The Birdy Site: What's on the Feeders Today?

In my post on Things to do when you're stuck at home, I recommended that birders who can't get out birding watch their backyard feeders instead. Unfortunately, I am currently going through another can't-go-birding period. And I am taking my own advice, putting serious attention into my feeders.

It is now November. Trees are turning bright red and orange all over, it's getting cold and blustery, and the rest of America is just starting to return to reality from the sugar-induced high that set in after Halloween. But more importantly, winter birds are returning.

Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows are pouring into my area in ridiculous numbers, bringing my backyard count from none to ten in just over two days. Three Blue Jays have been hanging around and taking the peanuts I feed them. Black-capped Chickadees are coming almost every day, a female Downy Woodpecker came in yesterday, and a White-breasted Nuthatch was hitching up and down some spruce trees in my yard yesterday. Finches, both House and Purple, have been coming regularly as well.

Blue Jay

Starting around now, most of my spare time during daylight when I am not birding is spent photographing birds at the feeders. I hang out with either my DSLR or my digiscoping setup and shoot through holes in the anti-window collision screen on my picture window.

What happens when I get bored

Another thing I like to play with in winter is my WINGSCAPES BirdCam Pro. This camera is automatically motion activated by any movement on the feeder it is aimed at, and I have captured some great shots with it. Mine is clamped to a pole several feet from my tray feeder.

And so now I'll stop talking and show you what you've been wanting to see: the pictures. Enjoy!