If you build it, they will come...

About a week ago I rearranged my bird feeders. I also changed the type of bird feed I offered, from a general small seed mix to only black oil sunflower seeds. In addition, I took down my windowside hummingbird feeder and replaced it with a windowside standard feeder, filled with sunflower seed. I also switched one of the feeders into a nijer seed feeder, hoping to bring back my goldfinches.

From that point up till this weekend, there was very little bird activity. The new arrangement and feeding options probably spooked everyone for a while, but starting this weekend, our friends started to return.

Today I was able to photograph both Mr. AND Mrs. Hairy Woodpecker, a red finch, a tufted titmouse, a Carolina wren, a Carolina chickadee, and Mr. Bluebird. The cardinals were around, too, but I didn't get any pictures of them. The goldfinches have been around, but I didn't see any of them today.

I was crouched towards the floor of my kitchen, camera in hand, all the while trying out different settings in an attempt to get the best closeup shots. Here are some of the best ones I got this afternoon. This was at about 3pm.

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

Mr. Bluebird on the gutters along our back porch. If this were a cloudy day he'd probably appear much more vibrantly colored.

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

This is Mr. Woodpecker chowing down on suet. This is typically how he'll remain for up to 10 minutes. After he finishes, Mrs. Woodpecker will come by.

From 2008 01 15 Ha...

Here's a shot of him from Jan. 15th, you can see the red patch on the back of his head better.

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

Mr. Housefinch looking right at me!

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

This is the first picture I've been able to take of a bird at the window feeder. ANY motion usually scares birds off. This is a Carolina chickadee.

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

Here's chickadee's cousin, the tufted titmouse. They're in the same family.

From 2008 01 30 Bi...

So here's MRS. Hairy Woodpecker for her meal. How subservient -- she typically waits for the man to finish his meal, then she takes whatever's remaining. Not that Mr. W has taken everything. That's the squirrels' job!

Enjoy! Click here if you'd like to see more of the pictures. I've uploaded 36 of them, out of the 65 that I took.