Singing Cardinal 2/25/11

The other day it was hard to get any work done here. My red bellieds calling and busy at work in the tree on one side of the house and this male cardinal singing his heart out sitting in the tree beside my window. How can you ignore that beautiful song. He flew when I opened the door. But only to a better viewing place for me. So I snapped off a few and we were both happy. He sang for about half an hour as pretty as could be. Made my day. Spring is in the air.

Cardinal

This cardinal really sang up a storm outside my window. Was wonderful.

Winter Birding

Some birds from todays outing. I have never seen as many ravins as we saw today. And they were getting some good eats with meadow voles. A chickadee enjoying the day and not a lot but a few horned larks were seen. Over all was not a bad day.

Day after the storm 2/20/11

After yesterday stormy weather Jeff & I headed out around Simcoe County. I took some nice scenery shots. Was a beautiful day. However we are suppose to get more winds and snow tonight I think. Oh we look forward to springs arrival. And then we will see this bright red sugar shack in action doing it's maple syrup soon.

Day after the storm 2/20/11

Jeff & I did a trip around Simcoe County today. Yesterdays storm kept us all from going very far here. Very high winds,blowing snow that closed a lot of roads. Hydro poles cracking in half,trees coming down. Our place was littered with a lot of big branches,thankfully that was it. But you couldn't see so after a quick run into town to find all this out we said forget it. So today it was beautiful,no winds and sunshine. So we headed out for a few hours. Here are some shots I took of the scenery and one of Jeff.

Raccoon in a tree,Feb,18th

This warmer weather is bringing everyone out. This little guy was having a nice ciesta in our back maple tree. He peeked out a few times when Max (our husky) & I were out in the yard. Not a bit bothered by us. Just enjoying the sunshine. Oh how I love this time of year. And it will only get better.

Spring in the air. Feb.18th.

Here is a flock of snow buntings I saw earlier in the month. The other shots are another sure sign of spring. This white breasted nuthatch is checking out the old red bellied cavity from last year. I sure hope these birds are correct in saying spring is close by.

Red bellied woodpecker pair Hollowing out nest cavity,Feb,16 - 18th,2011

On Feb . 16th the male red bellied woodpecker was very vocal at this tree by our house. He called and drummed. He was busy hollowing out this cavity. Last year they did the same tree only up higher. This is the 3rd year he has chosen this tree. However they have never actually nested here due to starlings chasing them out. Last year they started building on March 18th 2010. After completion of the nest and a great deal of trying to keep it,the starlings won. The red bellieds moved on. It was very sad. After they left the starlings did not even nest there. The cavity was checked out by red headed woodpeckers,yellow bellied sapsuckers and northern flickers. All doing their own bit of work altering it to there liking. No one used this cavity. However the red bellied nested close by and brought a beautiful young red bellied to my feeders. The first young red bellied I had ever seen. I was thrilled. So not all was lost. They were successful. This year is very early. Who knows maybe it will be successful.
Here we have the male and female at the cavity. This is the first winter to by the way, that the female has stayed all the way through. She was not here as much as the male,but she was here. She didn't leave like other years.

Female red bellied woodpecker

Male red bellied woodpecker

Red bellied woodpecker pair Feb,16 - 18th,2011