Look, I'm just like Jimmy Fallon...

Look, I'm just like Jimmy Fallon...

Laughing hard...

Feeder Friday

Look at who's in our backyard this year.

This little spark of color caught my eye while I was at the sink the other day.

What is that?

So what do I do? Of course, grab the camera.
And then it turned around and I saw it.
So exciting, it doesn't take much, right?

The Most Amazing Night

We had an exceptionally warm evening last night.  We also got to see quite a light show!

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The fireflies were out en masse, it was phenomenal. We didn't take pictures just enjoyed the show.

It was so much fun, sitting by our dining room window together in the dark.
We watched them, counted them and even named some of them.

Blink, blink, blinky blink.

Definitely worth being late for bedtime.

Fireflies in the Garden

BY ROBERT FROST

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,

And here on earth come emulating flies,

That though they never equal stars in size,

(And they were never really stars at heart)

Achieve at times a very star-like start.

Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.

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Look who's here

It's not who's at the feeder but this medium sized fellow in my azalea.  Hadn't seen him before?  Juncos are gone but these are here now.  Pretty greys with a black cap. Foraging below the bushes with some mates.  

Looked him up, turns out it's a Gray Catbird. Now, I have seen the Cowbirds, and have heard our Catbirds but this is the first time I actually saw him. Apparently, they can be elusive.  Have to add him to my life-list.

Another suprise this spring has been, Mockingbirds.  They are unusual here in the Northeast? At least, I have not heard them in my neighborhood before.  They are soooo loud, ALL NIGHT LONG.  Oh my gosh...seriously, listen here for an idea of what it's been like. Still haven't seen them, but we hear them.  They must have a nest nearby, I think they're lost?

On another sweeter note, our hummingbirds are back, and loving the new feeders. It seems like it took them a long time, so happy they are back, they sure make me smile. 

Who's been around your backyard?

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I can't believe this is Spring?

Had been feeling so optimistic this past weekend about the weather, the garden plans, got to some spring chores.  I was so excited I put up our new feeder. Isn't it pretty? Even made hummingbird syrup for the new feeders.  They are getting closer and thought they might even be here in a few days. Did you know you could track their migration, here.

And then...

This was the scene this morning. 

Seriously? Can you see the lines above that is how hard it was falling and still is.

If only it felt like this?

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What does the fox say?

So this handsome fellow lives nearby and just was sauntering through our backyard. 

What does a fox say?

Not sure, there is quite a bit of yipping at night.

This may or may not be the same fox that delayed the kids from coming home last year.

We got a call saying there would be a delay, 

because there was a fox and a bear in the playground.

It's all good.

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Who's at the Feeder Fridays and Happenings

So summer is winding down, and we are heading into finishing our preparations for the start of school.

Some exciting events here, we have a baby red-tailed hawk in the backyard.  Mama and baby are too fast to catch via camera, but Mama Hawk is huge. We saw her land right in front of us and our kitchen window one day, after a terrified mourning dove was trying to get away from her and hit the window. So sad, would of felt better if she had taken it then, but it clearly died on impact, she wanted something more lively I suspect for her young.  We buried it, turning it into a good learning moment.  I had to scrub the window to get the mark off. I used a great mix of detergent, rinse aid and rubbing alcohol mixed with hot water. Scrub and rinse. Super easy.

In other news, the feeder has been busy, with the usual suspects.
Can you guess what this unidentified flying bird is?
I'm sure you can guess.

We have a pretty little woodpecker visit, thankfully back to the feeder and off the house. Have you ever been in the house when this bird starts on it? Very noisy.

Which brings us to the latest visitor in our house and the reason we have not slept in two days. An incessent thrill/buzzing sound so loud you want to pull out your hair. It's actually quieter outside. Yes, we fear somehow, at sometime in the past two days a cicada or something that makes a similar sound made it's way in. We have been searching, we have failed, we are tired. I now have a keener understanding and appreciation of those who suffer with tinnitus.
God help you all-It's not pretty. 

On a lighter note.

At least, Hijinx can still relax.

Look how I found him chillin on our patio. Looks like flat squirrel is back with the heat.

What's happening at your feeders and on your patios?

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Best Backyard Bird Feeders and Baths

Well, this summer has been a bird-a-palooza for sounds and sightings.  

We added a few little things to the garden for them and they rewarded us,
with their beautiful songs and planting a few surprises in the garden to boot,
more to share on that later.
Fall is fast approaching,
which does not mean the backyard birdfeeding ends...no, no, no,  my friend,
it continues!

Here are a few of my favorite pins for the birds, from our Pinterest World and mine.

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 This one above is one of my all-time favorite birdfeeders, 

it's organic, recycled and absolutely adorable.

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Love this recycled wine bottle and check out the name of wine, so cool.
Rebecca from The GardenRoofCoop is brilliant.

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This feeder is pretty and squirrel proof, add a baffle below and you are all set!

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Have an old slinkie and a hanger? What to do, make a birdfeeder of course, so sweet.

Found at My Diy Place

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This picture frame feeder is simple and architectural at the same time.

Originally featured on Country Living.

Must make.

Now for the hummingbirds, make your own or buy one.

These both work, I find homemade syrup works best.

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 My favorite has been the window hanger, offering a more intimate connection.

I also found this summer, the best way to keep wasps away from the feeder,
just rub a little vegetable oil around the seams, it makes it difficult for them to land.

(hee hee hee)

Don't forget the hummingbird perch.

They actually do use it!

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And then there are the baths.

You can make it sparkly like this one made from old DVD's 

or as simple as garden rocks and a saucer.
Debbie from Meandmydiy blog has a fantastic tutorial on this gorgeous sparkler.
Definitely please go and check it out!

   

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Which feeders have been the best for you this summer? How do you change them for the fall? Love to hear from you!


BTW, will be taking a hiatus from Garden Mondays and Feeder Fridays for the next 15 days to focus on preparing for the Feast of the Dormition of our Holy Mother. 
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Feeder Fridays-Nuthatcher

When you see this little wonders, you ask, what is that crawling up and down my tree out there?

Can't be a woodpecker, it's not red?

What it is, is a Nuthatcher.

You have probably heard their call, "Hey, Hey, Hey"

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Who's at the Feeder Friday-Rose Crested Grosbeak

First time I saw this guy, I was like, "what is that??"

Well didn't take long to find out it was a Rose-Crested Grosbeak.

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Look who visited

It has been so very quiet here on the bird front.

Probably because it is so very cold.

We got a new feeder.

Isn't it pretty.

No one has visited it yet.

But this little fellow visited the old one.

He stayed very briefly.

I want to get a bird bath, but don't want to run a cord out to it, so it doesn't freeze.

Hmm, maybe they make solar ones?

Wonder how hard that would be to make?

Can anyone name this little backyard friend?
Or have any ideas on the birdbath?

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Gobble Gobble

Got to love wild turkeys.

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So much for Fall Decor

I've already shared how much I like outdoor fall decor.

We have our pretty fall wreath and every year I hang dried corn.

I've had one set of dried different colored corn for many years.

I love the pretty colors.

It has kept so well and why change something that works well.

We had pumpkins sitting outside and I was deciding on their display. 

In the meanwhile, just appreciating their natural simplicity.

Someone else was appreciating their natural beauty too!

Look how much!

When I say appreciating, I mean really APPRECIATING!

What's left of my beautiful corn, 

two different displays taken right off the hooks on the walls!

I hope it doesn't make them sick,

yet Hijinks seems no worse for wear.

I have never had a squirrel eat through a pumpkin?

They are on a mission around here.

How are things around you?

How many Blue Jays can you see?

How many Blue Jays can you see?

How many blue jays can you see,
Sitting in this old elm tree?
Can you count them before they fly?
Let’s see if you can give it a try.

I see one jay on a limb.
He may fly away on a whim.
Number two is chirping loud.
Another’s strutting his feathers so proud.

I see three jays in a row.
Four if you count the one moving to and fro.
Five blue jays have beaks open wide.
That doesn’t leave much for a worm to hide.

Six fine birds with feathers of blue,
Watch an owl that’s going “Hoot!”
One more to go, that’s all of them now;
Looking down at a big black cow.

Can you count them by yourself too?
There are seven blue jays, not two.
Hurry, they’re going to fly away soon;
Maybe all the way to the moon.

Margo Fallis

The Hummingbirds may have started their migration, but these are still visiting.

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Clean windows?

I have a problem that I never thought would be mine.

My windows are too clean. 

It's like the commercial on tv, bugs and birds bounce off of it all the time.

The other day, this poor bird, hit it so hard, it left feathers from its little head ON the window.

The sweet little bird was lying on its back, for the longest time, and I mean a long time.  

We went outside and tried to decide what to do to help the little being.  

We could see it was still breathing.  So we decided to pick it up gently in a kitchen towel and move it to a safer spot.  The second we placed the towel over it, it started to call out, then righted itself. 

Here's the towel being removed.

It took a few more minutes to let the stars circling it's little head clear.

Then flew off a bit unsteady, but it flew off into the trees all the same.

We all breathed a sigh of relief.

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Vesper Sparrow

Our backyard has so many birds, it has started a new interest for our family. 

Sometimes we get to see the little wonder and try to name them, sometimes though we can only hear them and so we are trying to learn to identify calls.  

There are many sites that exist to help in this task. 

One we use is enature, while looking, we noticed the vesper sparrow. 

We pondered, why is named this, does it live close to church? or sing when we are in vespers?

In our reading we found out.

Yes it does, it sings in the evening.

Looking below, we thought these might be them?

We looked here and then here.

So are these Vesper Sparrows?

No, we think just House Finches, but still welcome on the feeder.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Look who's been visiting! 

I finally after much effort got a picture of him.  

Isn't he beautiful!

We actually have three hummingbirds, 

they are quite territorial. 

I have seen all three of them, around the feeder at same time, 

not being so friendly about sharing.

Here is our new hummingbird perch, he has yet to use it.

But I'm hoping.

Where are they?

Ok, I'm very new to this bird-watching, and it shows.  

I have no idea where our sweet birds went? 

The robins are around but not much, no woodpeckers, no orioles, haven't seen the cardinals in over a week. Haven't heard our owls, heard a blue jay a couple days ago, and even the sparrows are quiet.
I can hear thousands of crickets and cicadas but during the day, so quiet, eerie.  

I went ahead and splurged on a new hummingbird feeder, as 'Hijinks' the squirrel took the other down and dragged it through the yard again.  We have seen both the female and male coming to feed a couple times already today.

Thanks to Kate St. John at Outside my Window, I feel a little better.

Maybe our friends are all on the nest again?

Here is one of our sweet doves, saying Good Morning.
I have seen them, but again, very little.

It's amazing how much you can miss them,
when most of us go through our day, not even noticing them.

How many other things do we miss?

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Eleni

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are fascinating. 

They scurry up and down the trees looking and listening for their meal, of course just like them, you can hear them before you can spot them.  

In the springtime, before the leaves really were starting to bud, our woodpeckers arrived, drumming. 

As the summer has progressed we have  

seen three different kinds of woodpeckers.  

We have a large wood pile, waiting to be stacked,  our first bird seen seemed to really like this spot.

I think she is a she, and is a hairy woodpecker from her markings.  

She was mesmerizing to watch, as she would drum and then lift her neck up high to swallow.  

This type is a pretty common variety, did you know there are over 20 kinds of woodpeckers?

The females don't have any red in their cap.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.

We have also seen the Pileated woodpecker, the kind with a red crowned cap, he was rather large, and around for a while, but hasn't visited for some time. 

Red-Bellied Woodpecker 

I wonder what we will see as we approach the fall season?

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