Yard list is expanding

So far I have seen and identified 35 bird species from our new home in central Connecticut. Of these I have photographed 26. Nearly all have been seen through the expansive window views. Indeed, the most recent addition to the list was an adult Bald Eagle soaring just above the back yard as we were having lunch in the kitchen. 

The majority (24) of these species were seen as they fed on or beneath the feeders, but I try to capture their images in more natural settings, such as this White-throated Sparrow...

...Song Sparrow,

... Northern Cardinal,

...Red-winged Blackbirds,

...and Eastern Bluebird:

Gray Squirrels had been busy gobbling up the sunflower seeds, so readily dispensed by the tube feeder:

I decided to substitute this feeder with one which I had used in New Mexico nearly 20 years ago. It is surrounded by a coarse wire mesh. It admits smaller birds but discourages the squirrels. After I switched feeders, the birds were suspicious and reluctant to visit them for a day or two. The squirrels persisted but had little success.

One squirrel perched atop the shepherd's crook above the feeder, as if waiting for the situation to improve:

Unable to reach the seed, this squirrel nibbled at the suet:

 

The suet is popular with the woodpeckers, such as this male Red-bellied Woodpecker:

The original feeder had short perches which discouraged larger birds. The wire enclosure now permits the cardinals to rest on the wires and reach the seed:

The bluebirds are still in the process of selecting a home. I have not seen them collecting any nesting materials:

The cold and windy weather has discouraged us from taking extensive walks, but one afternoon this week the surface of Diamond Lake was free of ice and undisturbed by breezes:

Sunsets were colorful nearly every evening, even when storms threatened:

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Linking to:

Garden Affair

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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