Birds and a Squirrel

It has been a good weekend. Yesterday Gregg wanted to show me a new restaurant he had discovered and he took me out to lunch. We had errands to run which lasted several hours, and we had fun getting out but were glad to get home. You know how that goes. We had plans to go into Washington DC today but it started snowing this morning, only lightly as it turned out, and by the time we thought about it again, we felt it was too late to start out. The nice thing about only living 45 minutes away is that we can go another time. It will have to wait for a couple of weeks as next weekend we are driving 200 miles south and spending time with Gully and Celia. We also have been invited to a baby shower in their neighborhood, this one is a Jack and Jill Party where men and women are invited. It will give us a chance to see people we haven't seen in a while and that is always fun. And more joyfully friends of ours are expecting twins, a boy and a girl.

I had a great time taking photos of birds out back, through the window. This Housefinch for instance.

I was surprised to find our American Robin up in a tree. Usually you see them running around on the ground, hopping all over the place with the arrival of spring. I would say that's a great sign but I just heard on the weather channel that we MAY be getting up to 12 inches of snow tomorrow. If that is the case it will be the heaviest snowfall we have had so far this winter. I was excited to also see the Cedar Waxwing, my first photo of one. I was hoping he would bring his friends with him but he disappeared quickly. I don't think I have the right feed for them somehow.

As I am not very knowledgeable in identifying birds I wondered if this was a Cowbird? I have been looking at them on line and am still not sure. Maybe someone can help identifying him for me. In fact, if there are any I have misidentified, I would be happy for you to correct me, believe me.

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Added note: since writing about my black birds here, I have since found out that they are actually Common Grackles. My blogging friends Eve over at Sunny Side Up and Kathie at Sycamore Canyon let me know. Thanks ladies! You both have a great generosity of spirit and I love learning about my feathered friends.

Tufted Titmouse.

Female Housefinch, I hope! If you know I am wrong I will correct it later.

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Another added note: this little bird below is a Pine Siskin. Again identified by Eve and Kathie. Kathie gave me a great tip on my journey of discovery in identifying birds. She said that looking at the beak is one of the best ways to narrow down a bird species. I am going to remember that from now on as when I compared the two birds and their two beaks, it was pretty clear which was which. Thanks again ladies.

A female Cardinal. this one I am almost certain of as its mate was being very camera shy and wouldn't come out of the bush. He didn't budge and so I had to take very blurry images of a splotch of red behind a tangle of branches. Hopefully tomorrow he will come out. I understand I need to put out some sunflowers for these guys.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker? Again I need help here.

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One more added note: Leedra over at Leedra's Photos For Fun confirmed that I am correct in identifying the following photo as a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Thanks Leedra.

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One of the many reasons I love blogging is that there are so many of you out there who are always willing to guide me in the right direction. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help I have received since blogging. It has been a fun and learning experience. All the blogs that I visit are very special and the people who run them even more so.

This little guy is in my yard all the time. I love him and his kind. I guess he is the boss as he always chases the other squirrels away and won't give them a chance to eat before he has had his fill.