| March 17, 2007 |
| There are more than two species of woodpeckers and
sapsuckers that look a lot alike, but I am pretty sure this is a Downy
Woodpecker. This one had no red on its head, so it would be the
female. The male is in the next picture taken earlier in the week. |
Downy Woodpecker, Female |
|
| I got this little guy a few days ago, but I've been too
busy to log on until this weekend. Anyway, with the picture I got
of the female today, I paired them up here. |
Downy Woodpecker, Male |
|
| The Cardinal was as surprised as I was when he landed on
this branch. I got a few blurry pictures before he flew off
without snatching any seed. |
Cardinal |
|
| Shortly after the male left, his Lady arrived and left
just as quickly. Most of the pictures were blurry of her too, but
the last one was pretty sharp. Here it is, snapped just before she
took off. |
Lady Cardinal |
|
| I had some difficulty focusing through my porch railings
to snap this Robin foraging amongst the dried leaves for bugs, grubs or
worms. There were two, but I am not sure they were mates or just a
couple of single 'guys'. |
Robin |
|
| The red plumage of the House Finch is particularly vivid
this time of year. His song reminds me of the Wren's, which I have
not seen yet this Spring. |
House Finch, Male |
|
| When I first went out with my camera today, the dove
spooked and flew away, but returned later for this pose. It's been
more than a week since I saw her (him?) with her mate; she has been
a lone visitor every day since. I am watching intently for a
'pairing up'. |
Still without a mate |
|
| The Red-bellied Woodpecker is an occasional visitor, and
an entertaining one. One sound is a squirrel-like chatter, the other a
tapping, as one expects from a woodpecker, but louder. |
Red-bellied Woodpecker |
|
| Its acrobatics are even more entertaining, though brief.
It has mastered the feeder whereas other birds of this size can't land
on it and must feed from spillage on the ground below. |
Hang on! |
|
| I didn't know this one was in my camera. |
And off it goes. |
|
| In my most recent visit to Squaw Creek National Wildlife
Refuge, I saw that there were still some Snow Geese, but I am thinking
they are the last group, soon to fly north. |
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