Owl and Turkey

Yesterday, going to church at night, we came to a spot where there is woods on both sides and a creek under a bridge. Before the creek, right at the curve there stood a wild turkey! nice big one. then up the road a little was after we crossed the bridge, I was looking along side the road at the wood edge, and there sat an owl right on a branch perched by the water! the very first owl I have ever seen. We sat there and watched it for a couple of minutes and then it flew back into the woods. After church was done, we came home and I went straight for the bird book. I looked up the owl, and it turned out to be a Barred Owl. Thats what I thought it was when I saw it. It was very exciting to see an owl for the first time, wish I had a camera with me. ~Whitney

Hawk vs. Cardinal

You just never know what things can happen in just one morning. This is a Sharp Shinned Hawk eating a Northern Cardinal, my dad spotted this bird in the ground this morning. I grabbed my camera and took a few shots. Thankfully he flew away with it before he started eating it, he was plucking the feathers off of it while he was on the ground. This is a picture of him protecting his prize from other hawks. Hawks put their wings down and over their prey so that no one will get it from him. I will put the other pictures in the photo section of this blog later on. ~Whitney

Purple Finch

This is a male purple finch, they visit our feeders during the winter months. I thought they were gone, because I didn't see any for a long time. Until yesterday, and today. I was blessed enough to see the male and the female yesterday. I tried and tried all day to get a picture of the male purple finch, then I got one! it sure does take some patience to get pictures of birds that are shy. ~Whitney

Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhees are back in town! even though they are here in North Carolina year round. I was excited about seeing him today high up in the tree. I grabbed my camera, and went outside and took some pictures. Not the best picture I have taken. I hope to get a better picture of him one day, they are sure hard to get a picture of because they like to hide in brushy areas.~Whitney

"Bark" Butter

This is Blackie, every since I made the bark butter he has been trying to get to it. When it was on the tree, he would put his front paws up on the tree and try to get to it. Then I moved the bark butter on to a wood wedge, and he tried it, and got to it. I think he enjoyed it, after taken some pictures of him eating the bark butter, I told him to get down. He was still licking his lips from the bark butter when he was done. So cute! ~Whitney

Quick Chickadees

Most birders have trouble getting good pictures of Chickadees, why? because they are so quick. I am going to be giving you some tips on how to get a good picture of a chickadee. So, have a pen and paper on hand to write down these tips.

1. You are more likely to get a chickadee picture when you go out side to bird watch.

2. Supply Sunflower seeds for the chickadee to crack open, he will fly to a tree branch to open it. Which leades to a great chance in getting a picture of him.

3. If you do bird watching from indoors, set up a tripod and a bowl of sunflower seed on a porch or deck. Get ready to take a picture as soon as he lands to get a seed. Don't wait.

4. Have your camera focused and ready at anytime.

5. Study Chickadees, their behaviour. This can help.

And last but not least: 6. Have patience, this is important of all the tips given.

Have fun while taking pictures of Chickadees, they are quick, little birdies that are a joy to watch. I hope these tips will help you to get a good shot of a chickadee one day. Don't give up, it might take awhile to get one. Just enjoy. ~Whitney

Tailless Cardinal

This is the first time I have seen a tailless cardinal, looks just like any other cardinal but with out a tail. My mom first spotted him yesterday when he landed on the porch to eat from the food dish. And today I finally got a picture of him! I'll post another one in the photo section of this blog. ~Whitney

Tip for Bark Butter

If you don't have any trees in your yard or if the bark butter is hard to spread on the tree, try taking a wedge of wood or a wooden board to spread the bark butter on. And the birds will still find it. ~Whitney

A Special Guest

Has we were walking out the door to go for a walk this afternoon, a red tailed hawk flew over head. It landed in a near by pine tree (never in my life of have I seen a red tailed hawk land in a tree in our yard) this had to be the most beautiful hawk I have ever seen! even the one I took by the pond that one day on our way home from the nature hike. I think this is even better. Anyways, when it landing in the tree I ran inside (see, I left home without my camera, shame on me) the house to get my camera. I took several photos of this beauty! I'll post some more in the photo section of this blog. This had to be about the best of them. You never know what you will see when you go for a walk. ~Whitney

Downy Woodpecker

The Downy woodpecker found the bark butter, this is the second time I saw her eating it. I never did get a picture the first time, but now I got a few pictures. I will be posting more pictures on the photo section of this blog later, I did put some on there from yesterday. So go check them out. By the way, if you made the bark butter from the recipe from a few days ago, if you put bird nut mix in it you might want to chop the nuts up. It will make the bark butter easier to spread on the tree. ~Whitney

Bark Butter Update

Well, well, who's this? a Crow eating the bark butter? Yep, that's what it is. He was trying to sit on the side of the tree, but couldn't. I snapped a few pictures (the rest will go on the picture page of this blog) of him trying to get to it. Although, one time he did manage to sit on the side of the tree only for a second. He sure was after that bark butter. So far, I have a pine warbler, eastern bluebirds, and American crows after my bark butter. Whats next? a Hawk? :) ~Whitney

Pine Warbler

Another bird found the bark butter! this time it was the pine warbler. Hopefully the nuthatches will find it, or maybe the chickadees.