Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Midweek Coffee Chat. #23
Hello to everyone! Well, it is another chilly morning here with a temperature of 28F (-2C), plus it is cloudy still, but only a light wind. It sure feels cold though. The birds are busy, at least the blue jays, chickadees and nuthatches anyway. The grosbeaks were here earlier but were scared away by the rock doves (also called pigeons).
They are big birds, close to the size of a crow, and their numbers have gone from one bird to 30 of them. And they can eat a lot, very quickly. And they deliberately scare the other birds away by chasing them. Unfortunately, the neighbors are feeding these birds, but when they run out of food there, then they come here. Sigh. The sparrows are all gone now, and only one junco remains.
It seems like the purple finches have gone too, they did not show up yesterday or this morning. I was hoping maybe they would stay the winter. That happens sometimes, though not too often. My white-breasted nuthatches have gone too, which is odd since they stay all winter. Maybe that shrike scared them away, or worse. I have not seen that bird this morning.
But all the blue jays have stayed around this morning. Usually they all show up for breakfast, then leave and come back for lunch, except two, which stay around all day. Oh well. Having all the blue jays does help to keep the shrike away, I have discovered that from previous winters. Ned, the nuthatch, was the first to greet me this morning. He came over and landed on the cup I use for the sunflower seeds, took a seed, beeped, and left.
Then Chester came, then Chipper, then Cherry, all chickadees. Yes, I can tell the difference between them even though they look identical. The clouds are thick again today which makes it very dull and gloomy looking out there. The bare trees help to give it that gloomy look as well. Cloudy days can have their beauty at times, but often it has the opposite look to it.
The kind of day that really can zap a person’s energy, in other words, it takes the energy away, making a person feel kind of blah. Those kinds of days are good for reading or enjoying a hobby of some kind. Something to stay busy, which helps to build energy and keep a person positive. Hmm, a pileated woodpecker is out there, I wonder if I can get a picture. Thank you for stopping by to share a coffee with us. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Steve, enjoyed your narrative and all the photos of the various birds. However, I have never enjoyed pigeons, who are noisy and obnoxious. Amazing that you can tell the individual birds apart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, pigeons can be a real problem and with the neighbors feeding them, they will be a problem all winter for me too. I get to know the birds after a while, and they get to know me, that makes it easier to tell them apart. Thanks so much! 😊😺
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Food attracts pretty much everyone, including 🐻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is so true! And a few other unfriendly types like raccoons and skunks! But thankfully no skunks this year. 😯🦝🦨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Something to be grateful for
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such cute birds ! Thanks for the coffee ! Sleep well Steve and Muffin ! ☕️☕️☕️☕️😻🙂🍁😴
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking the time to read today! Hope you have a great night! 😊😻☕☕🌛🥱😴
LikeLike
Pigeons make for good eatin’. Just saying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good way to get a big fine though, unless living in the country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, there is that.
LikeLiked by 1 person