You never know when that unusual shot is going to come. It's not a perfect pic, but I was happy to get it. Take a look:

I've been checking the feeders several times a day to make sure there is continuous food for the birds.

Keeping them all happy and fed. Oh, to just get a seed.

Chickadee and Cardinal

Purple Finch

Northern Cardinal

Chickadee

the Dark-eyed Junco (notice those pink legs and pink beak)

The female Cardinal, isn't she stunning!

Reaching in for seeds (now that's really sticking your neck out).

Success with a seed in their mouths.

A Balancing Act

Beauty, their brilliant color!

Thanks for stopping by - Judy.

Linking to:

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday pm 

MET Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Imaging (on Tuesday)

Our World Tuesday 

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World @Photographing New Zealand

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Thursday Favorite Things @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace on Thursday

Friday Favorites Link Party @ Penny's Passion on Thursday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday 

Saturday Link Party @ I'd Rather Be Birdin'

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Sunday

A Visit from the Purple Finches

 Wow, did I get a thrill when I looked out at the feeders off my back deck. There were several purple finches eating black oil sunflower seeds. 

I checked my records for previous visits from the purple finches and noted that I generally haven't seen them until January and February.

The male purple finch has a beautiful raspberry pink coloring. You can see the one on the right is fussing at the one in the middle then off that one goes.

The male has the raspberry pink coloring on his head and breast, with some brown tinges on the back and white strokes on the belly. 

The female purple finch has light brown on her upper part of the body and white strokes on the belly but it's her white eyebrows that help me identify her.

I'm not sure if the purple finches are a little early in their visit this year or if I just hadn't seen them in November previously.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit with the purple finches - Judy.

Linking to:

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday Sparks Link Party @ Pieced Pastimes on Saturday

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Sunday

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birding at Noon on Saturday 

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday pm 

MET Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Love Your Creativity Link Party @ Life and Linda on Sunday at 2pm

Busy Monday @ A Pinch of Joy on Sundays at 5pm

MET Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

At the Feeders and in the Trees - Week 25

My feeders are have been busy whether it is rain or sunshine.

The Northern Cardinal is always a treat to watch. The cardinal and the house finch are eating safflower seeds.

Not a great shot, but I was happy to catch the cardinal in flight. 

The Purple Finch is still visiting the feeders. I'm thrilled to get a chance to capture a few more pics of him. 

The female Purple Finch eating on a mealworm cake. Notice her distinct white eyebrow. 

The Carolina Wrens have such a warm rusty-brown head and back. Their chest and belly is a orange yellow color.

I'm always thankful that I get so many visitors at my feeders and in the trees. 

The Carolina Chickadee is such a cute little bird with his black cap and chin.

I hope you enjoy the birds as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by - Judy.

Linking to: 

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life
Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

A Visit from the Purple Finch

I've been waiting for months to get a pic of the Purple Finch and today was my lucky day.

This six inch bird only visits my area of Western Kentucky in the Winter.

You can see the black oil sunflower seed right in his mouth. He has a heavy conical beak which is good for seed cracking or crushing these seeds.

Take a look at the raspberry colored head of the male. 

His breast, back, and rump are also raspberry colored. 

You may be able to see a slight crest on the head of the Purple Finch.

Below is a pic showing the House Finch, Goldfinch and Purple Finch. The House Finch and Purple Finch can be difficult to tell apart. You can see the Purple Finch male isn't really purple but has the raspberry head, breast, back and rump. The House Finch and Goldfinch pics were taken in January and the Purple Finch in February. 

I am so thankful to see the purple finch at my feeders. 

Thanks for stopping by to see the male Purple Finch - Judy.

Linking to:

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life
Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

At the Feeders and in the Trees - Week 3

What a stunning view to see the Northern Cardinals every day at my feeders this week. 

I've been scattering sunflower hearts on my deck for the Dark-eyed Juncos. 

The Carolina Chickadee loves the black-oil sunflower seeds in the feeders. He is so cute, just grabs a seed and runs. 

The Carolina Wren is eating nut and berry seed mix.

The house finches are visiting by the dozens.

Next are a male and female house finch at the feeder.

I'll share pics of the female house finch and the female purple finch so you can see the differences in identification. The female house finch in the top pic has no distinctive eyebrow. Now, check out the white eyebrow of the female purple finch in the bottom pic. 

The eyebrow is the key for me in identification of the female purple finch. There is also a line extending backward from the lower base of the bill.

Here's a link to help with identification. 

Look who is popping his head around the edge of the tree.

Thanks for stopping by to see who is at the feeders and in the trees - Judy. 

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern on Tuesday evening

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday evening

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday evening

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

Camera Critters on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon