Coffee On Tuesday. #26

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a great Tuesday. It is mostly cloudy with some light snow here, not enough to really measure, kind of a nuisance type snow. Just enough I have to clean off the feeders now and then or sweep the deck. The numbers of pigeons have dropped off substantially the last couple of days, so they are not coming over here now. That has helped, so the grosbeaks are back in larger numbers than before.

Yesterday and today, I have counted 35 evening grosbeaks at the feeders, with more in the trees. So, there are over 40 of them now, which is great. Plus, there are at least 25 to 30 chickadees and 5 red-breasted nuthatches. Also, there was a white-breasted nuthatch here yesterday for a while. That was nice to see, but I was unable to get a picture of it. Maybe today, if it comes back again.

There are 10 blue jays that come regularly. There is always one of them that watches for when I put out more peanuts. He then comes down to the deck and that signals to other blue jays who must be watching him from further away. They then come in as well. There are 5 pairs of them. Baxter and Betty live closest, the others are much further. But they sure come in quickly when they see Baxter coming down to the deck. They have an interesting system, watching each other like that.

Two of the pairs seem to live quite far away, so I must be the only one in the area that puts out peanuts. Or at least, I am the only one that puts out peanuts regularly anyway. I was not quite early enough again this morning, so the birds were anxiously waiting for me. As soon as I come out carrying those feeders the chickadees are all over me, sitting on me and landing on the feeders. And landing on my hand as I like to put some seeds on my hand to attract them as well. I

need to get out there while it is still dark. I would leave at least one or two of the feeders out at night, so they have them early, but the raccoons still come around at night, and they like sunflower seeds too. They also like breaking my feeders. They are nearly as bad as the bears for doing that. But soon it will be cold enough that the raccoons will stop coming around. Then I can leave things outside for the early birds.

There was a young buck out here yesterday morning when I got home from shopping. It was likely Junior, he was not afraid of me anyway, just kept on eating. Right now, there are 3 deer out here, a doe and her two young ones, both males. She is quite big and does not mind standing up to the bucks around here. Except for Major, he is a little too big, everyone stays away from him.

I have not seen him this winter yet, but hopefully he will show up one of these days. He is a ten-point buck or was last winter. I really hope he is still around. There are no birds around right now. Actually, there have been none for about an hour now which is kind of odd. That is a long time.

There is also a female downy woodpecker that comes around. She is very brave and does not mind me standing out there talking to her. I wish I could coax her to my hand, that would be so fantastic. All of these things are wonderful country pleasures, right in town. Hmm, this is longer than usual, so guess I should stop. Have a most wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2022 Steve McLeod.