Snow and Bird Watching

Today we got about three inches of snow. Being from Alabama, I really dislike the long winters here in Indiana, but I've grown to love, really love, watching the snow fall while the birds flock to my feeders. It brings me incredible pleasure to sit at my kitchen table, sipping on coffee, with my camera close by snapping pictures of the birds. I use my swing frame for a bird feeding station and the birds come right up to the patio, even as close as the door. The pictures aren't as clear as I'd like since they are taken through the sliding glass doors, but from the warmth of my kitchen, I get some pretty good photo opportunities.





I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our Christmas was different this year since we weren't able to travel home to Alabama. There have been many years with plenty, but this was a very lean Christmas for us. We are still kind of reeling financially from the previous job losses. That is OK, thankfully my children are older and they understand. It also helps us to put our faith into practice since we acknowledge that the real reason for the season isn't about gifts, but about celebrating the birth of our Saviour. We know this is just a bump in the road and we also know there are many who are in the same boat. We hope and pray that 2010 will be the year that we get firmly back on our feet and we are striving toward that end. I hope that 2010 is a year of peace, health and happiness for each of you.

Window Bird Feeder

When I first posted a picture of this window bird feeder, I got a couple of comments asking me about it. Frances from FaireGarden asked how I kept it on the window. It was brand new when I posted before and I was concerned that maybe I had wasted my money on the feeder.

Now that it has been up a few weeks, I wanted to give those interested an update on the feeder. I am happy to report that it was money well spent and I'm very pleased with it.

I purchased the feeder at Wild Birds Unlimited and have been very impressed with the quality and the way it has stayed attached to the window. Before I attached it the first time I wet my finger and moistened the suction cups. Amazingly it has stayed on the window. Even with our below freezing temperatures and icy weather it has not budged. I lift the window to refill the two removable cups with sunflower seeds and nyjer seeds. It has been used by the house finches and goldfinches.

Libby and Lilly enjoy being so close to the birds and for some reason the birds don't really seem to mind them watching. I guess they aren't feeling too threatened. So, for those who have not been pleased with their window feeders in the past, I highly recommend this one.

Snow Pictures

Here are a few pictures of our recent snow. Thankfully the temperatures were in the forties today and a lot of it melted. I took the above picture while it was snowing and was surprised be the snowflake effect.

Shoveling our way out.



Across the street.

We had about 12 inches of snow.

I'm having some problems with carpal tunnel today and I'm in a lot of pain. Sorry for the brevity of the post. I'll still be visiting your blogs, but my comments will be brief there as well until the pain subsides.

Lilly in the Snow

We had about 12 inches of light fluffy snow today. Our Lilly loves to be out in the snow!

She buries her nose in it trying to sniff out the birds and rabbits.


It was a little difficult for her to run in it!

After successfully chasing the doves from the yard, she plopped down in the snow to watch while I filled the feeders again. I love watching her in the snow, it is one of the few pleasures of this kind of weather. Birds are another and that post will follow. For now, I'm headed to work. I sure hope the roads are clear by now.

Cardinal and the Cooper

Today we woke up to about six or seven inches of snow. Thankfully it was on the low side of what was predicted. I've had a wonderful time bird watching this morning and have quite a few pictures to share but I wanted to do these first. My feeders were all covered with solid sheets of ice, yet my yard was full of birds. Many of them were coming to the suet feeder which is right at my window, since it was less frozen than the rest. I couldn't believe it when this female cardinal landed right on the feeder. She was literally within a few feet of me. I wish my windows had been clear but they were splattered with snow and sleet. Shortly after this, I opened this window and cleaned it well.

I've sat at the windows most of the morning, drinking coffee and watching the birds trying to maneuver the frozen bird feeders and the ice on the branches. At times this has been quite funny to see. I was standing right in front of the window, when I saw this Cooper's hawk quickly swoop right by my feeder, it didn't even slow down. It flew out of my sight for a just few seconds and came right back with this starling in its talons, landing just a few feet from the feeder where it caught its prey.

I wanted to get a better picture and slowly began to open the window, it must have heard and quickly flew away. Well, at least I didn't have to watch it eat, and I'm sure you all are glad that I didn't have a chance to capture that event in pictures, which I surely would have done, despite the gross factor. It would have been so amazing to photograph a Cooper eating a starling in the snow only a few feet from my house. Yea, it probably is a good thing it flew away.