Nice shot of the red-bellied WP. Like Bryan, in the winter, I am shooting through the window. This means keeping a clean window and as well keeping an eye on the sun (if it is out). I find that as the sun comes around to the point of just starting to hit the window, the glare and reflections (mostly from inside) increase. It is then that I take a break from the window until the sun has moved on. And only once with all my feed stations have I had a red-bellied WP come into the yard!!!!!

I think it will be fun to see more backyard bird photos posted and look forward to seeing them.  

Here's an image of a Red Bellied Woodpecker from my Dad's backyard.  The light was not good (1/200 sec, f6.3, ISO 800)  and I had to shot through a window. The birds seem to like his peanut feeder.

I gave it a try from my neighbour's living room and got one relatively clear photo from dozens. Rosemary has a great view of her feeder and has many regulars: cardinals, house finchs and a chickadee today. Here's a female cardinal at the feeder. She looks like an immature female. Is she, Sue?

Feed the Birds- At this time of the year, with all the snow, birds are searching for food and will tend to come to feeders more often than when more natural food is available. 

Think of your backyard as an avian restaurant that offers choices to appeal to many customers.  

Black oiled sunflower seeds are a favorite of many and will attract cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, sparrows and finches to name a few. Another popular seed is chipped sunflower seeds. These have had the shells removed and then chopped. I find that they are quite popular with all the birds as well and less mess. A suet feeder also will attract the woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadess and even starlings. Some birds such as juncos and mourning doves are mainly ground feeders and will forage on the ground. I also serve a wild birdseed mix without corn for the sparrows, finches, blue jays, cardinals, etc. There is also a nuger feeder for the finches but the doves and sparrows seem to like it as well. 

Above is a house finch dining on safflower seeds. They as well other birds seem to like it and the upside is that squirrels don't. When feeding the birds, expect those furry guys to come around and grab a free meal.

If you do feed in the winter, try to continue, as the birds have learned that your yard is a food source and will stick around instead of moving on.

Also, water is important and if possible, try to have some water out for those feathered little ones.

The one thing NOT to do, is to feed bread and such. Bread has little nutrional value to the birds. They will eat the bread and get full on that but may not get enough energy to see them through a cold winter's night. So please, don't feed them bread products.

Happy backyard birding

Sue 

There is no avoiding the fact that winter is coming. Fall clean-up is in full swing. If you would like to take images of birds at your feeders, now is the time to plan before the ground freezes. If you have a window in mind that you will be taking pictures from, look through the window and position your feeders to allow maximum viewing.

I tend to bring my feeders a little closer together. Also, shepherd's hooks allow you to be more flexible in the positioning of the feeders. I also take photos through my sliding patio doors, so I try to get as many feeders in view from there as well. The screen comes off the window and I keep a stack of books on the counter, ready to set my camera and mini tripod.on. I try to get as close to the window as possible to eliminate glare. And it goes without saying, that a clean window will decrease time spent in Photoshop!! This year, I hope to find a large pine limb or perhaps a Christmas tree to set up in the back. It is my hope to give the birds a place to perch with a more pleasing background.

As in the summer, a big draw for the birds is water. I do have a heated birdbath for those fine feathered creatures. It can be quite entertaining to watch them. There are coils avaiable that rest in a birdbath to keep the water open or a contained heated birdbath such as mine. I have had this birdbath for over four years now and it stays out all year round.

When feeding birds in the winter, it is not unusual to have small raptors come in to the yard. This sharp-shinned hawk visited my yard regularly. They have to eat as well and will prey on the sick or slow birds.

As winter approaches, birds have molted and some males change appearance. That brilliant yellow and black American Goldfinch is now drab looking as in the top image and looks very much like his female counterpart in the lower image.

Winter migration for many birds started a while ago. Birds that live in the far north, are moving down. The dark eyed junco is a visitor from the north. It nests in the cool conifer and mixed woods of northern Canada. The other name for this bird is the slate-coloured junco and the male at the top of the above image shows why. The female in the lower image is duller with some brown colouring. The juncos like to ground feed, which is nice as they help to clean up the spillage from the feeders!!!!

Hope you will try taking bird images from inside and then post some of them.

Happy birding

Sue