I think mine might do the same here along with white throat sparrows (another ground feeder) below our suet cage. Cant see the ground below it as the suet is less that three feet away from our viewing point, buti do see them hop towards the house.
My juncos are primarily ground feeders too. But I do have 1 or 2 that will go on the hanging platform feeder. I'm unsure if it is the fact it is a platform feeder, or if they are low bird in the pecking order so they improvise and get what they can with the rest around (or maybe they are the smart ones since there aren't many birds going to the hanging feeder). Even in past years when I've had a tube-type feeder, there have usually been 1 or 2 juncos that will tackle that while the rest hit the ground.
The biggest bird I've seen so close to the house. It stuck around long enough for pictures A broad winged hawk, I believe
The goldfinches still have their Winter plumage. Its amazing the transformation when they molt. Titmouse in flight to the left.
A pileated woodpecker and chicks, not my photo but these woodpeckers are abundant in my area of East Texas. The ivory billed woodpecker, similar looking, is thought to be extinct, most “sightings” are found to be pileated woodpeckers. Over the years I have replaced two power line poles due to these little guys carving out a hole for a nest to raise their young like you see below.
I watched the show "extinct or alive" and one episode was on the ivory billed. IIRC he didn't find enough evidence that it's alive. We have pileated's here too. Heard one in the woods recently and was able to see it. Noisy birds. At a recent cut while I was taking a break, I heard a woodpecker tapping. Turns out it was a hairy pecking on a utility pole.
Heard a woodpecker yesterday that was a ways away from my house (I estimate a block or two). Never saw it, so don't know for sure, but at the time I thought it was probably a pileated. I know there is a pair around as I see one every once in a while. Saw a male bluebird a couple of days ago in my backyard. Haven't seen any since Nov or Dec. Grabbed some mealworms from Agway yesterday and put a few out on the feeder and ground below. I had a bag from last year in the basement, but opened it and they had gone moldy (probably my fault - and I could just smell it, not actually see mold), so decided it was best not to use those. About a week ago I saw my first redwing blackbird - actually heard it first. I usually get a lone one or two first, then a flock visits for a day or two. Sure enough, Thursday a flock was covering the trees out back. Unfortunately the flocks aren't as big since they filled in the swamp next door and built the house. My pair of cardinals is still around. Would see them intermittently thru the winter, and see or hear them (or at least the male) nearly every day now. I don't provide constant feed for the birds as I try to minimize bear visits. Also, if I keep feeders full, the squirrels multiply like rabbits and I try to keep the population in my yard down to 1-3 (not counting the red squirrel that lives in the barn foundation in a house catty-corner of my property). When there are 5 or more, that is way too many and I'm not paying to feed them. So, I just have a platform feeder on a pole about 60' from the house, plus I throw some seed on the ground for ground feeders. I only put some out there every 2 or 3 days.
Had trees full of them and a bunch in the yard where I throw seed out on Sunday. Unfortunately, it is about 60' from the house, so my zoomed and cropped picture doesn't really show much. I also scared off a bunch when I went back in the house to get my phone. They were very bright and noisy. I can see 5 males in the picture and there were several females too.
Ms. buZZsaw is in the kitchen making supper last night when she yells there's a new bird on the suet. "Its black and white and yellow!" By the time I got in there it flew away of course. Waited a bit and it came back to feed. I've never seen it before either. She ran and got the bird book while I tried to get pics. She then tried after handing the book to her 4yo grand daughter who proceeds to open the book and find the bird. We both thought she was "kid"ding but sure enough. It was the bird featured on the anatomy of a bird page! A yellow rumped warbler. Always exciting to see something new and different as a life long bird watcher.
It is always awesome to see and identify new birds, even for casual watchers like myself. even doubly so if you are at home, and not trecking somewhere that you would expect to see different creatures. Congrats on the sighting.
