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Post by binnylou on Nov 18, 2022 15:52:00 GMT -5
Just spotted two Eastern Bluebirds on our deck. It’s currently 22*…what are they doing in Iowa in this cold? We had a few robins just a couple of days ago.
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Post by Mumsey on Nov 19, 2022 5:38:27 GMT -5
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Post by binnylou on Dec 5, 2022 12:30:25 GMT -5
First time EVER…spotted a Pileated Woodpecker in our front yard River Birch. Lord, please don’t let him hammer our house. I’ve seen them in north east Iowa, but never in our area.
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Post by Mumsey on Dec 5, 2022 18:07:58 GMT -5
We have one woodpecker, never see more than the one. He comes several times daily and works on the suet. He's a Downy.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 5, 2022 18:18:00 GMT -5
We have Downys, Hairys, Red Bellied…all regular visitors at the suet cake. If the Pileated finds the suet, he’ll probably just fly away with the suet holder.
Red headed woodpeckers were common in our area, but now we rarely see one. If we do see one, it will be during the warmer temps.
we also have a few of the Yellow Shafted Flicker, apparently of the woodpecker family.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 7, 2022 10:24:27 GMT -5
We’ve had one of those heavy concrete birdbaths for a lot of years, but because of critter damage, we had quit using it. Hubby figured out a fix for it and it’s been put back in use a few years ago. We also have a small copper birdbath that clamps to the deck rail. The birds mostly ignored it this summer, even though it’s just a few feet from the suet feeder. When “service” at the concrete bath was discontinued this fall, a few birds started drinking from the deck bath. The water froze and we mostly ignored it. When the ice was melted by sunshine, we had customers.
I recently started being more faithful to removing the ice and filling the bath with warm water. I can’t believe the activity at the bowl. Point is…the birds are thirsty. I think we need to think about a heater for the deck bowl.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 12, 2022 16:28:54 GMT -5
Bluebirds are on the deck again today. This time, there were three of them at the water bowl. This really puzzles me. This is the first year they have been here during cold weather, and today was the second sighting.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 14, 2022 9:52:30 GMT -5
To the south of our house on neighbor’s property is a tall old tree that has suffered repeated wind damage. This morning, I’m seeing an eagle sitting on the highest point of that tree, enjoying the sunshine. Hubby says he’s deer hunting. Eagle looks a bit shaggy and unkempt, probably due to wind and rain of yesterday.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Dec 14, 2022 18:37:09 GMT -5
"No paparazzi!"...DS took a picture of a soaring Bald Eagle yesterday, and right after he put his phone away, the bird heavily flapped its wings and let go of a big stream of eagle poop. He was glad that wasn't directly below, but aggravated that he didn't get a pic of that moment.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 26, 2022 14:40:04 GMT -5
I gifted hubby with a bird bath heater to keep the bowl free of ice. It’s currently 12* and a male cardinal is IN the bowl, splish splashing.
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Post by Mumsey on Dec 27, 2022 6:51:56 GMT -5
he didn't get a pic of that moment. Did you mean pic of that "movement"??
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Post by binnylou on Dec 31, 2022 12:43:01 GMT -5
Two new birds at the water bowl. At first I thought they were starling/grackles. They were robin size, but more slim. The neck was noticeably slender. What was really different was the underside color. I would describe their belly color as iridescent robin egg blue. Does this sound familiar to you bird watchers?
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Post by ahntjudy on Dec 31, 2022 19:58:54 GMT -5
binnylou ...First thing I thought was grackles, though their belly is not necessarily blue. ??
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Post by Mumsey on Jan 1, 2023 6:06:56 GMT -5
binnylou, Sis had what she thought was a flock of strange birds, white feather tips and different colors in different light. We decided they are Starlings, apparently the white feather tips appear in Winter.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jan 1, 2023 14:46:18 GMT -5
A lot of cackling grackles here today. Squawk, squawk, squawk!
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