Saturday, February 22, 2020

Saturday's Critters #323

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

These are some of my yard birds, I counted last weekend during the Cornell Lab's Great Backyard Bird Count weekend.  The GBBC is an online citizen-science project. Do you watch your backyard birds, have bird feeders set up in your yard and garden? These were all birds just seen from my dining room window. My count varied on Feb 14-17th with 13-15 species of birds seen just from one window. 

 Below some of the birds seen were the Eastern Bluebird, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Carolina Wren. American Crows were seen flying over the yard. When filling my feeders I heard a Pileated Woodpecker drumming on a tree.


The pretty male Eastern Bluebird.  I was most surprised when 4 Eastern Bluebirds showed up on Feb 15th. They were checking out my birdhouses.


 I am calling this a Downy Woodpecker but it seemed larger in size could it be a Hairy Woodpecker.


 On the feeder below I can see 3 American Goldfinches and one male House Finch.


 A cute American Goldfinch, maybe a female?



the Dark-eyed Junco was sitting on top one our birdhouses. 



Some birds like this White-throated Sparrow likes to sit in our blueberry bushes. 


 I kept my bird count from the comfort of my house, just keeping a count of how many birds from each species was seen at one time. The Dark-eyed Junco took the highest count with 11 Juncos being seen at one time on our deck.





My linky:



Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their post.


Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

113 comments:

Shiju Sugunan said...

Absolutely stunning birds. How lucky to have them visit you.

Tom said...

...Eileen, by far my favorite is the Easter Bluebird, I bird that I rarely see. Thanks for hosting, enjoy your week.

Small City Scenes said...

I kinda do the count on my own. We see so many different birds at our feeders. And today a large flock of female Red-winged blackbirds swooped in gobbling gobbling and then they were off. So nice to see so many different birds at your feeders.
MB

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

A lovely post and a treat too, thank you Eileen for your 323rd Saturday Critters.
Hugs.
Joy

Anu said...

Hello Eileen. Wonderful photos. Beautiful, beautiful birds. The male Eastern Bluebird is so cute. It is my favourite. Have a lovely weekend.

Ella said...

Hello Eileen,

All small birds this time … so beautiful!
My favorite this time is Eastern Bluebird! I understand that he is singing a fairly low, warbling number consisting of different phrases, each consisting of 1-3 short notes.
Thank you for hosting!
Wishing you a nice weekend!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

I love the eastern Bluebird Eileen and it looks a little bit like our Robin in size, chest colouring and beak but of course our Robin has no blue plumage. Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful week ahead

orchid0324 said...

Sweet birds, Dearest Eileen♫♫♫ Especially the Downy Woodpecker made me smile. I DO wish I had the birds are visiting environment p-;) Counter must be really useful and motivating.
Have a great weekend and coming new week, from Japn Miyako*

Irma said...

Hello Eileen,
What great photos and collages.
I really like the Eastern Bluebird.
Do you want to place my link, I cannot do it.
Best regards, Irma

Marit said...

Hello Eileen,

Your yardbirds are all so beautiful. The Eastern Bluebird are very pretty. It reminds me about our Red Robin.
Happy Weekend!

Nancy Chan said...

Lovely close up shots of the cute and pretty birds. Have a wonderful weekend!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
What a lovely collection!!! I get excited when I see anything other than seagulls... YAM xx

italiafinlandia said...

The Bluebird is surprisingly beautiful!
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Saturday and weekend!

chica said...

Parecem pinturas tuas fotos de tão lindas! O bom é que são de verdade, reais! Lindo demais! Ótimo fim de semana! beijos, chica

rupam sarma said...

So cute birds. Thanks for the post.
Have a nice weekend.

NatureFootstep said...

You still have a great collection of birds visiting. Loved especially the sweet White-throated Sparrow.
In Sweden we also have a weekend in January when they have backyard bird counts. As I only have a balcony I can´t join in. :(
For now I only have the bullfinches visiting.
Wishing you a great week.

Lea said...

Hello! Love the birds!
To know if a bird is a Downy or a Hairy Woodpecker, I measured my suet feeder. Then when I get a photo of a bird on the feeder, I can use the feeder size to more accurately estimate the bird size. Most of the small woodpeckers I see here are the Downy. Your woodpecker does look bigger than a Downy, but it may be that your feeder is smaller than the one I use.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
Very nice pictures. Wonderful all these special birds.
I think some I have never seen before.

Greetings, Marco

eileeninmd said...

Hello Lea, I only have a little suet feeder, it fits a small block of store bought suet. I have seen that the Hairy takes up the feeder, it's tail bent around the bottom of the feeder. The Downy looks much smaller on the feeder. My next post I have photos of both Hairy and the Downy. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, Thanks also for the comment and visit.

diane b said...

I love the cheeky look of the Gold Finch.

eileeninmd said...

Hi Marco, Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Monica, I would love to see your Bullfinches! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Chica! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, The Bluebird is beautiful! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Yam! I enjoy the gulls too! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Nancy! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Marit, Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

Elkes Lebensglück said...

Hello Eileen, that are wonderful birds!!! Beautiful photos!
Have a nice Weekend, Elke

eileeninmd said...

Hello Irma, thank you, I linked up your post. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Miyako, Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Margaret! I would like to see your Robin some day. Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Ella! The Bluebird has a cute sound! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Anu! The Bluebird has always been a favorite of mine too. Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Joy! Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Tom! The bluebird is my favorite too. Enjoy your weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, MB! I have not seen the Red-winged Blackbird this season. Yet! Spring is coming. Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I will be happy when the first Eastern Bluebirds arrive back here, but that won't be for a couple more weeks yet. We have six new houses waiting for occupancy.

Jenn Jilks said...

You know, you're only about 800 km away from us, but you have such a lovely array of winter birds!
Have a great one. Thanks for hosting.

Marie Smith said...

I would love to see bluebirds. For now, I appreciate the great photos.

Hootin Anni said...

Love the bluebird today! Thank you for hosting Eileen.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Diane! Enjoy your day, have a great new week ahead!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Elke, thank you for the visit and comment. Have a happy day and weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello David, I think our Bluebirds stay year round. I do not often see them nesting in our yard. I wish they did! Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Jenn! I am happy with the birds I see here. Enjoy your weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Marie! The Bluebirds are beautiful. Have a great weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Anni, thanks for the visit and comment. I appreciate you linking up today too. Have a great weekend!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

A lovely selection of birds, Eileen. The little bluebird is my fave!

My Desktop Daily said...

PS: Thank you for hosting, Eileen. Have a great new week!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What fun to keep up with the birds at your house! We had a record number yesterday on a cold day in Florida! heehee! Love your cuties! Happy Saturday!

Debbie said...

this seems fun to do, i always say i am going to and then don't! i am so happy for you that you are seeing blue birds, i have never seen them in my yarn but the alpaca farm i visit always has them!! i think i only saw one junco this winter, briefly, they were really missed...i usually see them, especially when it snows!!

beautiful birdies and images today. have a great weekend and many thanks for hosting!!!

MadSnapper said...

you have so many different little birds coming to your feeders, my favorite is the last one in the blueberry bush. we don't have feeders, but we walk past 2 houses in the neighborhood that have back yard feeders. we always see birds as we walk. today there were two really big black birds, cawing and ha ha ing at each other. we play ha ha back at them. the houses with bird feeders always have a couple of feral cats hanging out... that makes Big happy because seeing a cat gets him treats.

RedPat said...

The blue birds are thrilling to see, Eileen. We didn't have as many Juncos this years as we usually get - maybe it wasn't really cold up north to make them move south.

Gayle said...

So cute when they are all puffed up against the cold---nature's protection.

Sondra said...

Hi Eileen, all good shots of your birds, the Pine Warblers are really starting to group up so to me that is a sign of "about to pair off" for nesting...have a fine weekend!

Phil Slade said...

That is a lovely selection of birds Eileen. Both colourful and varied. It is very interesting how how birds know what time of year it is and when they need to stake their claim to the best nesting sites. Those Bluebirds obviously like the safety and security of your nest boxes.

Thanks for the link today Eileen. Enjoy your week.

Red said...

15 species in a back yard makes things interesting each day.

Linda said...

I'm back sharing some photos after quite a while. Love the bluebird photo, look forward to seeing some soon. Off to visit some other sites. Have a wonderful weekend, hope you see some interesting birds.

Jeanna said...

I wouldn't know what kind of woodpecker that is but it sure is striking, funny how the black and white can outshine all the color out there. Adorable Eastern Bluebird.

Cloudia said...

Such a blessing of birds!

Stefania said...

Quanti belli uccellini.
Complimenti per le splendide fotografie.

Nancy J said...

The sparrow in the blueberry bush, love those fluffed up feathers.Down here, our blueberry farms are in the picking season, hope to get some of the later ones that fruit from mid February to early April. PYO, is NZ $ 16 per kilogram.

Ranten said...

Lovely pictures! Happy weekend!

Jeanie said...

Your little bluebird is so pretty! Since they seem to be elusive here, I might have to felt one of those!

Lowcarb team member said...

Aww the Eastern Bluebird is such a lovely bird.
Enjoyed seeing all of your photographs.

All the best Jan

Tanya Breese said...

I saw bluebirds the other day but didn't have my camera...I have a bird feeder by my kitchen window but haven't seen any birds eat from it since summer/fall...maybe I don't have the right food in it? I don't know...I'm a novice!

William Kendall said...

Your shot of the bluebird is my favourite.

Elkes Lebensglück said...

Wonderful birds, ilove the photos!
Have a nice Weekend, Elke

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Wonderful yard birds and great photos of our 'feathered friends.'

Happy Moments to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Sandi said...

Nice!!

Linda said...

I love the look the goldfinch is giving you!

Pietro Brosio said...

Very nice images!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Great feeder birds! You are so lucky to have bluebirds, which are being reintroduced into the southernmost Everglades but have not yet shown up around my home. We cannot have bird feeders except for the hummingbird feeder because they are overwhelmed by the Muscovy Ducks and seed gets spilled for the vermin.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Nick! Have a great day and a happy new week!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Again Nick!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, a record number of yard birds, awesome. I hope you share them on a post. Thanks and enjoy your day!
Have a great new week!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I was hoping the bluebird stayed, but I have not seen them again. :(
I do have the juncos here every day, just not as many in years past. Thanks for the comment.
Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Sandra, I am sure BB loves to see those kitties. That is a problem with having bird feeder is you attract the cats. Thanks for the comment and visit. Have a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I wonder if that is true, why there are not as many Juncos around. Could be! Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Gayle! The birds do look cute all puffed out. Enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Jan! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ranten! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, my birds will eat our blueberries before I am even able to pick any. The birds just sit in the bush and eat. Thanks Jean! Have a great new week!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Cloudia! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, the bluebirds have been known to pile into a house just to keep warm. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Red, I do enjoy watching my back yard birds. Thanks for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Linda, I am glad you are back posting. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jeanna, the bluebird is my all time favorite bird. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Sondra, this is the first winter I have not seen my Pine Warblers. I missed them. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Jeanie! I like your cute felt ornaments. A bluebird would make a cute felt bird. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you, the bluebird is my favorite too. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Elke! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Carol! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Sandi! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Yes, like why can you let me eat in peace! Thanks Linda! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for the visit! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Ken, I hope the Bluebird do well there. It is shame you can not have the feeders there, they do attract some not wanted critters. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Tanya, I have several different kinds of bird food, they seem like the sunflowers seeds the best. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead.

Jeevan said...

Lovely capture on your backyard birds and that’s a good number of pretty birds found in your backyard!
Happy Sunday

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful collection of the garden birds Eileen. Marvellous.

Anni said...

Thanks so much for sharing your link at I'd Rather B Birdin this week. And guess what? The bluebird is still my favorite!

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

Impressive images of all the beautiful birds. One day I will have to put the bird feeder in the back yard to good use.

Calendula said...

I love most the woodpecker!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Oooohhh I do love seeing the Bluebirds! We saw several along the towpath over in Brunswick this past week, and they were a welcome and fun sight for sure!

magnoliasntea said...

Beautiful photos, Eileen! The bluebirds are scouting for homes here, too. Love them.

Helma said...

Hello Eileen
there will be beautiful links again with many beautiful birds and animals. I will look at a few of them later :-) In your post there are also some beautiful birds.
Greetings, Helma

Ana Freire said...

Uma extraordinária selecção de imagens, Eileen! Fiquei especialmente fascinada, pelo Bluebird!...
Quantas espécies diferentes se conseguem encontrar!... São publicações assim, que me devolvem a esperança, neste nosso turbulento mundo!... Grata por partilhar! Beijinhos
Ana

Rose said...

Love that photo of the Bluebird...and that last photo of the sparrow all fluffed up. I so love to see birds like that.

Sorry I am so late visiting.

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely photos, specially the eastern blue bird and the junco

Bob Bushell said...

That was refreshing, the Eastern Bluebird is beautiful and the Woodpecker, love 'em.

Happy Monday!

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