Hi birders, checking in although nothing too exciting to report here. I'm doing my PFW every week, on a Sun-Mon schedule. This past weekend the birds were sparse. I hardly saw a bird in the yard or feeders for about 2 days during the snow that didn't really stop for about 3 days. Usually they are busy on the feeders during inclement weather, but for some reason they were nowhere to be seen. I do see the Bluebirds frequently, there are more hanging around this winter than the previous 2 years. I wonder if my suet log has influenced their decision not to migrate? If so, lots of pressure on me to keep the home-made suet stocked, wouldn't want those beauties to starve! Claire, that's great you had a male Purple Finch, I see the females from time to time, but the males seem very skittish. They will rarely come to the feeders although I have seen them lurking in the bushes while the female(s) eat. Thyme2dig, no problem about the photo, that day the Waxwings showed up with the Bluebirds was truly a stroke of luck that 1) I was around 2) I looked out the window and 3) the weather/sunlight/etc. was just about perfect for taking pictures! The Waxwings probably followed the Bluebirds there, because they eat from similar food sources in the winter. For sure, they are 2 of the most beautiful North American birds, together in the same spot 6 feet outside my window! :)

Deanie, I have a little blind (small tent) that I use and am able to get quite close--6 to 8 feet away, so was using a 100mm macro lens on a tripod. I was surprised when I viewed my pictures and saw the sparrows feeding each other. I had not noticed it when I was taking the pictures. It was a little bonus for me.

Lovely! You have a handsome Cardinal. Titmouse is spoiled rotten and throwing out allot of corn. We don't have these here.

This precious bird is one of my favorites and I love watching the 4 or 5 who frequent my yard and feeders all year long. They'll often hop around my patio and breezeway looking for a few spilled seeds...probably letting me know that the feeders are empty! They will pick out the shelled peanuts from the feeders, and like the dees, will grab one and fly off to a branch, but I've never seen them on my suet feeders. Hope they stick around as they are such a joy. Donna