On the way to exercise this morning we saw a great blue heron in the conservancy area. I thought we were past the season for herons and egrets, so it was a surprise to see him fishing.
It's a grey day, lots of clouds and no sunshine, and it's a bit on the chilly side.
I had intended to cut down spent plants yesterday, and I should have. I'll have to wait until tomorrow or Wednesday to get into the gardens. It rained this morning, but I think the rain has moved off.
We've been waiting for this weekend. It's time for the annual birdseed sale. On our way home from Indiana two weeks ago, we picked up the black oil sunflower seed. Now we'll be looking for the seed that draws the woodpeckers, cardinals, and blue jays. We'd like to encourage the juncos, the nuthatches and the chickadees, too. Cop Car says we have an overabundance of sparrows and house finches. They are pushy at the feeder, so everyone has to fight to get to the seed.
As soon as the raccoons go into hibernation, we'll start filling the silo feeders with chipped sunflower hearts. Until the raccoons snooze, there's no point in putting out the silos because they climb the crook that holds the silo and bring everything down.
After the windows have been washed, I plan to put up more of the translucent "leaves" that came from the Nature Conservancy. They help the birds to realize that they are flying toward windows, rather than open space.
One of our contractors shared them with Dear Husband, and they've been a great gift.
Comments (7)
I love bird watching as well need to get translucent "leaves" for my windows. Can't tell you how many birds have flown into my windows over the last few years, most weren't fatal hits, thank heavens. Can you give me more detail on these leaves, maybe a link to where I can purchase them?
I need to post the photo of the ringneck dove that left a dusty outline on my window. Incredible.
I started a life list in Sept. I now have posted on my side column for all to see.
Don't start singing yet!
Posted by janet | November 6, 2006 1:26 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 13:26
Janet, when I posted the comment about the translucent leaves, I realized I needed to give more information. I'll unearth the package, so that I can be sure to share correct information, and I'll post it to my blog in the next day or so.
Thanks for the info on your life list. *S*
Posted by Buffy | November 6, 2006 2:21 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 14:21
Buffy--You know your local birds and how they act; but, don't be surprised if you see the occasional great blue heron during the winter. You are on the edge of their year-round zone, so may have hardy birds from the far north spend time with you in the winter. We, of course, do have them year-round, every year.
As to feeding the woodpeckers, cardinals, and blue jays, woodpeckers and cardinals love the sunflower seeds that you mentioned. Bluejays eat almost anything. Woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees, etc, love peanuts--which we serve out-of-the-shell; but they will get the peanuts, regardless.
Janet--Wow! Ring-necked doves! I didn't have them until I spent a few years in the Los Angeles area. We do have a colony of Eurasian collared doves about 50 miles northwest of here. Doves are so beautiful. Do you have band-tailed pigeons?
Posted by Cop Car | November 6, 2006 4:32 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 16:32
Cop Car, I didn't realize that we were at the top of their winter range. We'll be watching through the winter now. Wait until I tell Elegante Mother!
Posted by buffy | November 6, 2006 5:00 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 17:00
I have found something that blue jays won't eat, pumpkin seeds - or more precisely, cajun pumpkin seeds. I was drying some out in the oven, and they got just a wee bit overdone. Not bad, but they have been in the blue jay's feeder for a couple of weeks and they ignore them. Pumpkin pie, on the other hand, they adore (probably because of the crust).
Posted by bogie | November 7, 2006 4:04 AM
Posted on November 7, 2006 04:04
Bogie--Who would have thought to try pumpkin pie on blue jays?
Posted by Cop Car | November 7, 2006 5:32 AM
Posted on November 7, 2006 05:32
(GRINNING) Bogie....I know they eat just about everything, but I'd have never have thought to share pumpkin pie with them. On the other hand, our resident raccoons would be knocking on the window asking for the whipped cream to go with the pie! *G*
Posted by buffy | November 7, 2006 3:42 PM
Posted on November 7, 2006 15:42