Wildlife

Chick-a-dee!

I was outside taking pictures of squirrels on our new squirrel feeder, February 12, 2005 when this chickadee set down just a few feet away. The chickadees seem especially tame, and will come to this feeder (just about 1-1/2 feet from the kitchen window) within moments of opening the window and calling them.

Squirrels

In addition to birdseed spilled from the feeders, our squirrels have recently been feasting on some peanuts in the shell, which we throw out the window by the handful now and then. January 31, 2005 One of the (not so bright) ones has been burying his booty in the snow in the middle of the yard. A few more warm days, and his cache will be exposed for all to see and eat. D'oh!

Nuthatch

Our new "squirrel-proof" bird feeder has made it easier to keep seed in the feeder near the kitchen window, as the squirrels haven't yet figured out how to empty it.

This is giving us more chances at getting some bird shots. Here's a nuthatch that was resting between bites.

Bald Eagle on the Hudson River

On a sightseeing trip on the Hudson River, just below Kingston, NY, the captain spotted this bald eagle in a tree overlooking the river. With the naked eye, he was just sort of a lump in the tree, but the zoom lens brought out a little more.

Squirrel in tree

Couldn't come up with a better title for this one. Perhaps I should have stopped at 86? January 31, 2004

I'll skip the stairs!

This fella (gal?) was not shy about munching around the ground cover near the steps, January 22, 2004 that's for sure.

Baldy the Cardinal

This cardinal's nickname is "baldy". He's a regular visitor to our safflower feeder, and also enjoys perching in the blue spruce just behind it.

We first noticed him last summer ('03) and thought that perhaps he had been injured. He seems to be OK, although all of his feathers are somewhat ruffled-looking most of the time.

The herd comes for a visit

We have a small herd of seven deer who regularly graze around our neighborhood. Last Saturday (3/28), they were hanging out at the bottom of the yard while I was working up near the house. They didn't seem concerned by my proximity, so I grabbed the camera and slowly approached to within about 25 yards before they started to get skittish.

Wren chicks

These are two of the chicks currently inhabiting our wren house. One fledged today, but the remainder seem to be waiting. These two were peeping out the entrace in between feeding visits from the parents, who have been quite busy since the chicks hatched.

Growing the herd

As if we didn't have enough deer to chow down on everything we plant, we have yet another pair of twins patrolling the neighborhood.

They are cute, especially when they've just begun to move around. Just after these shots were taken, they spent quite a while playing in the yard, chasing each other up and down the hill and such.

Meanwhile, Mom hung out at the edge of the trees, blissfully munching away...

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Updated: February 7, 2005