Backyard Bird Shenanigans!

Noisy Blue Jays were the first to alert the neighbourhood birds that food had been served.

A male Northern Cardinal waited patiently in a nearby tree for his turn at the feeder.

A female Red-bellied Woodpecker didn't waste any time getting to the food tray.

She grabbed a peanut and carried it to the "eating bowl"; a natural cup on the tree branch that she often uses to hold the nut, making it easier to break open.

Video: After cracking the shell, she flew off with a small piece of the peanut.

Meanwhile, a female Cardinal was lurking nearby and landed in the bowl, creating a spray of snow.

She quickly grabbed a piece of the nut and left before the Woodpecker returned.

When it came time to grab the next peanut from the feeder, the Red-bellied Woodpecker chose a different hole to secure the nut while she cracked it open.

She kept looking behind her, watching for thieves!

White-breasted Nuthatches often steal seeds hidden in tree bark that were placed by other birds.

While standing on Canatara beach, I watched flocks of ducks regularly take to the air and fly to a new location. Most of the birds appeared to be Redheads and Red-breasted Mergansers.

When one flock lifted, I could see the cause of their stress. The red circle highlights a Bald Eagle that was passing through, just hunting for ducks!

The Yellow-throated Warbler has now been present for 15 days and is so far surviving the winter weather. He has found a food source of yummy spiders (freeze dried grub ☺) on one of the barns at the animal farm.