The backyard feeder has never been as entertaining as it is this year.  There is constant action this winter with the redpolls and grosbeaks providing most of it.

I threw a cupful of shelled sunflower seeds in the tray feeder and birds appeared to come from the heavens.  There were redpolls everywhere.  I could not count the number of them.  They were feeding fast and furiously; flying in and flying out.

It wasn't long before the female grosbeaks showed up.  They shared the space with the little birds.  Every now and again a chickadee and a nuthatch would show up.  This continued until I heard the blue jays come into the yard.  When that first squawk happened, the little birds scattered until the jays were gone.

The feeding happened in intervals throughout the day.  In the

afternoon when I went out to replenish the seed, I heard an unfamiliar sound.  The top branches of an aspen provided resting spots for a flock of waxwings. 

I don't have any berry-producing trees/shrubs in the yard.  They are planted but not yet bearing fruit.  When that happens, I hope that the waxwings will stay and feed instead of just stopping by for a rest.


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