Just as we were sitting down for breakfast, the quick flitting of a small bird caught my eye out the dining room window. I knew it wasn't the usual sparrow or finch we've had an abundance of lately ~ his behavior gave him away. Also, instead of perching and dining on the black oil sunflower feeder, this bird would fly in swiftly, snatch a seed, then take off to crack & eat it someplace else. Once I was able to get a good look at him, I realized it was a Mountain Chickadee ~ our first for this fall/winter season:
We don't normally see Chickadees in our yard during the summer months so his presence is definitely an indicator of the season. More often we have the Black-capped Chickadees instead of the Mountain Chickadee that's pictured. The latter can be distinguished by the white "eyebrow" versus the solid black head of the Black-Capped Chickadee. It wasn't so easy to snap a photo because of his quick movements but luckily I got a few. Maybe I'll have more chances over the next few months? Ever so often he would fore-go the feeder to sample the contents of holes in the Aspen tree:
I'm not sure what he found in them, but it's good he's cleaning them out for me. As quickly as he arrived, he was gone
and we were left to breakfast with the sparrows. Oh well, that's what we were anticipating ~ he was the unexpected treat for the day. Hopefully it won't be our last meal together.
Beautiful pictures! I haven't seen a Mountain Chickadee IRL. We have Carolina Chickadees here. They win the award for cutest bird. :)
Posted by: Sweet Bay | November 12, 2009 at 03:54 PM
I love Chickadees. They are the friendliest and busiest right now. We get the black-capped and chestnut-backed types. I've never seen a Mountain chickadee before, very cute.
Posted by: Catherine | November 12, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I've never seen a mountain chickadee. We have the black capped here all year. One of my favorite birds. Always so active and relatively unafraid of people. Very charming with that black mask.
Marnie
Posted by: Marnie | November 13, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Hi Kathleen! We also have the black-capped chickadees. The Mountain chickadee is cute, too! Wonderful photos! :-)
Do you want to try Christmas cactus again? These plants are fairly easy to find around the holidays... they should be showing up soon... and usually are fairly inexpensive. (Otherwise, I'd be glad to send you a couple of pieces!)
Posted by: Shady Gardener | November 13, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Hello, Kathleen...I must say your photography is something else...such glorious detail :)
I loved reading about your little chickadee; the handsome puss eating his own grass; the squash for dessert; your beautiful Thanksgiving tree; the wonder and beauty of the first snowfall this year; and the velvet-like streptocarpus :)
But, your photos take the biscuit...happy days ahead :)
Posted by: Wildlife Gardener | November 14, 2009 at 02:48 AM
How fun Kathleen, I have never seen this Chickadee. Great photos of this little guy.
Posted by: Janet | November 15, 2009 at 07:20 AM