Feathered Vistors.1

My wildbird feeder sees a lot of traffic in all seasons.

This flicker, though, was a real surprise, since they eat insects and suet and are not known to eat at seed feeders. I had an opportunity to watch this fellow for a couple of minutes. What I realized is that he wasn't after the seeds - he was playing. He'd furiously dig his long strong beak into the seed dispenser holes and vigorously stir up the seeds inside. He did this for a some time and then flew away.

My returning annual black headed grosbeaks are a lot of fun. The parents in the spring from their migration from their southerly wintering grounds. Then they work hard while they raise a clutch of very cute babies. Here are two of them who have learned the ropes of eating out of a sunflower dispenser. They are not as flighty as smaller finches, so I usually can get a shot of them now and then.





And then there are the Stellar's Jays that screech and carry on loudly. They are strong fellows, whether adult or young. This fellow is a young one who is in the act of begging for food from his parents. The black headgear on the young looks really silly. They look like punkers with mohawks and you just cannot take them seriously!