Mourning Dove...

The mourning doves have been coming to the feeder all winter but they're very cautious. They never come around while I'm outside, I usually hear them in the fir trees waiting for me to leave. Yesterday this one flew down from the trees and landed right in an open spot about thirty feet away, it really suprised me, it was the first time all winter one has come that close. I like the way the iridescent pink patch on its neck was showing up in the sun.

Red Squirrel....

The squirrel with the wound on its neck checking me out.

Frozen Nuthatch...

The sharp shinned hawk made an appearance the other day and the birds scattered except for this little guy. It happened to be on that birch about six feet away from me and it just froze in place. It stayed still for about 3 or 4 minutes and I was able to get a bunch of pics. The next day the hawk showed up again and landed ten feet away from me, three feet off the ground in the bright sun. It was to the side so by the time I swung my camera around it saw me and flew off so I didn't get a photo. It was the first time I actually got a good view of it, before it was always just glimpses. One of these days I'll be successful in getting a good photo.

Chipmunk....

I took this photo on Saturday, I had a little music playing so this chipmunk decided to do the limbo.

Striking A Pose.....

The nuthatches are fun to watch, they remind me of hummingbirds the way they're very aggressive toward each other.

Hanging Nuthatch....

The nuthatches are constantly moving and difficult to get a photo of but this guy landed right next to me in the position you see in the photograph and didn't budge for about 5 seconds. I was able to snap off three pictures before it decided to fly off. Sometimes you just get lucky. I'll be posting another nuthatch photo tomorrow that I think is better than this one, stay tuned.

Brown Creeper...

I was out in the yard photographing on Monday when this guy showed up. It's a first for me, I've never seen a brown creeper before and boy was it fast, I thought the nuthatches moved quick. I was only able to take one photograph before it disappeared.

Blue Jay...

When I'm out by the feeder the blue jays don't come around. They'll fly in; see that I'm there then fly off and wait for me to leave. This one stayed still just long enough for me to snap a photo before it left. They're usually loud and rautious but I took a walk the other day and there were a couple on the top of a pine tree that must've been courting because they were mewling and cooing and hopping from branch to branch. I'm so used to hearing them scream at each other it suprised me to hear them making sweet sounds.

Wounded Squirrel...

Well, we've finally had a few spring like days in a row and since Friday I've spent hours by the bird feeder. At least an hour in the morning than another couple in the afternoon. When you stay still long enough even the shy critters realize you're not a threat and come closer than normal. This squirrel was feeding on the seeds and corn I put out for it when it decided to climb up on a board I have out there and relax in the sun. It actually was nodding off, that's a true sign that a wild creature is not threatened; when it goes to sleep in front of you. While it was lying there I noticed that scabbed wound on its neck. I have a few of these squirrels around and they're always chasing each other away from the food so this one must've been on the losing end of a fight.

Chickadee....

Here's another photo from the other day, it's my favorite picture I've taken in 2009 so far. It's always my goal to do better.

Another Tufted Titmouse....

Here's another photo I took on Tuesday, I have two titmice that visit my feeder. They are extremely shy compared to the chickadees and nuthatches but I got lucky when this one landed on the end of the broken branch within photo range. I'm hoping the two are a male and female and they'll end up nesting in the backyard, I'll have to put up more nest boxes to get them to do so.

Chipmunk....

I spent a couple of hours yesterday by the bird feeder and I got a bunch of pictures I'll be posting in the next few days. This little guy was one of the visitors. When it first came out and noticed me me it dashed back into that tunnel in the snow behind it. Everytime I moved it would dart back in but once it realized I wasn't a threat it proceded to fill its cheeks with seeds and corn. The second photo shows his stuffed cheeks.

Dark Eyed Junco...

I haven't taken many photos lately that's why it's been a while since I've updated the blog. I'm sick of winter. Once the weather warms up and the snow melts I'm sure I'll be reinspired and will be updating on a regular basis like in the past.

Spring....?

I took this photo about an hour ago. Despite the snow and cold, it was snowing while I took this picture, these pussywillows prove that winter is slowly loosening it's grip here in Maine.

Hairy Woodpecker...

Here is one of the guys that visit the suet feeder; both the downy and hairy woodpeckers visit.