The birds are starving and desperate. Endless snow has made them almost totally reliant on us. We have our “family” and we feed them constantly all day – our reward is that they are delightful to watch from the kitchen window.
There is a good supply of starlings who argue amongst themselves or gang up against anyone (Mr Blackbird holding his own there).
He can be quite ferocious and it is interesting to watch the “pecking order”.
(there also about 5 Mrs Blackbirds around who are fat and plain and freeloaders).
I am very fond of a blackbird.
And then there is the star of the show ……
Mr Robin (I think he is a he – but I am no expert)!
I am determined to get a Christmas card(s) out of him so I spend much of my time waiting by the kitchen window.
(this is my absolute most favourite robin photo, ever!)
All the birds are an excellent diversion while we eat our lunch. They are becoming brave and will mostly stick around when anyone goes out with more food.
They make a nice change from the horse hard-work.
We have a huge number of rooks/starlings who roost in our trees and some owls. Lots of tits and other small birds, have started feeding them again, even though the hens are in lockdown. Problem is there are so many it is fortune to keep up with them. They can go through a bag of seed in under a week, suet balls need topping up daily – around 20 a day….
every morning (at the same time)when I go out the doves are waiting in near by trees, as are cardinals, blue jays, tufted tits and tits, and of course quarreling sparrows, unfortunately the red tail hawk is also watching , creating mayhem…our robins are not here yet they are the harbingers of spring, and they do not look like yours much bigger…Should be hearing the great horned owl pretty soon as February starts the mating season, usually you can hear them around 1 a.m just love that sound. Starlings are the bane of my life in the fall as they come like billowing clouds and demolish all the bird feeders, and yes I run out chasing them to their mocking squawking as they perch in nearby trees this lasts about 2 weeks till they move on further south…
Great set of photographs, Frances. Robins are so photogenic! I like blackbirds, too, but I love wrens as well and one occasionally appears in my garden.
I’ve a soft spot for the mourning doves; they’re just so goofy.
Most years, I feel like I’m responsible for the survival of every finch within a five radius. I have special feeders for their favorite nyger seeds so they leave the regular seed to the other birds. Unfortunately, there’s always a hawk who has caught on to the bird buffet in my yard.
Have you read “Mozart’s Starling” by Lynn Haupt? I always think of that book when I see photos of starlings.
Your sky/cloud photos are wonderful. Here it’s just gray, gray and more gray. I know the days are getting a little longer but it’s hard to tell until the sun decides to appear.
Wow! Beautiful photos! Those birds are very lucky.
LOVE the robin photos. Our robins are red chested and brown everywhere else. We feed them, the cardinals, morning doves, starlings and grackles. The Canada Geese are on their own in the marsh.