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Friday, January 11, 2013

Lovin' the Birds

One of the things I received for Christmas was a wonderful squirrel-proof bird feeder.  I have wanted to put a feeder outside our family room window for a while now and this one is perfect.  It has two spring activated perches so when a squirrel or large bird steps on it a metal shield drops down shutting off the seed supply.  You can even adjust the weight settings for different sized birds.  It took a few days for the birds to find their way, but once they did we have had quite a variety of species.

 
To my delight the Northern Cardinals have come to visit.  Here we have the female dining on some fallen seed.


A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.


A male watching her from afar.


This little Chipping Sparrow almost seemed to get away.  Just because a bird passes you by doesn't mean you lose the shot.  Some lovely things can happen when you take photos of birds from behind!


Black-cap chickadees and blue jays have been by to say hello.  I can't wait to see who shows up next.  Come springtime I will be enjoying the robins and finches!


Today I am joining ...

 Camera Critters @ Bluff Area Daily
Let's Get Social Sunday with Evelyn & Jamie
Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos
Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House
Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Home Party @ Rose Chintz Cottage
NF Winged on Thursday @ NatureFootstep meme
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Open House Party @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy

50 comments:

  1. CherylJanuary 11, 2013 at 5:12 PM

    Thank you for sharing your photos. I have several feeders outside my window and really enjoy watching the birds.

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  2. SylviaJanuary 11, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    So many pretty birds, I enjoyed the show. That's what I need, I stopped feeding them because the squirrals would eat all the seed before the birds.

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  3. BernideenJanuary 11, 2013 at 5:22 PM

    I never tire of bird photos and especially in the winter! I hope you are linking/posting at "Open House"!

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  4. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    Amazing photos! My grandmother loved cardinals and your pictures brought back wonderful memories of her, Thank you for sharing!

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  5. Ann JonesJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:03 PM

    Beautiful photos! We get cardinals around here and I love them, they are such pretty birds.

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  6. Karen @ Beatrice EuphemieJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:25 PM

    Beautiful photos of your feathered friends, Donna! The cardinals are just wonderful! We don't have them here and to see them up close is a real treat. Even the little sparrow is so pretty captured by your lens. Happy bird watching! xx

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  7. ChrisJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:33 AM

    Cool pictures of birds! They are fun to watch! Love your Christmas gift!

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  8. Connie B.January 12, 2013 at 6:31 AM

    Love your bird pictures. So pretty. Is there such a thing as a "squirrel proof" feeder? We have tried several kinds and those "little guys" are quite clever. Some are even aerialists. Good luck and happy bird watching...

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  9. Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️January 12, 2013 at 9:05 AM

    It's a great looking bird feeder. I love the bird pictures.

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  10. KarinsArtScrapJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    wow they look awesome Donna.

    greetings karin

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  11. Athena at Minervas GardenJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    Your bird pictures are great--it must have taken quite a while to get them, because birds move fast! I love feeding the birds, too, and we've got black-capped chickadees now and scrub jays mostly, plus a couple of hummingbirds that are wintering over here. As far as mustard greens go, they are a little spicy when they are young leaves, and a lot spicy as they grow and mature. They are good, but in my garden they reseed rampantly if I let them go to seed.

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  12. Grandma Barb's This and ThatJanuary 12, 2013 at 11:37 AM

    Love the cardinals, Donna. I got a new feed too and just got it up the other day. So far the birds haven't found it. I hope they do soon.

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  13. TerryJanuary 12, 2013 at 11:47 AM

    Cool new bird feeder! I love your photos of the birds. Wish we had cardinals! We get the chickadees, robins, Stellar jays, etc. My son always makes sure they have food over the winter. I remember when he was only 5. He was wearing his pajamas, put on his coat, grabbed two handfulls of bird seed and sat in our backyard on a kid-sized bench. He emptied one hand of seed on the bench next to where he sat, and opened his hand and held it up for the birds to come eat. It was 6:30 in the morning and he sat out there, waiting patiently, just to feed the birds. He still loves birds at 13. :-)

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  14. Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLizJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    Those are such smart bird feeders! I gave one to my dad many years ago but I think the newer ones are better! Your pictures of the birds are lovely! Cardinals are so beautiful! That's one of the things I'm grateful for in my yard is all the good birding we get here! The word will get out and you'll have lots more!

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  15. must love junkJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:42 PM

    Wow, what stunning photos! Beautiful job :)
    Susan

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  16. mail4roseyJanuary 13, 2013 at 7:38 AM

    I enjoy our bird feeder too and I Love the idea of a drop door to block when the squirrels are trying to get in there!

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  17. BeckyJanuary 13, 2013 at 12:46 PM

    What gorgeous photos Donna.

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  18. RosemaryJanuary 13, 2013 at 4:14 PM

    Love the feeder but even more the wonderful photos you took.

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  19. Kerri FarleyJanuary 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    So pretty!

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  20. Ellen WhyteJanuary 13, 2013 at 7:39 PM

    Wow don't they look lovely? And are you feeding the squirrels separately?

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  21. VictoriaJanuary 14, 2013 at 9:42 AM

    Such gorgeous souls..beautiful shots..spectacular!
    Visiting from Lisa's/macro monday
    Victoria

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  22. Lisa GordonJanuary 14, 2013 at 1:04 PM

    I have one of these, but the squirrels still seem to get to it! :-) Guess it bothers my husband more than I though.

    Your cardinal photographs are just beautiful, Donna. I just love those birds.

    Happy Monday to you!
    xo.

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  23. Diana TaylorJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:38 PM

    What beautiful photos and such stunning birds - I love the bright red cardinal.

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  24. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    Imagine the hours of pleasure you'll receive from that Christmas gift!

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  25. BetteyJanuary 14, 2013 at 4:27 PM

    Gorgeous! Great colors!

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  26. susanwalkergirlJanuary 15, 2013 at 12:40 AM

    Dear Donna,

    Oh my...I love your photos of the birds. I've never seen a cardinal in person. What beautiful creatures God has created.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Susan

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  27. CrystalJanuary 15, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    Beautiful photos. :-)

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  28. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    What wonderful captures! I always love when I have cardinals visit. They are so cheerful in the winter.

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  29. CherylJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:47 AM

    Hi Donna, Your pictures are gorgeous ( as always)! What a wonderful sight to see.

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  30. UnknownJanuary 15, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    Beautiful bird photos!

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  31. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2013 at 4:44 PM

    Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog - please join me if you haven't done it yet - and check back each week. --- I decided to check your blog and my goodness - the pictures of your birds is awesome! I can't believe you were able to get that close to them to take such beautiful pictures.

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  32. GenevaJanuary 15, 2013 at 5:25 PM

    I've been admiring that same bird feeder for years... it looks like it will last a lifetime. I love all your photographs...(as usual) You're so lucky to see those beautiful birds from your family room window.
    Blessings!
    Geneva

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  33. Mary Howell CromerJanuary 15, 2013 at 6:02 PM

    Of course I adore the Cardinals, they are our state bird, and Sparrows confuse me. The little Chipping Sparrow is darling and I do not know if we have them or not~

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  34. eileeninmdJanuary 16, 2013 at 4:25 AM

    Nice feeder! And I love your Cardinals and the cute Chipping Sparrow. Thanks for sharing your WBW!

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  35. Pat HattJanuary 16, 2013 at 11:01 AM

    Great shots and they sure look to be enjoying their meal.

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  36. Les Fous du CapJanuary 16, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    Very beautiful pictures ;-)
    Céline & Philippe

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  37. UnknownJanuary 16, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    Hi Donna,
    What beautiful photo's...the birds in our backyard are such a delight to watch. Life is so wonderful when the birds are out and about!
    Enjoy..

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  38. Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com January 17, 2013 at 6:59 AM

    Wonderful Beautiful Shots! :)

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  39. UnknownJanuary 17, 2013 at 7:25 AM

    Wow! It is great that you are able to see all those beautiful birds Donna! Great shots! I am a big bird enthusiast. Oh, how I wish I could see the cardinals over here in Jamaica. Have a great Thursday.

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  40. JillJanuary 17, 2013 at 7:27 AM

    Cardinals are beautiful, we get them from time to time too.

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  41. JudyJanuary 17, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    Wow!! I love the close-up of the cardinal!! You really got the details of her feathers!!

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  42. Katherines CornerJanuary 17, 2013 at 11:28 AM

    Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing at the hop xo

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  43. NatureFootstepJanuary 17, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    I´m glad you feed them. :) And that you enjoy them.

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  44. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageJanuary 17, 2013 at 4:14 PM

    Hello Donna,
    I love the birdies! The bird feeder sounds like a wonderful solution to keeping the little pests away.
    Hubby and I watch the birds all the time and now that our son is in Wildlife Conservation he can give us some very interesting info on our little feathered friends. Thank you for sharing this at my HOME. Your photos are wonderful!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  45. Gemma Wiseman aka Pamela AdamsJanuary 17, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    So love this collection of winged characters! The macro of the male cardinal touched with snow is especially delightful!

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  46. Linda (More Fun Less Laundry)January 17, 2013 at 10:08 PM

    Hi Donna, Your bird photos are excellent! I also enjoy watching the birds at my feeder. We have two pairs of cardinals and downy and red bellied woodpeckers which I'm trying to get shots of. I'm visiting from the Home party. Linda

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  47. Anne PayneJanuary 18, 2013 at 6:35 PM

    wow! these are really gorgeous photos and the birds are pretty awesome too :)

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  48. Stewart MJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:29 AM

    Hi there - what great garden birds.

    Thanks for linking to WBW.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne.

    PS: sorry for slow reply - I've been out of internet range in Tasmania

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  49. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonJanuary 22, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    Oh Donna, these birds are so much fun. Love the cardinals! I really need to put a feeder out because I love watching the birds.
    Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  50. FaithJanuary 23, 2013 at 1:46 PM

    Thank you for stopping at my place, yours is beautiful and serene, and lovely pictures.

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Thank you for taking the time to visit me. Your sweet comment just makes my day! ~ Donna ~