Bird blogging

This very large bird was feasting on something on the ice down by the dam this afternoon.  I tried to get closer and got the Prius stuck in the snow.  Of course I carry a shovel - along with sleeping bag, food, water and suitcase full of survival gear - in the "trunk" so I could dig myself out.  Eagles are one of the joys of living here.

Common sight but always just a little creepy

And now for something more pleasant

The bluebirds are in their house in the front yard again. This male doesn't eat at the feeder. He uses the perch to wait for bugs to pass by.

Noisy neighbor

This visitor to the hummer feeder sings loudly when he's here. I love the orioles.

The first robins of 2010

And even more birds

More birds

Birds

Snowy morning

Jumping Junco

I feed hawks too

Critters toward the end of my adventure

Dort's Tweetie

Kim's Himalayan (I forget the name. She has another one we didn't see.)

Bill's Smokey

Peter's Oliver

Ice still on the lake

This is the spot. Always a thrill to see them even after 40 years.

Feeling guilty

The last time we had this much snow I didn't have a garage or anyone to plow me out and it didn't last this long. I parked my car up at the road and walked to the house with a little plastic sled to carry groceries and other items and to ride occasionally. Now I have a wonderful neighbor who takes good care of me. He plows but I still have to shovel the car out as well as paths to the door and the cathouse for the felines. I usually also keep the spaces under the feeders clear for the ground feeding birds. Not this time. I'm not strong enough to shovel this much wet snow. So I'm feeling guilty. But the birds do have food and water just like the cats.

Why I go thru lotsa bird seed

Yes, that pole leans like that. Someday I need to fix that.

Why I like to put suet out

A downy

A titmouse

Why I don't like to put suet out

Side yard birds

They haven't found the suet yet as I just put it out. The feeders are wearing band hats of snow.

As I was posting the above, it started to snow. All the birds disappeared. I had to use the little ladder last night but so far the satellite dish is still functioning. The one early red bract on my 40 year old poinsettia is visible. It never blooms this early. Weird.

Birds are hungry

Hurry up!

Thanks.

Suet

My "productive before noon" project today is suet for the birds. The weatherpeople have predicted extremely cold temperatures next week. I make my own suet for the birds. I do not use seeds because the fat makes them slippery and difficult to grasp and hull. I use shortening, peanut butter and cornmeal. The shortening has to be the kind that will set up, not hydrogenated or it will be runny which will only make a worse mess. I'm not sure the proportions are important.

Soften the shortening and peanut butter then mix in as much cornmeal as you have the strength to move. Put it in a pan to harden. Make sure you don't make it deeper than your cages are. When it sets up, cut it into the size blocks you need. If you line the pan with waxed paper, you'll have an easier time getting the suet cakes out.

You can add other items like raisins or cranberries. I usually don't. The only problem with this is the blackbirds. Once the starlings find it, they mob the place and keep the other birds out.