Chickadees again.... and, me.....

How do the weeks go by so quickly?   Sheeeesh......

Anyway....I've been trying to get a chickadee to land on my hand for a seed.  It took about 3 days of standing there with a handful of seeds ... at late feeding time.  Finally, it happened ...with the tiniest little one.  So brave.

He pecked gently at my fingers first.  I don't know if he was checking to see if they were edible or if they dispensed a seed.  And, then..one hopped right onto my hand and off again with a seed .. so quickly it could hardly have been called a landing.  They are so quick.  And, so light...I hardly felt a thing.

The second day I tried to hold the seeds with one hand and take a picture with the other hand.... oh, man...I was trying not to move too much..not to giggle and not to swear.  I got about 19 blurry photos.  Just couldn't get the auto focus working how I wanted it to.  I need a remote shutter release and to set up on the tripod I guess.... although, I don't know if the tripod is high enough. ...maybe on a box or something... that wall is 5 feet high... almost too high for me to get my hand on there...it cramps up after a while trying to keep my fingers out quite straight so they don't think I am going to grab them... as if they would know the difference.

Anyway...finally I did come up with a couple of not too blurry ones...

Click to make them larger if you like...

Here little chickadee-dee-dee

I have sunflower seeds.... the best kind.....

And, if I took my hand down to rest it....they jumped onto the top of the wall and glared at me....like...where's that seed you promised? .....

Hey, wait a minute here!  I just noticed when I cropped it... and could see better...he already has a seed in his beak!  Cheeky!  Gimme a break will ya?  Have to rest my hand...........

You can see I was having way too much fun.  Especially when I should have been paying more attention to what was getting quite brown on the stove ...

I'll try to see if I can get things set up a bit better or ... better yet... find another pair of hands to help take the photos....

Check out the other great birds on Wild Bird Wednesday.

Click the birdie below to go there ....

Just hanging out....

...or on...or, off .. or something.

Susan had a funny pic of a gull trying to swallow a too big fish... and this doesn't go anywhere near that for a laugh...but, maybe a little giggle.

He has a sunflower seed from the feeder in his tiny beak...but, why he chose to go to this spot with it I don't know.  How is he going to eat it hanging upside down?  Hmmm....

When they get a seed, they usually go to a branch...hold it down with one little foot and nibble at it daintily  ... til it's gone.

Surely he must have gone there after his unusual decision to do some calisthenics mid flight....

Click on the photo to see him bigger

Here is what they usually do.....
Much simpler ... hahahha..

                                                                 

Wild Bird Wednesday

I was looking through my photos today wondering what I have that is interesting and that I haven't posted on WBW yet....

Lo and behold...I do have something cute and interesting.

A little Downy Woodpecker.  A lady .. there is no red on its head.... the males have a small patch of red on the back of the head.

She loves the suet feeder ...  and, every so often I do see a little man come too...but, more often than not..it is only her.  She jumps off right away if a big Northern Flicker shows up ...but, is quick to return when he goes away.

She has a look in the feeder ...decides where to peck and then goes to work.  I have some suet with bugs in it... they seem to like it quite a bit.

Every so often she leans waaaaay out to either have a rest..or to get a better look at things.  Maybe she has vision problems.. hahahaha...

And look at the last pic...she has a little crumb on her chest... so cute....


Click on any pic to enlarge and get a closer look ....

And..... please head over to Stewart's blog and check out Wild Bird Wednesday ... lots of neat birds and great photography to see over there.  Just click on the long legged guy in the pic below....

Wild Bird Wednesday

... again, not 'til Thursday... oh, well, here I am...

This is a rare glimpse of the Lesser Canadian Snowrunner.... they go so quickly you hardly have time to get them into the frame, never mind focus... even with auto focus...

Isn't he cute?

Maybe I fooled somebody for a nano second.  But, most of you probably recognized him right away. Of course he is really the Black Capped Chickadee.  They are my favourite little guys. .. so cute, so quick and yet pretty brave, in that they come close to you once they get a bit used to the fact that you will continue to stand there for some time.

Click on the photo to see his feet..they're a blur!

I had brushed off the snow and laid out a few seeds on the top of the wall.  They would jump on the wall from the nearby lilac twigs... grab a seed and carry it back to eat it in the bush.  They hold it against a branch with one foot and nibble it ... so civilized they are...compared to the sparrows.
This guy must have been kicking up some snow to find that last seed he absolutely knew must be there .... somewhere.....

I got one or two other decent pics...

.....................and..............as usual....................

a lot of these.....

butts.....

in some frames there were no birds at all...just a few bits of tossed up snow as they left...

Why don't you check out the Wild Bird link below to see what gems the others managed to photograph...

Wild Bird Wednesday

Pure happenstance.

I was picking my way through snow covered rocks in my garden.. trying to take down the suet feeder to refill it... when I heard a huge commotion behind me.

Sure enough...I stepped on a rock..slid, turned my ankle a bit, tried to catch myself and in the process..did a complete spin around...just in time to see about 6 magpies chasing something really big.  I jumped up ...had a look and saw a big owl sail into the huge spruce down the block.

Quickly dashed into the house and got my camera. Wrong lens..changed it for the other one... got out there and down the block I went.  There he was ...still sitting in the tree with the stupid magpies squawking and hopping up and down right in front of his face, on the very same branch.

He was about 70 feet up a 100 foot tree..so I couldn't even stand any closer .. the big branches completely hid him if I got too close.  I fired off a couple of shots... but, with automatic focus..it was doing the magpies rather than the owl.  I don't even use the manual focus...must read up on that and get some practice in ...and soon!

And, so...I'm afraid it is not a great shot ... but, I did get him!  My first owl... and, only the second one I have actually seen right here near the house.  We are close to a golf course and they probably hang out over there ....

..... and, then........off he flew with the darn magpies in hot pursuit..poor guy.... can't even enjoy a quiet wintery fly about with them around.

I've decided he is a Great Horned... please correct me if you know for sure and I am wrong....
                                   
Also, click on the photo to see him closer ... it is cropped big time to get him that close already...
'cuz as I mentioned..he was about 70 feet in the air and I was out in the middle of the road as well...

Damned magpie...get outta there!  (sorry Chris ...I know how you love the Majestic Magpie!) ...

      

Linking up to Wild Bird Wednesday where you can see all sorts of great birds .... just click on the spindly legged guy below if you would like to go straight to the page.

Happy New Year !!

Just popping in to offer my best wishes to you all for a very happy and healthy New Year.

I'm still having fun doing origami ornaments.... it's lovely and relaxing and they are so beautiful.  A friend gave me some especially interesting paper....it's all glittery and quite glam....

Somehow the last 14 were all in pastels..... hmmmm...they could be good for an Easter tree... maybe I should keep some of them out for a few months.


Did anybody save me some lovely gold foil papers? ..... I'm on the lookout....

2015..... ready, set, go!!

'Tis the season to be.... sparkly!!

... and, I've been making more origami ornaments like I do each year since I learned how to make them.  I love doing them and using pretty foil type wrapping papers.  My neighbour gifted me a strip of beautiful, sparkly, almost fabric like paper...wow...it folds wonderfully and looks great!

Yesterday I heard some little noises in the front room and poked my head around the corner to see what it was.....


(click to enlarge them!)

Uh, oh.... sure enough, there were these two on the coffee table... playing with the half done papers ............  Tuffy deciding it must be a party hat .... but, then...  complaining because it was waaaay too big for his little head.

..... then, more muttering....something about,'who the heck was it for anyway'? ....

Frikkles, on the other hand, decided he would claim the one with turquoise and pink papers.... because it matched his big ol' hand made glass bead..... and ...he loves that colour!

I tried to explain to them that they were actually ornaments for the tree .... and, now .....they are lobbying to sit next to them in the tree when I hang them........ hmmmmmmm... trouble comes in all sizes ........

Good one for a Monday...

found this online somewhere ..... and neglected to copy the info.....sadly I know not where anymore...

If it is yours or related to you...please jump in and say so..... I just thought it very cute......

Wild Bird Wednesday

I've become a once a week poster.  Bad me. Bad me!

This is for all the Magpie lovers out there .... and, those of you who have never seen one in real life...or who have trouble tracking one down for a photo op.... they photo bomb plenty of pics of the little birdies 'round these parts..... they are real rascals!

But, they are also a lot of fun.

Check out this guy.

He saw the Flicker hanging out on the new suet feeder and figured .. what the hey... I'll butt right in and have a go at that great smelling stuff.  (It's got peanut butter and bugs.)
He landed in the Hawthorn tree right beside the Flicker and got his wish.  The Flicker didn't like being watched and left.

"Now, let me see..... how did he do this?"  ... "Open sesame" .....














"Nope... not the right password I guess"...

"Maybe this side"..

"Damn tail....keeps slipping off the rest"....

"Okay then..... ..  how about some mid air strikes?".....

"Brother.... this is a lot of effort".... I'm not exactly a hummingbird"...

"Hovering is tricky with this bulk" ....



"Whew..... that's enough.  Maybe I'll just check under it now to see if I managed to knock off a few bits" ....

"What the ...? ... not even a crumb? .... man, this is way too much effort" ..

"I give up ... maybe I'll just hang out and wait for the messy sparrows to drop some seeds on the ground instead"......    sigh.................................................

"Hey guys?... ... where are ya? ...... c'mon I'll let you use the seed feeder ..  honest.   I'm definitely not going to try for seeds.... that'd be even sillier than the suet feeder".......    please? .... I'll be good.  I promise.  Come back".

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Check out Wild Bird Wednesday.

Click on the badge below..

Wild Bird Wednesday

...on Thursday .....

All I have today is a Magpie... oh, alright .... it is the majestic Black Billed Magpie.... as Chris likes to call them.  Here, we usually call them nuisance or other even more unfriendly and not very flattering names....

Chris even recounted a funny story about hunting for them in a dangerous area... anybody want to photograph magpies... pack your bags and come to visit....I've got them year 'round ... lots of 'em...

The first few are earlier in the fall...the last one a day or two ago...it has snowed and this one came to check out what the piggy sparrows were throwing around while gorging on sunflower seeds at the feeder.... then, he hopped around on the snowed in bath to see if he could peck up a drink of water...no luck... solid ice under the snow...

They really are pretty colours when it comes down to it... and, I guess they are important in the eco system ... the "cleaners" ... of road kill, etc... and, the thing I throw brooms and rubber boots at them for? ...robbing nests of eggs and babies of smaller birds... mostly I treat them like a nuisance... but, I do let them have a drink every so often.... I do know it is all part of Mother Nature's plan...but, honestly, sometimes I think that old dame is a bitch ....


Oh, hai.... I'se bizzee in yer garden

Check me out from the other side, eh?....

Am I a good looking dude or what? ...('course, it could be a girl for all I know..hahahha) ....

What the? .... where'd the bird seed go? ..... This sun is blinding on the snow....

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday .... check it out .. click on the photo below to go there...

Friday is not always a good day....

BAd start to this one. Power outage overnight.... furnace didn't start.... many tries later it finally got going...but, noting error messages in the little display window ....

Apparently the High Pressure and the Low Pressure switch are both involved..... one failed to open, one failed to close.  It's not an old furnace...

For some reason....  it is still managing to run and the house does have heat... but, for how long I wonder?

December 10th is the first regular service call appointment available.  I booked one.

If the heat quits.... I guess it is an Emergency Call... when they will show up is anybody's guess...    and, of course, it is now Friday.... a weekend call is even more  $$$$$ .....oh, goodies.....

I found this photo to cheer me up... somebody went to a lot of trouble to paint that... looks like the kitty is not impressed.... but, what a trooper to be still through all of that work... hahahhahha... oh, bad me....I shouldn't laugh......

Wild Bird Wednesday

Chickadees!!

Last week when it was reeeeely cold..... I was out there trying for a chickadee pic or two.  They used to be a bit less jumpy when the weather was warm..I'm sure they were.

I started out a long way off...hahhaha... .. but, this was too funny not to show it... if you look close, you can see a little guy in the Hawthorn tree...but, look down to the left... another one just zooming away from the feeder to the tree...or maybe further out at the speed he is going... hahahaha...it makes me laugh every time I look at it...

Eventually I had to get much closer to attempt any worthwhile shots...so I began sneaking up on them.  They scolded me .. and boycotted the feeder for a bit.  But, I "dee dee dee'd" right back at them and, tried to coax them ... they probably thought I was nuts...but, they did begin to go back and forth from lilac or Hawthorn to the feeder... keeping a watchful eye on me all the while.  I know they would get used to me if I was out there all the time, but in the winter?...I don't think so.... it's too cold to stand around outside talking to them.  I'll have to pick and choose the days.

It started to snow a bit ... my fingers were getting darn cold.  I need some thin gloves or I'll dig out Mr. BV's mitts with the flip tops so I can flip them on and off when the need arises... now where are those mitts?? .....

I begged them to land in the Hawthorn so I could get some pretty red berries in the pictures.... they didn't listen... instead they hung out on dead lilac bush branches...

And.... I know there is one guy out there who will appreciate this one....... they were always facing the wrong way.

Let's face it....that is a cute butt!!

Finally!  It all came together.  The berries ....the facing in the proper direction.... the soft little feathers blowing in the breeze..... wooohoooooo ......

Remember to click on the pics to "BIGGIFY" these cute little guys....

If you want to see more bird photos or to add one of your own... just click on the bird below and go to the Wild Bird Wednesday site...

Wild Bird Wednesday

I've been hoping for a chance at a Blue Jay but had never seen one.  Finally in mid October.  The only one I had seen in the yard ... ever.  There was still greenery..so wanted to get him/her on here before I launch into wintery photos.... not that I have many of those....yet.  I was out there for awhile today and my fingers were getting pretty numb.  It was -15C with a gusting wind to about 40kph for a portion of the day.  Thankfully there was some sun.

This was as close or as lucky as I got  ... ... my first look at a jay ...through the window.  I loved the whole thing even though it is through the screening ..... so kept it.  It reminds me of a vintage photo.

Then one day I was trying to sneak up on the American Goldfinch sitting on the feeder and saw a blur ... thought it seemed pretty blue and looked away from the camera... but saw nothing.  Okay.  Back to looking at the goldfinch... he was either really patient or really tired.  He just sat there and I got several great photos of him.  Thank you Mr. Finch.

When he flew over to the lilac bushes I looked up ...and then  ...what the?>? .... there was movement really close to me.  I looked down at the birdie bath... which was right beside me and there it was.  The Blue Jay!!  Sheeesh ..... quickly tried to focus much closer to me than I had ever anticipated  ... trying to move as quickly but as stealthily as possible.  He must have thought I was a lawn ornament or something....because he looked right at me and didn't even try to move away.

These are the two I managed to get before he flew off.

Click on the images to "biggify" him...

What beautiful colours....!!  they don't even look real to me..... the bit of greenish gold in front of his body is a leaf on the Korean Lilac ... which was directly between us.

I'm pretty excited to have seen him.  Especially so up close and personal.

Please take a trip over to Wild Bird Wednesday sometime and look at all the other amazing birds from all over the world.  Why not add one of your own?  Anybody can play ....

Just click on the image below to be taken directly there....

Winter has arrived

I hope it's not here to stay for the duration of the wintery months.... like, until spring...which in this part of the world could be, erm... May.....

We usually have plenty of sun though... and, we also usually have lovely warm spells called Chinooks... but, last year it was pretty much from Hallowe'en til .. oh, yeh...... May ....  darn it.  .........I hope this year is not like last year.

My Christmas cactus has bloomed; when is American Thanksgiving?   must be soon.... seeing as it usually blooms about then... so I changed its' name to that instead of Christmas cactus.  It might be finished blooming by next week this year...what the heck? ...

Those are new little ornies I found already.... it's kind of a tradition to buy a few new little things for the tree each year... and, to give away some of the other ones I've enjoyed for years....

The snow began to fall late Saturday night....

By morning the top of the patio wall was chest deep on sparrows... they don't look particularly pleased do they?
                                                                               





                                                                                 





They had a look at the bird bath.... hmmmm... the snow was beginning fill it as well... the water is frozen solid of course..... no bathing today guys!

I'm not sure they believed me.

They went away and didn't even bother looking at the feeder for seeds.  Hmmm.... weird.

I thought they would be hanging around all day til it was empty and then...beg for more.

The snow continued throughout the whole day yesterday .....

Cupid disappeared ...............

Definitely no bathing today guys........ but, did you notice the thermostatically heated bird water I put out? ...it's over in the patio .... come on back..........!!!  Not for swimming mind you...but, how 'bout a drink? ....

Awww... come on............ I paid good money for that thing....