I had put a handful of muesli out on the window sill, and it was soon discovered by the birds living in the trees around the house. Very politely, they took turns and always waited until one of them had finished before the next one went up to have their pick.
Watching them for a few minutes, I could clearly make out several individual birds; no two are really alike in the colouring and pattern of their feathers, even though some of them were of the same kind.
It was very difficult to get a picture, since they tended to flutter away as soon as they noticed me moving in the kitchen, and of course I was working and did not want to wait more than a few minutes. But I got at least this one shot and will try again next time I am home during daylight hours.
Hello Meika:
ReplyDeleteThis is delightful. And the picture is well worth enlarging not least to see how all the different yellows connect.
Thank you, Jane and Lance!
DeleteYellow being my favourite colour, I admit I do have a soft spot for this particular kind of bird (if I am not very much mistaken, its English name is Coaltit; the German name is Kohlmeise).
We think that you are right. Meike, a thousand million apologies for mis-spelling your name above. We do hope that we have not done it before.
DeleteI don't think you have, Jance and Lance, and typos can happen so easily, there really is no need to apologize :-)
Deletewhat a darling little bird, Meike....
ReplyDeleteI've always envied the wide ledges and windowsills you get with German construction. I've had to pay a carpenter to make me wide windowsills in the kitchen at the cottage and here at home.
I wish I could have shown you pictures of the others, too, but I didn't dare to move while I was watching them. In my mind, I gave them nicknames; there was a somewhat scraggy-looking one, a "fatty", one with a black stripe down the middle of his or her yellow chest; there were some with blue "caps" on their heads, some with black, and at one point, a big blackbird with bright orange-yellow beak came to investigate as well.
DeleteThe wide windowsills are really good, Kristi - I sit on one of the living room ones to sunbathe during the warmer season!
I spot the little bird on the windowsill! I have bluebirds building a nest in the birdhouse in my front yard. I love your winter wonderland pictures too! Wish we had snow.
ReplyDeleteDorothy
If you click on the picture, the little bird becomes a bit easier to spot, Dorothy :-)
DeleteOh, you can have all our snow, if you like - I am really not keen on it!
I've become a bird watcher in my old age. Never thought I'd develop such an interest, but when we moved to northern New Mexico we see many different kinds feed at our feeders; we watch from our windows. It is interesting how they can 'scratch' away the snow to find the food we provide.
ReplyDeleteFrom early childhood on, I was taught - mainly by my Dad and my Granddad - to keep still and quiet when animals were near (these days I think it was a very clever trick of them to have some peace at least for a little while!), and because I loved watching squirrels, birds and other animals in the park, out in the woods or in the garden, I did as I was told.
DeleteThe birds I can see from my windows may not be spectacular, but I know they are important to the eco-system, as imbalanced as it already is, and it is always interesting and fun to watch them.
Bless!! Round here the crows and pigeons seem to have driven the smaller guys away. I need to sort out the bird table so only wee guys can land on it.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to have pretty much accepted each other's territories here, Macy. For instance, the coal- and bluetits are mostly at the back of the house, while I see large numbers of sparrows on the front. The magpies and crows do what they like, but they rarely come to my windowsills; I am sure they find plenty to eat elsewhere. The doves are shy when the other larger birds are around and usually retreat to a rooftop until the coast is clear.
DeleteHey Meike!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you enjoying the birds! You know how much Richard and I love our birds.
The bird on your windowsill is a Blue Tit and they are same birds in England that I enjoy while we are there. It is so much like our chickadee, you wouldn't believe it!
Dear Kay, I think it's a coaltit (Coal Tit?), since the top of its head is black. There are many bluetits (Blue Tits?) there, too, and they look almost the same except for - of course - the blue "cap".
DeleteNothing like your beautiful bright red cardinal bird, though!
hardly any birds near my place... mostly squirrels. very cute creatures. i keep some food for them...
ReplyDeletemegha
http://meghafashionista.blogspot.com
Hello Megha Varshini, and welcome to my blog! This is your first comment on here, I think :-)
DeleteWhat kind of squirrels do you see at your place, the grey or the red kind?
You'll have them tapping on the window next, begging for more food :)
ReplyDeleteNow that there is some snow on the windowsill, I can tell they were there even if I didn't see them. Poor things, they probably can't eat the leftovers anymore, since they will be wet with the snow. I guess I'll have to clean it all up and put new food out when it stops snowing.
DeleteWhat a great idea, offering muesli! Over here we buy black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn, for the ground feeders.
ReplyDeleteThe muesli was what I had on hand, but maybe next time I'll go to the supermarket I'll get some proper bird food.
DeleteI've not thought of putting food on the window ledge. Given how some of my birds come quite close I think I may do some experimenting when I get back to Scotland.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing the sound of their tapping on the windowsill when I wake up. Of course they diasppear the moment I start pulling up the blinds, but they come back after a while.
Delete