Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I got up this morning and opened my blinds and saw the snow and ice hadn’t melted overnight. There were a few birds hopping around on the ground looking for food. The feeder was still almost full. So, I made coffee, fed the cats, and decided I would get a little birdseed and sprinkle it on the ground. As I approached the tree, they didn’t fly off like they normally do…
White-Breasted Nuthatch
I was 5-6 feet from the feeder and I looked up and saw a White-Breasted Nuthatch peeking around at me from behind. I SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWWLLLLYYYY reached in my pocket and got my camera. The Nuthatch moved to the side of the feeder for a better shot. They are such neat little birds and quite comical the way they sometimes back up on tree limbs.
Then something even more exciting happened…
Tufted Titmouse
A Tufted Titmouse flew right on the feeder in front of me… For me, to be that close to a Tufted Titmouse was incredible. They are very cautious and trying to get a good photo of one was always a challenge. I have tried to get photos a multiple of times but they just won’t sit still. I have taken photos that are blurry and some even with no bird because by the time I took the shot they were gone. Watching it at the feeder so close kind of made me feel all warm ad fuzzy. OK, I made that part up…
I wonder what would happen if I sat in a chair under the feeder? Well, I think I should do that where I feed in the back yard. People driving by and the neighbors would think I completely lost my mind…
I ventured out to the chicken house to check their feed and water then decided I would take a few photos of the Chinese Elm disaster.
I kind of knew it would happen sooner or later because one of the limbs that fell yesterday was kind of growing horizontal toward the shed (which is not in the photo). I used to have my plant on a couple of tables behind the shed and was always standing on the tables removing branches that were hanging down. I am thankful I moved the tables to the front and back porch. Several limbs had already fallen out of this tree before.
LUCKILY the only damage to the pickup was on the bed. The biggest limb was actually right smack on top of the cab and one of its branches was on the hood. Apparently, the one that fell on the bed kept the other one from doing as much damage.
As I went back to the house it started sowing a little. It looked like little styrofoam balls falling from the sky… On the steps, I could see a few that looked like tiny stars…
I have to admit, snowflakes are a marvel of nature…
What is this world coming to? I am taking photos of snowflakes!!! With that, I think I better stop! At almost 3 PM when I am finishing this post, it is “s-ing”… I mean REALLY ‘S-ING”… The forecast last night said we had a 20% chance this afternoon… It is very fine and I need to go clean the church. I guess I better get on with it. 🙂
Until next time… You know the drill…
The Belmont Rooster 
I love your snowflake photos. I have never been able to take a photo of a snowflake. EVER!
As for your bird photos WOW!
Sorry about the tree and the damage. Seeing something like that always makes me sigh. Hard on the poor tree and then the work to do because of it all….
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Hello Linda! Sometimes it is difficult to get photos of snowflakes but once a while you get lucky. You have to zoom in a little then keep trying to focus at different distances. With my camera, I have to push the button you take the shot with halfway to get it to focus. Even so, many of the photos of something small is still blurry and I have to go back and try again. The photos of the Nuthatch and Titmouse were definitely WOW moments. When you have elm trees you need to always expect you will have limbs break off when we have an ice storm. I should have moved the pickup earlier but I wasn’t expecting an ice storm either… Live and learn. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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🙂
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Ha ha! Looks like you got side-tracked with beauty! It’s always fun to find different bird species at the feeders in winter. I learned a lot about winter birds when I used to volunteer for a winter bird count in Oklahoma, years ago.
Our elms took a horrible beating in the October ice storm. We haven’t even begun cleanup yet. My chainsaw is in the shop being worked on, so I’m unable to get started. Bummer!
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Hello Laura! Funny! Birds are always interesting. I think I have about 30 species identified that come and go with the seasons. There are several different Sparrows that come for the winter and leave in the spring. Chinese Elms are awful when it comes to wind and ice. I forgot how many are here around the chicken house and a couple by the pond. I would like to cut them all down but then I would have the brush pile to deal with. The way they are I just pick up the pieces a little at a time. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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We have nuthatches and tufteds here, too. Always like seeing them.
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Hello Laurie! They are really interesting birds! The Nuthatches are always a hoot the way they peek around at you. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Chinese elm? It looks more like a Siberian elm.
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Hello Tony! I am pretty sure they are Chinese Elms. There are like 10… I don’t even know what a Siberian Elm is. We have American and Chinese… Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Siberian elm resembles American elm, but with smaller leaves. The bark is similarly rough. Chinese elm has smoother blotched bark that flakes like puzzle pieces. The limbs are lanky and curvaceous.
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Ahhh. I think these are definitely Chinese Elm.
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Ok, so now I feel guilty for not having filled the birdfeeder this year.
Glad your truck escaped the disaster without too much damage. Less would have been better, but you know with everything else I think we’re all coming out of this with a couple dents.
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Hello Frank! I just bought the birdseed Thursday and it was a good thing. I had been putting it off because I hadn’t really seen many birds before now. I only use the pickup on the farm and you know all farm trucks have dents here and there. This one escaped getting dented for 28 years until now. GEEZ! Take care and thanks for the comment!
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You had quite an interesting day. I liked those big snowflakes. Glad your truck wasn’t destroyed.
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Hello Jim! It was for sure. The snowflakes were very tiny but I do like the big ones better. I am very thankful the pickup damage was just on the bed and not the cab and windows. That would have been a disaster for sure. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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How amazing seeing the birds up close. They must have been hungry, I guess!
Why do you have to clean the church? Where is it?
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Hello Helen! Close up in person is much better than through the window. Some of them prefer eating on the ground and won’t use the feeder while others prefer the feeder. I am the custodian where I attend church here in town. It only takes a few hours a week and I am glad to do it. 🙂
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I see – helping out at the church is a good thing to do 😊
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Well, I do get paid but still, it is a good thing. I would probably do it for free but I didn’t tell them that. 🙂
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😊
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Aah the snow flakes are really beautiful- I think you are secretly turning into a snow lover. 😉
The birds are lovely -the tufted titmouse is definitely cute but I think the red one I can see is a cardinal ? So lovely – we don’t get those
I like the idea of you sitting out in the snow to get more bird photos & I’m going out now to top up my bird feeders so I can do the same!!
Happy New Year 🙂
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Hello Debbie! A WHAT? Hmmm… It seems everyone likes the bright red male Cardinals. Cardinals are good birds for the most part and are friendly toward others even though they are a little bigger. Sitting out by the bird feeders is just a thought… The “S” is just about all gone now. 🙂 Happy New Year to you as well. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I’m glad you captured the tufted titmouse. It would have been well camouflaged and am sorry the branch fell on the car. The star flakes are pure marvel.
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Hello Susan! I was really surprised by the Tufted Titmouse the way it came to the feeder with me so close after trying so many times to get a good photo. I was glad I had the camera with me, too. Snowflakes are easy to photograph since they don’t move if the temperature is cold enough they don’t melt. I am thankful there wasn’t more damage to the pickup. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Oh no not your truck! It certainly could have been worse. Those snowflakes are amazing as are the birds!
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Hello Diane! It could have been much worse. The birds have been enjoying their food every day now. Snowflakes are interesting but they don’t last forever. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment.
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