Rosie Cheeks Woodpecker and Flicker Friend

Rosie Cheeks Woodpecker and Flicker Friend




Meet Rosie Cheeks the woodpecker that I talk about on twitter!



Rosie Cheeks is the name I gave this wild Flicker Woodpecker for this woodpecker has already given me hours of entertainment. Keeping in mind naming wildlife is not the wisest thing for some day Rosie Cheeks for some reason will stop coming by everyday. Though I dont want to think about that!



Notice the red cheek color, and the red on the tail feathers. This will be spoken about later on.

These photographs were taken in December 29, 2014 as it was snowing, and snow was on the ground. In these shots Rosie Cheeks is perched on the six foot high dog kennel we have. The background there is to our "NO CAT", zone and the wild birds do feel safe at this spot.



Rosie Cheeks is at the point "he", I call Rosie Cheeks a male for his color is bright however Rosie Cheeks has no way of communicating with me if he is a "he", or a "she". Rosie Cheeks appears young to me just because of his behavior. Rosie Cheeks is a fat bird as well! I have a feeling our bird feeders help with this body weight ? I also make sure the wild birds have fresh water in such weather and I do clean the bird feeders . Wildlife has a way of spreading "things", I just assume all the birds visiting us do not get.....



It appears Rosie Cheeks is going to take of flying right? No, not at this point. Rosie Cheeks is used to me and my camera, however just letting me know not to get to close!!





Now for why I wanted you to pay attention to colors! This Woodpecker I do not know. Same snowy day in late December. Though this Flicker Woodpecker was not used to me, my camera or the feeder!



Rosie Cheeks (above photographs), will come to this hanging feeder, or the flat feeder. Rosie Cheeks really dose not care! Rosie Cheeks will also not pay much attention to me, while this one was skittish. Notice how slim this Flicker Woodpecker is?



Notice the Yellow colors of the tail feathers? Rosie Cheeks has the red, this one has the Yellow. Yellow is also accented under the wings however those photographs really did not come out well enough to show you.... This Flicker Woodpecker with the yellow feathers was rather neat to see , and flashy!!



As this Yellow Flicker Woodpecker was at the feeder, Rosie Cheeks is up in the tree waiting "his", turn to feed. The two were not real interested in sharing. Another reason I feel Rosie Cheeks is young is how Rosie Cheeks backed way off to this yellow Flicker. Though this yellow Flicker Woodpecker could have been a older male, thus Rosie Cheeks backing off??

This Yellow Flicker Woodpecker did not stick around long. Not sure at this moment if it ever came back? Only way to know this is if I have photographs or not.... if no photographs I just cant remember.





This is Rosie Cheeks up in the tree. The one photograph has a Ring Neck Dove in the background. Then Rosie Cheeks is flying off showing his red feathers, and white on his behind.

Rosie Cheeks is still coming by to this day. Predicting in another two hours Rosie Cheeks will start showing up the first time for this has been the woodpeckers routine. Rosie Cheeks shows up here quite a few times a day and I feel is wintering nearby somewhere? There is also a nest not far off a walk from home and Rosie Cheeks could be from that nest?? I did a photo shoot of the male and female Flicker Woodpeckers that were nesting, however I walked away due to the fact of freaking them out! I started feeling sorry for them for my intrusion.

Thank you for coming by and now if you seen the one photograph in twitter I have of Rosie Cheeks, you can see more photographs of the not so small woodpecker who shows up here at my home.

Spotted Towhee In The High Desert

Spotted Towhee In The High Desert




Meet the Spotted Towhee! The Spotted Towhee has been a constant resident here in our garden in winter clear into spring!



The Spotted Towhee is a very flashy , colorful bird who is not the most social species! The Spotted Towhee likes how we leave the vegetation for the winter to hide in, to do their thing in!

Gardens do look better for us in winter when folks go out and "clean up", removing the Sunflower stalks, Hollyhocks, Zinnias, veggie garden leaves and such. However, when we did this we did not get such birds here as the Spotted Towhee. Only until we started leaving such things out all winter did such birds show up and stay with us as the Spotted Towhee.



This is not the only post I wrote about the Spotted Towhee, doubt it will be the last? I really like the Spotted Towhee for the flashy color and the eyes!! Those eyes are just so neat!!

We have not had the Spotted Towhee nest here, so I do not get to see the baby birds grow up. In 2014 and 2015, (the Spotted Towhee is still here), from my observations each year more and more Spotted Towhee's show up! Perhaps coming here due to the food sources, (leaving stalks up all winter), and/or the protection factor?

The Spotted Towhee is super fun to watch! They scratch at the leaves etc. as chickens do, then if they see you they will take off like a flash!! Either running into a pile of bigger brush, or fly up into a tree for protection. The Spotted Towhee just does not care to be seen! From my observation the Spotted Towhee would just assume watch what you are doing from their "spot", if you are quick or find them paying attention to things like finding something to eat etc. you can get photographs!

I have noticed the Spotted Towhee does make use of the, "No cat zone", by running through our six foot dog kennel and hiding in the Raspberries that grow around one of our small ponds. The Spotted Towhee also likes our Lilacs and the pine tree that grows tall above some of the Lilacs we have. In 2014-2015 I have noticed them more in the pine tree, however as some folks may of heard me talk on social media, I have cleaned up outside due to the nice weather we had. This may have drove the Spotted Towhee into the Pine tree?? Because of this cleaning up, I have been throwing seed out there under the pine tree.



I have yet to see any Spotted Towhee at any bird feeder! Though hearing them just is here at home. They have a distinctive call which you can hear and read more about them here.

Keep in mind, my observations are mine. My photographs are also taken by me. I also read a lot about the native wildlife I photograph. If I do quote something from some book or website I will add it in here. I do not do this all that much..... I like to put in my observations and do like reading other peoples observations if I can find them....

Junco Bird in White

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Junco Bird in White




Meet the Junco Bird who spends time here at the house. This one I thought was special due to the white feathers on the back and....





A lot of white on the tail feathers, and.....



The white chin feathers! We have many Junco Birds here though this one stood out due to the white feathers!



Never know what nature has in store ?





This Junco Bird with the white was just fun to watch and photograph and wanted to share with you!

Thank you for coming by , checking out my photography!

White Crowned Sparrows Wintering in the High Desert

Mrsroadrunner Photography | White Crowned Sparrows Wintering in the High Desert





These are the White Crowned Sparrows that winter with us here in our part of the High Desert of Oregon.

We have them here right now, however these shots are from when the snow was flying in February of this year (2014).

These White Crowned Sparrows reuse the garden flower stalks as nice places to perch and if you notice it is snowing.











In the shot below this sparrow knows exactly where I am. These White Crowned Sparrows are a little more used to me then say some bird who has just flown in. When the birds first show up to winter here, they can be a little jumpy, however by February they have learned they are more then welcomed here!





This next shot is a White Crowned Sparrow Fledgeling. Along with the adults it is sometimes amazing how many of these youngsters we get and how many when the flock first shows up, that the adults are still feeding these youngsters!







These next couple of shots is a common thing to see here at the house. The White Crowned Sparrow and the Gold Crowned Sparrow sharing the same flower stalks in the garden as it is snowing.













It is to the point that these two species can not see where I put the bird seed. Why you may ask? Because if they get the chance they will help themselves! The Gold more so then the White, however I found it safe just to move around the bags of seed Guy brings home for me that I give the birds. These birds get bold! The door gets left open for the dogs and the birds just come right in..... little stinkers!



Thank you for coming by and use the search option to see all the other photographs of these pretty birds I have gotten at mrsroadrunner.com

Winter Time Robbin Birds on The Juniper Trees

mrsroadrunner A Wildlife, Nature Photographer, Oregon

We have snow, no big surprise seeing what time of the year it is.

Stopping off at the horse camp the Robbins came over for their photographs to be taken.

They made their presents known by coming right to the tree that was nearest me.

There is two sets of photographs.

This first set, this robbin was very funny!! Appeared to want me to see him/her feed on the juniper berries.

This second set is of two birds who it appears had a nest in the tree. Though I am not sure about that one?? The one went deep inside the tree, than came back out and did this several times.

CNN I report; Let It Snow