Wednesday Words. #8 A New Bird!

Posted on February 22, 2023 by

31 Comments

Good morning on this very cold Wednesday! It is another cold day for sure, with a north wind bringing our temperature down to -30F (-39C). That is too cold for this time of the year, even if it is winter. It is normally warmer than that the last week of February. However, nicer days are coming by Sunday. And the sun is shining brightly today which makes everything look so nice, even if it is cold. And the sky is a wonderful blue as well.

The birds are busy once again this morning. Speaking of birds, what a day yesterday! I have heard a bird all winter, but was never able to see it. I was finally thinking that maybe one of the other birds was making that sound, he just had a sore throat, or something. Yesterday I had gone out to get the mail and when I came back onto the deck I heard that bird again. That sure sounds like the Boreal chickadee, I thought to myself, it has to be. Then I looked and there was a Boreal chickadee on one of the suet feeders!

The Boreal Chickadee is brown where the Black-capped Chickadee is black and gray. The Boreal does have a black “bib” just like the Black-capped.

I could not believe it! And me standing there without my camera. I could not believe that either. Then a second one showed up and landed on the step beside my feet, hopping around and picking up small pieces of peanuts! He flew away, and I mean, away. So did the other one. Sigh. I went in quickly and came back out with my camera. I thought maybe they would come back. I waited, but nothing. Then a female Downy woodpecker showed up and I was able to get some nice pics of her, finally, after trying all winter! Beautiful, I thought.

Now, what about those 2 Boreal chickadees? I looked in my notes to see when I last saw them. I thought it was way back in 1980, but after that sighting I had seen them in December 1993. That was when I lived on the other side of town, on the edge of town where there was a lot of spruce trees. That is what the Boreal chickadee likes best. I have not seen them around town since that time, not even with all my walks to the river, summer or winter. I was VERY excited about seeing them! But I wanted a picture.

Here you can see his nice brown feathers on its head and back.

Then they came back and I managed to get some nice pics of the two of them. I was jumping with excitement! Okay, I am a bit crazy, but these are not commonly seen birds, winter is the best time to see them if they are around. And getting pictures is something else again! I was 16 the first time I saw them, that was in January that year, and all the experts in birding (proper name for birdwatching) did not believe I had them coming to my feeder, and onto my hand.

That just did not happen, they told me. I had a cheap camera back then, before the digital days, and I got my dad to get a pic of me with one on my hand. I also got pics of them on the suet feeders. I have never seen one eat a sunflower seed though which is odd, since the Black-capped chickadees eat sunflower seeds all the time. But they like suet and bread crumbs, and now I see they also like peanuts.

Another look at its nice coloring.

They seemed very comfortable with coming around, so they have been here before, probably quite a bit, but I have not seen them. I will be watching more carefully now and hope to get them to land on my hand. That would be so fantastic. But just getting more pictures would be great. Well, I did not really expect to do a whole post on this, but here it is. I hope you enjoy the pics. Have a wonderful Wednesday and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2023 Steve McLeod.

Category: Beauty, Birds, Coffee, Cold, Country Pleasures, Fun, Happiness, Nature, Photos, Positive, Uncategorized, WinterTags: , , , , , , , , , ,

31 Comments on “Wednesday Words. #8 A New Bird!”

  3. Boreal Chickadees are very common where I live but I have never tried to take a photo of them. You got some great photos. I am sure you will get them to stay on your hands.

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  4. I have never seen those chickadees before…we have the black capped ones which are sure cute ! Sleep well both of you ! 🙂😻📷😴

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    • Yes, you would not get them over way. I agree, chickadees are sure cute and fun to have around, no matter what kind they are! I hope you get a good nights sleep as well!😊😻🌛☕☕

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  5. Camera is camera whether its cheap or pricey, it captures pictures 😅 not any spirits kind 😜 By the way what exactly a suet is? It’s a bread right,😄. beautiful shots uncle Steve… Today I saw moon in its waning crescent phase with two bright stars straight below it, any idea? You might know so I’m asking, it’s okay if you know nothing about it, it was a beautiful view I must say 😍 Have a lovely day Uncle Steve and Muffin 🤗

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    • Suet is melted lard and peanut butter, with peanuts added for extra goodness.😋 Birds love it, and it gives them good energy and warmth for the cold weather. That would be the planets Venus and Jupiter you were looking at with the moon above them.🌛😃 It was a nice day indeed, though terribly cold,🥶 so I stayed indoors most of the time.🙄 Have a great day Simon!😃😻🌛🌞❄️❄️🥶🥶

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      • Peanut butter added? 😍 love it 😁. No wonder why birds love it so much.. Wow 🤩😍 I witnessed Venus & Jupiter 😍😍😍😍 Thank you so much uncle Steve, I was telling one my friend and family friends about and nobody said anything they said nothing, I knew it, I knew it’s something special, why people never listen to me , 🤣. It was a beautiful view 💕. Thank you so much for clarifying Uncle Steve 🥰. Terribly cold? Anyway it ends this weekend right?? Hope it ends as predicted ☺️. Have a lovely evening Uncle Steve 🤗

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      • Yep, I saw it too, very nice indeed!😃🌛 Not often we get such a display like that with the moon included. Seeing Jupiter was a real treat, guess my eyesight is getting better, I can see all the way to Jupiter now!😂😹 Enjoy your day Simon!😃😻🌛🌞

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      • Indeed such a beautiful view 😍… 🤣🤣You can see all the way to Jupiter 😄… Yep, sure the eyesight is getting way better ✨😊… Did u find your muffins toy 😜 yet .

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      • Yep, I always enjoy watching the night sky and all of it’s beauty.😊🌛 Muffin found her toy, or brought it from her hiding spot.😂😹 Now she has hidden 2 more toys! But she will bring them out eventually.😃😻

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      • 😅😅She eventually finds it anyway, why searching 😊 good point. Night sky is always pretty, yesterday also we had witnessed same kind of sky moon with two bright stars but today it was a bit far and dull not as bright it was before, I have shown my family they enjoyed the view, Night sky is just awesome with full of stars 🥰🥰😍

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      • Yep, it is always interesting to watch the night sky, often there is something going on with planets and stars and comets.😊😻🌛✨🌟💫 I missed that last comet that was around earlier, it was cloudy the whole time it was in the best place to watch it!! Yep, I just let Muffin bring her toys back, she eventually will do that.😂😹

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      • Back in your place I heard the sky looks even more beautiful than us 😍.. enjoy the view ✨💐. I have not witnessed a comet before 😄. Muffin is smart, glad atleast one living being in that place is smart 🤓

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