Backyard Birds (28 January 2019)

Our yard was absolutely filled with birds today!  At one point I counted five male/female pairs of Northern Cardinals, more than fifty birds in a mixed flock of finches and sparrows, and eight Black-capped Chickadees.  I also saw several Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos, a Hairy Woodpecker, several White-breasted Nuthatches, and a single Red-Breasted Nuthatch over the course of the day.  A pair of Fox Squirrels appeared for a short time this morning, but didn't stay long. 

The birds were busy feeding on suet cakes and black oil sunflower seeds both in hanging feeders and on the ground.  Even though the birds don't really need us to provide food to get through the winter, when heavy now or ice makes it difficult to find natural foods they sure do appreciate the food that we provide.  These birds were so intent on feeding that some of them let me photograph them from about ten feet away as they went to and from the feeder.

White-breasted Nuthatch (female) - note grey cap

White-breasted Nuthatch (male) - note black cap

White-breasted Nuthatch (male)

House Finch (male)

House Finch (male)

Black-capped Chickadee eating a sunflower seed

Northern Cardinal (male)

Dark-eyed Junco

American Goldfinch

White-breasted Nuthatch (female)

Northern Cardinal (male)