Why I Feed the Birds

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Why you ask do we feed the birds here...
since worms and bugs are all so near.

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The sunflower seeds are needed to lure...
the songbirds closer in order to hear!

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We buy a 40lb. bag...usually one or more.
If the price starts to rise...then it's 3 or 4...
neatly they're stacked on the basement floor...
if we catch a big sale, we even buy more.
~

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Birds are messy so they drop some seeds...
that grow into flowers among the weeds.





Very tall some grow, maybe six to seven feet





with sunny yellow faces, that are so sweet!



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That's it...end of the poem Marcy!


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We do have several feeders that keep me busy
filling them with the sunflower seeds...and we
do tend to stock up...when it goes on sale.




This one is on a pulley, just off the deck.
Empty, as you can see...blogging is to blame!

These were taken through the window earlier

this summer...the squirrels always manage

to get their share...and so would the raccoon

if not for the stove pipe.

The Cardinals share the feeders with the

Red-bellied woodpeckers...note the deer and

all the piles of leaves...blogging again probably!

This is a small Downy Woodpecker...

and a Goldfinch caught in flight!

This is newly fledged baby Carolina Wrens...

they would sleep overnight on the porch blinds.

Here we have Alivia looking for ants and worms...

which she found!...and I don't even do that!

I found this single locust just out of it's shell

Monday morning...

A Sunflower just before blooming...

These came up together in a planter...possibly

they were stored there by a chipmunk!

Sunflower in full bloom with visitors.

The main reason we buy Sunflower seeds...
other than to feed the birds...

and attract them here...

or have the enjoyment of watching...

dropped seeds grow...

into beautiful sun-like flowers

is to share nature

with grandchildren as they grow.

Alivia...a few years ago!

spreading Sunflower seeds...

...and examining them closer!

That's why I feed the birds!

Field Day

Granddaughter Alivia was here earlier today...

Guess what she wanted to do...pick the sunflower!

It sprouted after being dropped by a bird...

eating at the feeder on the back porch.

.

-all photos enlarge-

The feeder hangs extra low by the kitchen door...

I convinced her not to pick the sunflower just yet,

but to watch the birds come to the feeder...

.

while she played with some bubbles in the sink...
.



Later we went out toward the field to pick
the few remaining raspberries.






One day after going out and heading
to the field...




I came across this turtle in the drive...




after moving him to a safer place in the grass...




near the bed of day lilies...



by the large oak tree...

with the friendly face...

I went into the tall grass to look for changes...

every few days it looks different.

-all photos enlarge-

There were plenty of grass seed heads forming...

several different types...

-Umbrella Sedge on right-

different wild flowers were blooming...

some pink...

-Field Milkwort-

some yellow...

-Virginia Yellow Flax-

some white...

-Virginia Mountain Mint-

if one didn't look close one might miss...

many different types of insects...
some spotted brown...

some black with stripes...

some golden brown

and some bees and butterflies...

of all sizes...

There were more types of bees than butterflies...

but the butterflies were prettier.

The bees had a special beauty though...

they looked large and healthy.

I often wonder...

do the deer who love playing in the field...

and hiding in the tall grass.....do they ever get stung?

Here's a video where I think that just

might have happened...

For All To See

Everything was wet after a horrific early morning

thunderstorm at 5 AM yesterday...but at sunrise.....

.

the morning sun brightened the day with it's rays...

.

.

.

casting shadows that I couldn't resist....

.

sending light rays through the trees.....

spraying sunshine all around.....

.




luring me out closer.....






and down the drive....





where I was greeted by this young Song Sparrow
.
who could just barely fly.






Being already out...I walked over behind the barn...

high in the trees....I found wild grapes forming...

.

the deer will stand on their hind legs to reach them.

I found the mulberries dripping with rain....

then checking the raspberries.....found

.

them slowly ripening too....

along with this brown mushroom...but I think

.

I may have overlooked a 4 leaf clover by it's side...

-enlarge to see-

but later in the day....

.

overlook...I did not...
.

Bluebirds in the birdbath!

Still later in the day....

.

I just barely caught these Turkeys walking by....

.

Herhusband saw them first...

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and I quickly ran outside.

Last week while I was standing by this vine...

something flying in and out.....caught my eye....

I don't know what it's name might be...but

appears to have a cartoon-like face.....to me.

-enlarge to see-

So my yesterday started with a hazy view...

but soon was filled...with things to see...

.

like morning rays...on this Redbud tree...

....Such magnificent views....for all to see!