Misadventures in Birding.

Saturday's Critters.

When I walked out into the living room this morning, I heard strange sounds. Something was moving around but Frank was still in bed. Saw nothing out the window, nothing in TV room, nothing in the kitchen. Muffled sounds. Sounded like something or somebody was on the roof!

I went around peering out all the windows. Then a couple of huge vultures flew low across the yard. I grabbed my camera and walked out on the deck. More vultures, flying from my roof, flapping powerful wings like the flying monkeys! At least 20 of them left my roof and sailed across the lake. The last one was perched in a nearby tree and finally sailed off. I guess he was the sentry.

I only got two pictures. We did look at the roof later but did not see anything on it. I don't know why they congregated up there.

We often see vultures in our neighborhood. They like to hang out near the lake.

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

Recently I spotted what I think was a kingfisher, just across the North Fork at Seven Bends State Park. It was perched in a tangle of branches and I had trouble getting a clear shot. Since I didn't have a tripod, the picture is not sharp enough to crop any more tightly than I have here.

I placed it in the middle so you can find it.

I shifted my weight and tried to hold the camera still. By the time I pressed the shutter with care, the bird had flown! I captured a reflection of bare trees though.

Well, I've been waiting to cold weather to put up my bird feeders. Since we are between a forest and a river, bears sometimes come through our yard and they will destroy bird feeders to get the seed. On the day before Thanksgiving, I put up a couple of finch feeders even though there are still reports of bear sightings in our county. The seed in these in thistle seed (also called nyjer), and it is supposed to be too bitter for squirrels. I hope this means it won't attract bears. 

So far I've only seen one goldfinch on the feeders, and he flew off as soon as I took a picture, even though I was inside a window. The photo was a little blurry so I thought I'd turn it into "art" for Athena's linkup. 

The other finch feeder is a "sock" style. So far I haven't seen any birds on it, but there's this guy!

Apparently this squirrel did not get the memo that squirrels don't eat thistle seed. It looks young and slim, so it was probably hungry. Unfortunately it made several holes in the fabric so no doubt seed will fall out.