Opie and the Gang

The first week of January I began visiting Bluebonnet Swamp, our local nature area that sits smack dab in the middle of Baton Rouge. For the next two weeks I observed a goofy-looking O'Possum who liked to amble over to the bird feeders to snack on seeds. I named him Opie. Each day I looked forward to seeing him; he came at the same time every day. The photos of him with his mouth open, appearing vicious, is really just him chewing on sunflower seeds. He was harmless. Unfortunately, Opie did not survive an attack by either an owl or hawk. I will spare you the grisly details. I was very sad.

During the time I was enjoying and studying Opie, I noticed a male and female House Finch missing the top half of their beaks. The photos were sent off by my birding friend to an expert in the field. Turns out they both had Pox which also affects their feet. Sad.

These images are just normal observations. Nothing odd or sad here.

GERONIMO!!!

Buff-bellied Hummingbird
A winter resident

Chickadee who got a little careless with his seed.

Holding tight to this one!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Sharing with Anni at...

Thankful

My aunt's surgery was a resounding success! The only pain she has is from the incision site which is temporary. We are so thankful to God for answering our prayers, and for the dedicated family and friends who offered prayers on her behalf. Thank you, my dear blogging friends, for your kind words and prayers. Now if we could just get my dad's wife out of the hospital! Oy vey. Always something going on. I am so thankful to be back home to take care of my family when they need me. Please be patient as I try to hobble along and visit your blogs.

Needless to say I have not had time to get out with my camera, so I went back to earlier in the year and found images that I hadn't yet edited or posted. Without further delay, here they are.

American Goldfinch, Jan 2014

White-throated Sparrow, March 2014

Red-bellied Woodpecker, April 2014

Indigo Bunting, April 2014

Blue Grosbeak, April 2014

Leucy the Leucistic Cardinal, April 2014

Sharing with Anni at

And also Stewart at

(Link)

Please visit the links to view other birds around the world!

Melanerpes Carolinus

Red-bellieds and other woodpeckers are extremely attracted to suet placed in cracks and crevices of fallen logs and tree trunks. This is a great way to get photos of them away from the feeders.

Thank you for visiting my little ol' blog and for your friendship. I don't say 'thank you' enough. Blogging can be very time-consuming, so the fact that you took time out of your day to visit me means so much. As the days get prettier, I am out and about with my camera, and catching up with my blogging friends in the evenings. That will be my current schedule until it's too hot to be outside. Thanks for your understanding. :)

Sharing with

Thanks, Anni!

The Reds

Years and years ago when someone in my family was irate about something or someone, my grandmother would say, "He's got the reds." Is that a Louisiana thing? I've never heard it anywhere else, but I've only lived in two states, so I'm not an authority. Also, when I was a youngster, a 'sore throat' was called a 'red throat.' Anyone hear that one?

This post has nothing to do with me having the reds or a red throat; just wanted to display my pretty little back yard birds and I'm running out of ways to title my posts. :)

I guess this is more of a rosy-red. And I only WISH he was a back yard visitor. :)
Roseate spoonbill, Lake Martin, LA

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday and I'd Rather B Birdin'. Thanks hosts!!

A Sleety Day

How is it we are in the first week of March and still seeing nasty, sleety days? The poor birds. I photographed these from our boat port window, but even being inside there it was too cold to last long! Once my lens iced over, I waved the white flag. That scared me.

Dark-eyed junco

Brown thrasher keeping one foot warm.

The sleet has beaten Mrs. Cardinal's crest into submission.

You talkin' 'bout my woman?

Mrs. Red-bellied is having a bad hair day, too.
Don't you just want to run a comb through it?

Her retort: Hey lady, try to eat a meal in the sleet and see how your hair looks!

Red-winged blackbird hunkered down

Grackle (probably common). Looks like he's in a bad mood and I don't blame him.

Hope everyone is staying warm!

Linking with the generous hosts of

I'd Rather B' Birdin' and

Wild Bird Wednesday

Bird Friends and an Army of Enemies

I've been feeding and observing birds for over five years now. At first I thought it was cute that the birds shared their food with the squirrels. Well, I've learned the birds are not really sharing, they're tolerating these ravenous little varmints. It's really getting downright annoying as the furry rats take over the feeders, gobbling up food that is not meant for them.

For a while now I've been sending my golden mix, Chance, to chase them off. While it's a fun few minutes of exhilaration for him, he's getting old and arthritic; plus, it's just not working. So I started doing some research on what might deter these little $#@*&!. One suggestion that appealed to me was to spray Pam on the shepherd's hook pole. Easy peasy. Pam in hand, I marched my hiney outside and sprayed the heck out of the pole.

So far it's working, and doesn't seem to have a negative effect on the birds. I did catch one squirrel at the top of the feeder the next day while three others fed on the ground. I wish I had thought to video the escape--his slide down was like greased lightning. I'm sure all his squirrel friends were all, "What the heck happened to you? You're almost ready for the fryer, dude!" Moving the feeder farther away from the fence in conjunction with the Pam seems to have done the trick.

Who's there?

Trying to get up his nerve to jump. He finally gave up and walked away.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday and I'd Rather B Birdin'. Thanks Stewart and Anni!!

June Juveniles

A family of red-bellied woodpeckers are frequent visitors to our feeders. Before I see them, they loudly announce their presence with distinctive churr churr calls. The babes prefer seed cake and suet while the parents go for the peanuts.

The downy woodpeckers are also big on announcing themselves in advance of appearing. They make a series of high-pitched pik pik sounds. I always respond with "Well, hello to you, Mr. Downy!"

Keeping these birds fed is getting expensive! I guess it's cheaper than shopping at the mall or going to the movies, AND so much more rewarding. :)

All shots taken in June with the 400mm lens, except the last shot which was taken in July.

EDIT 3:00PM: Going on an impromptu fishing trip with my dad in Mississippi. I will return tomorrow (Thurs, 9/26) evening. Y'all be good!

Scattered

My mind has been so scattered lately. The root of it all (I suspect) is something that starts with an M and ends with a PAUSE. I've been forgetting about my favorite memes, so I hope it's not too late to enter them. I read a book called Still Alice recently, recommended by Lisa at Two Bears Farm. It's a fictional account of a 52-year-old with early onset Alzheimer's. While I loved the book, every little instance of forgetfulness makes me paranoid that I have the disease.

What was I saying? SEE?! Oh yeah, the memes. Here are some bird shots taken in my yard and at a nearby park.

Red-bellied woodpecker

Downy woodpecker baby being fed

My first sighting of the Eastern kingbird. Not the best shot, but at least I have a new bird to add to my list.

Loggerhead shrike aka butcher bird

Eurasian collared dove
These birds inhabiting North America are the result of a pet store robbery in the
Bahamas in the 1970s where several escaped. The store owner then released
the rest of the flock—another 50 or so. More interesting facts here.

LINK

LINK

LINK

As usual, I will be laying low for the weekend. My new computer policy, in addition to quitting Facebook, is to only blog during the week. While I don't post every day, I do still visit my favorite blogs each week day morning (and sometimes evenings). Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Edited to add two more memes I forgot about:

She Who Carries Camera: Garden Party!

Skywatch Friday
Eagle's nest in February