Blog Author
gfreiherr
(view profile)
Recent Entries to this Blog Reflections on a Wedding
Posted: 02 Nov 2010
It's almost here!
Posted: 30 Sep 2010
I'm ready and waiting
Posted: 27 Sep 2010
The Wedding Planners
Posted: 14 Sep 2010
Spring fling in New Jersey
Posted: 31 Mar 2010

All Entries
 


Gail's Garden Blog




A song in my garden

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:59 am

I made a smilebox of my winter birds. You can view them at a faster speed if you click the arrows, once it loads. Hope you enjoy them.

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d5455324d4445354e44453d0d0a&blogview=true

This blog entry has been viewed 1691 times


Who is that tapping on my door?

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:21 am

I have a song sparrow that nests in the bushes near my front door. This is the 3rd year in a row that I have heard the tapping at my front door. I have a shiny brass kickplate at the bottom of my door and about 10 times a day he fights with his reflection. I have a piece of cardboard that I have to tape over the kickplate. I thought I could take it down after a couple of weeks, wrong...I have to leave it up for 6 weeks.


song sparrow ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

This is a short video clip of him in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEfX2z1gMMo





This blog entry has been viewed 1710 times


A beautiful Red-tailed hawk

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:20 pm

A very big first today...a Red-tailed hawk! I have never seen a hawk up close before today. I saw him swoop past the feeders and perch in a tree in the backyard. He had come through yesterday about the same time but I did not see him land. I grabbed the camera and ran outside with only socks on my feet and no jacket (it was 35f). There was still frost on the ground but I stayed out there until he left. I was on a mission. I kept inching closer, holding my breath so I would not scare him off.



Red-tailed hawk ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


He had his back to me and then he turned and stared right at me...now I know why the birds are so afraid of them. I just froze in place with my camera clicking. I was able to get a step or two closer before he took off. He looked even bigger when he spread his wings. I am just thankful he flew away rather than towards me! I am also glad my camera was in auto mode so I could get off some quick shots. I was suprised I could get as close as I did.




Red-tailed hawk ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





Red-tailed hawk March 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The Red-tailed hawk is 19-25 inches from head to tail with a wingspan of up to 54 inches.



Taking off ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Later in the afternoon I saw him soaring overhead. Just gliding around a enjoying a sunny day.




This blog entry has been viewed 1728 times


New visitors in the garden

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:41 pm

The sunshine and warm temperatures have disappeared but not the birds. It provides a source of color and pleasure on these gloomy, gray days. This is my first winter of documenting the birds. I have always enjoyed watching them but didn't worry about identifying them.

This morning I was out on the deck trying to get a close up of a robin. There were a whole flock of them (about 30) on the edge of my yard, looking for worms in the rain. I did manage to get this one.


robin 2/23/10 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Out of the corner of my eye I caught this yellow bellied sap sucker.






yellow bellied sapsucker ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I had noticed all these small holes in that tree in the spring and did not know what caused it. There are hundreds of small holes up and down the tree. Now I know who is to blame.






holes made by sapsucker ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Here a few more firsts for me this year.






red winged black bird Feb 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Eastern Towhee...Feb 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






yellow rumped warbler ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






yellow rumped warbler 2/10 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





Last edited: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:44 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 1740 times


It was a busy day at the feeders

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:20 am

The birds and squirrels must have sensed a storm was coming. There was a lot of activity at the feeders and on the ledge. I filled the feeders this morning because they were predicting 3-6" of snow. That is a "major" snow storm for East TN. We have lived here 9 years and have never had more than an inch or two. I restocked the seed on the ledge 4 times.
They were flying in and out like rush hour at the airport. When the flurries started around 2 p.m. it got even busier.



finch feast ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



Waiting in the wings ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



4 pair of cardinals perched in my dogwood ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )




pine warbler ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )




female cardinal ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )




red bellied woodpecker ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

lunch bunch ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )




I had to keep shooing the squirrels away.


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

They would just run up the tree


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

or sit on the fence post and wait until I was gone.


waiting to get back on the feeders ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

It is still snowing but now they are saying it may turn to freezing rain. I am glad I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow.






This blog entry has been viewed 344 times


Birds of a feather forage together

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 3:39 am

I was reading an article on how birds survive the cold, harsh winters and was interested to learn that some of the birds at my feeders are food-caching birds. The White breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmice & chickadees are scatter-horders, a behavior which helps to guarantee their survival.

Blue Jays harvest several thousand acorns each fall and bury them in the ground. Blue Jays have a gular pouch under their tongue so they can store seeds & nuts. They can store up to 5 acorns at a time.


Blue Jay ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

All this time I thought the squirrels were responsible for all the holes in the grass!


Who Me? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The chickadees, titmice, & nuthatches store and harvest hundreds of seeds throughtout their territory. Hiding it behind bark, in cracks and crevices of trees or knotholes. They have the ability to keep track of the the seeds & nuts that they hide.


Black-Capped Chickadee ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


Tufted Titmouse ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


White breasted Nuthatch ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


Tufted Titmouse ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The peanuts are always the first to go. Now I know why these birds are so busy going back and forth from the feeders to the trees.








This blog entry has been viewed 374 times


Squirrels just wanna have fun, part 2

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:04 pm

It was only a question of time before the squirrels found the food on the window ledge. On my third attempt I was able to capture these photos.



A guy's gotta eat ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )




Is someone there? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

This squirrel was stalking the feeder while his buddy was working the ledge.



turning around ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


getting a drink ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Lots of action on the ground the chipmunk came out to eat & drink.


chipmunk licking the ice ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



chipmunk licking the ice ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 416 times


Cardinal Capers

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:43 am

The birds were very busy at the feeders today. The sun was shining and the temperatures were warmer. I guess they are stocking up for the cold winter to come. I was suppose to be wrapping presents and packing for our trip to NJ but everytime I passed the kitchen window there was lots of activity and I had to stop & watch with my camera handy.


Scouting the area ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Utt Ohh...company's coming ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Who invited them? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I'll just send the Mrs. for takeout





I think I'm being followed ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






I'm out of here ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







The crew waiting in the wings ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 301 times


The Breakfast Club

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:47 pm

It was a busy morning at the feeder. The birds were lined up waiting for their turn.


Waiting their turn ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







The lookout ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






My turn ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






I need a bigger feeder! ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I could sit here all day but there is oly 12 days until Christmas and I have a long list of things to do! Have a great day.




This blog entry has been viewed 303 times


Snow birds

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:58 pm

The snow only last eight hours but I am thankful to have my photos. I am glad I got out early before the snow melted. The snow provided a great backdrop for our feathered friends.


birds of a feather ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







snow birds ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






snow birds ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






snowbirds ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

My knock out roses are still blooming despite the snow and freezing temperatures.







knock outs in the snow ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






knock out in the snow ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






knock out roses in the snow ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 496 times




You're reading one of many blogs on GardenStew.com.
Register for free and start your own blog today.