Visitors to the Aerie Cafe

With the cold and the snow cover, we've become a primary source of food for our feathered neighbors. Each species seems to have increased its numbers at the feeders. There really hasn't been anything new this winter as far as species is concerned. We're still waiting for the redpolls and the purple and house finches to show up.

Still, the antics of the regulars can be entertaining. Here are a few of the pictures I took this morning of the regular crowd.

Blue Jay

There are around a dozen Blue Jays that come to the aerie on a regular basis. There can be as many as seven or eight vying for position on the deck tray while just as many are at the hanging feeders on the side.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Only this one shows up at the feeders on a daily basis (we call her Winnie) but I can hear another call in the distance while she is here. She'll wolf down seeds with the best of them or stop at the suet feeder for some fat.

Dark-eyed Junco

Lots and lots of juncos come up to the deck to pick up seeds on the deck itself or to hit the tray feeder. These are ground feeders so they don't bother with the hanging feeders at all. They'll also forage in the woods or the tall weeds around the edge of the yard. This photo gives you a good look at the pink legs and beak this species sports.

Northern Cardinal

Like the Red-bellied Woodpecker, we've only got one pair that comes regularly to the feeders, even then, it's usually the male. On rare occasions, the female will visit the side feeders but I've yet to see her on the deck. They usually come to feed very early in the morning or just after the sun sinks in the evening. Seems a shame to waste that beautiful red color when the light is so poor for viewing.

American Goldfinch

It started with no more than half a dozen, then each brought a buddy and they brought another. Now we've dozens and dozens of these little birds feeding everywhere. They even, finally, rediscovered the thistle feeder on the side of the yard. We'll keep an eye on the males and when they start molting into their bright yellow breeding jackets, we'll know spring is soon to arrive.

White-breasted Nuthatch

I've seen as many as half a dozen of these guys in the yard at one time. They're still out numbered by almost everyone else but they are sharp looking.

There are others that show up regularly as well. Chickadees, of course, downy and hairy woodpeckers, red-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, and the ever increasing mourning doves.