Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Guests for lunch

Yesterday I hung a nyjer seed sock just outside the kitchen window, hoping to attract goldfinches. Within an hour, I spotted one on the sock. It flew off to a neighbor's yard, and five minutes later, a half-dozen winter-hued goldfinches showed up. This morning they were back in force, and they timed their visits so we could watch them during breakfast and lunch.


While I was hanging the sock, I heard what seemed to be some calls of alarm from birds around the neighborhood. I looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk flying very high, directly above our house. It was a dramatic reminder of the wide variety of birds in our urban forest.

Meanwhile, Peter and I are wowed by the fact that these tiny birds found this little sock feeder so quickly. The kids are delighted to watch them, and we all look forward to seeing their summer colors... many months from now.

23 comments:

Teresa Evangeline said...

I miss my bird feeder. Great photo!

FranE said...

I love the feeder. Does it handle wet very well? Hawks can be both beautiful and threatening if you are wanting small birds.
Enjoyed reading.

Cheryl said...

Really great capture. It's almost Spring, right?

Sandra Wilkes said...

Love your photo! I think I'll paint it! The kids must love watching them too. Good Grandma!

Jeanie said...

I love that they went and got their friends to join you for lunch.

Kat said...

Those yellow birds seem to come out of the woodwork when I hang out something they like. They are so pretty to watch.

DJan said...

I keep a sock filled with nyjer and it sometimes has so many goldfinches on it they look like grapes bunched together. I also have two upside-down feeders filled with a nyjer-sunflower chip mix, and they love both of them so much.

I've just been drooling over new cameras with more zoom, just for my birdies...

Leah Rubin said...

Beautiful photos, as always! I love the goldfinches, and all our birds! Just got some new binoculars, which are great. I'm not taking many photos, because the outsides of my windows are so dirty, I don't think it would be a good idea!

Grandmother Mary said...

How wonderful to honor species we share the planet with- right in our back yards! Good attitudes to teach our grands.

Deb Shucka said...

We get finches in the summer, siskins in the winter. And we have a coopers hawk who uses our feeders as a fast food drive-through. I love my birds.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Wonderful photo..what fun for your grands:)

Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs said...

I had never heard of a sock feeder. I'll have to look for one of those. Except our wild and crazy squirrels will surely find a way to tear it apart, pull it down, maybe even dance around with a sock on their head.

Love the photo!

Nancy said...

I so loved the finches on the thistle sock we used to hang in our old house! We have a feeder up at Tahoe, but take it down when we're not there. It's not good to not keep food in them, and we worry it will run out between visits. I do love the little gold finches, however.

Indigo Roth said...

Hey Nancy! Ha! The wee lad went off and told his mates where the good food was. And we think they're simple creatures. Indigo

AiringMyLaundry said...

Pretty birds!

gayle said...

Love this! Exactely how do you do it?

Unknown said...

Wow, love this! Beautiful picture!

Ms Sparrow said...

Really nice picture. I swear that birds and squirrels let others know when there's a food source. We have a hawk patrolling our wooded lot next door too. My heart goes out to all the little birds and animals in this terrible cold today.

Anita said...

Retirement is agreeing with you! :)
May you be blessed with a peaceful and fulfilling new year.

Anonymous said...

It might have something to do with the smell as birds can find seed no matter where you put it or whatever you find to put it in.

Linda Hoye said...

I hung a finch feeder earlier this year and I couldn't have imagined the enjoyment I would get by sitting and watching the antics of the birds!

Jeanie said...

What a flawless photo! And I think a thistle sock is exactly what I need -- Mr. Bushy will take over anything -- thanks for the idea. I may well be off to the bird store today!

Cheryl Kohan said...

By golly, I'm going to go get one of those! That is a great idea. The photo is just superb!

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