Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday

I've shown you a Northern Flicker before...but, this is different.

Last week I bought a birdie feeder.  It's called a Squirrel Buster.  It has a mechanism that prevents squirrels from getting the seeds.  They weigh more than any of the birds I want to see on my feeder.

The factory setting is about 2.5 ounces to 4 ounces or something like that.  I'll have to read up on it again.  It's difficult to determine exactly how much I turned the screw to increase the weight allowed before it closes down now... ..although, I do have a gram scale and will eventually test how much I now have it set for...

For the first few days I left it at factory setting.  This happened.

( Click on any photo to "biggify" )















The poor guy (or maybe now that I look closely at my own photo..this is not a guy)...I'm not totally sure. Anyway.. she/he gave it his best athletic chin up performance and the feeder closed down ... darn it.  I still want Flickers and Jays to be able to get some seeds... so I will have to figure out weights ..

He did immediately look around on the ground under it and got some for sure.... they are messy little guys, those chickadees and sparrows... and...a nuthatch and a Mr. Chirpy (that would be a house finch for those that didn't see my other post)...  so far that is what I've seen hanging around.  He also hung around for ants and other little tasty bits in the dirt in the garden.

The next day he came again... but, I looked closer, and, well, it isn't the same one.  Anyway... this time he didn't bother with the feeder... but, hopped right onto the edge of the bird bath.













I think somebody's Mummy forgot to tell this poor guy that he isn't a sparrow.  He tried to talk with them... but, they weren't having any of it.  In they jumped and splashed water all over him... how rude...













He tried to fend off the major splashes... ... but, they just kept at it..













Finally it got to be too much...

He cannonballed 'em.... hahhahah...they got outta there!! That guy on the right looks like a flying lobster!













But, they disappeared and then he was all alone.  He just sat there looking around....
One of them hid out under the bath...













Hey, where did you guys go??...













He played quietly for a bit...then sat there some more...in the middle of the bath... all alone....
Finally, one little sparrow showed up and they had a chat...












Then, a second came and the Flicker hopped out to give them room......
 In they both went.













And, then..... a whole flock of them started hopping in and out of the water ... I think he felt a bit overwhelmed .. he flew off and left them to their own wild splashing...

By the time they finished...I had to add more water!














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17 comments:

Shashi Nayagam said...

Oh I wish I could get this type of feeder here. The ones we get here are the normal cadge like ones so some of the other birds won't go in to get the seeds and the other squirrel proof feeder is not really squirrel proof because he has worked out how to get at the feeder :-) that is a get photo of the flicker

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

I think that flick is doing press ups!! Great shot and I love seeing all the birds coming to your bird bath.

Twiglet said...

What a stunning bird - we don't have Flickers over here.

Gwen Buchanan said...

These are fantastic shots Vee!!! I have never seen anymore than one bird in a bath at a time I am loving it!! Your birds must be a lot friendlier than ours or maybe not as shy. so cool!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

aaawww! So cute! We have one of those types of feeders too and it's a fine balancing act to get the adjustment right. The squirrels quickly figured out that all they had to do was balance upside down on the feeder and they could still get at it. It takes a very brave squirrel to even get to our feeder - it's three stories up and they have to climb up a painted brick wall. Most of them congregate below and wait for the birds to knock down some food, but the odd one manages the climb.

FAB said...

A super view of the Flicker on your new feeder and great to see the interaction with the Sparrows.

Mary Ann Tate said...

I need one of those feeders but I'd still want the chipmunks to be able to get seed. Not those pesky squirrels though.

Mike said...

What an amazing set of photos! Awesome captures.

Iowa Voice

eileeninmd said...

I always enjoy the bath time series.. Love the Flicker too. Wonderful collection of photos.

BeadedTail said...

Those birdies love that bird bath! Flickers have put holes in our mommy's old boss's house in CO from their fast pecking. But they are pretty birds!

A Colorful World said...

That was the cutest series of photos I have seen in a long time! Wow! That flicker is just not sure he isn't a songbird! :-)

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Great series of photos!

Rohrerbot said...

The Flicker is a joy to have around....and I love this series of photos showing him take that bath. A bath is a bath:) They would be a welcome bird to my yard for sure!

Lin said...

Flickers ARE big birds! And they are very loud. But it was cute to see him enjoying the swimming hole with the little guys.

NatureFootstep said...

nice story. Never heard of that kind of feeders before. Wonder if they are available in Sweden.

Anonymous said...

I love to watch the activity at the birdbath. I didn't know how those feeders worked, that they are adjustable. Hopefully your Flickers will hang around. :)

Les Fous du Cap said...

What a beautiful pool !
Céline & Philippe