Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
My Feathered Friends – It started with the Chickadees!
I’ve been a backyard birder for as long as I can remember, and it was the chickadees that first attracted me. I saw them flitting about in the trees and heard them calling their friendly greetings to one another and to me too, it seemed. I was hooked.
I’m still charmed by chickadees and am happy that both the black-capped and chestnut-backed varieties live in my yard; I was recently visited by both.
It seemed that spring finally arrived last weekend (yes, I know it’s nearly the end of May) and I was out enjoying the sunshine with the stream running.
I was hoping to entice the birds and I succeeded when a black-capped chickadee stopped by for a dip.
I was ready and sat quietly nearby with camera in hand enjoying the show.
That wasn’t the case when a chestnut-backed chickadee surprised me while I was in the hot tub!
He landed on the branches of the evergreen tree hanging over the deck and bounced from branch to branch looking for insects. Sometimes he hung upside down just a few feet from me, without any fear while I watched, both overjoyed and astounded.
Now obviously I did not have my camera with me in the hot tub, so you’ll have to take my word that this visitation occurred; by the time I was out he was done hunting for the night and all I got was a picture of the branches.
I thought it might be one of the chickadees who nested out front earlier this year, so I went to see if I might find him there.
Instead I found these two enjoying the snag – house finches I believe – more of my feathered friends.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
We can easily take your word for the hot tub visit – and what fun! This post showed your fun with birds indeed
Thanks so much! 🙂
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You always have fun in your amazing backyard with the birds, Susanne! Your chickadees are adorable, sweet, and quite photogenic! How cool to see one hanging around you while in your hot tub! What an experience!
Thanks so much, Terri! It was so surprising and delightful to have him hanging out with me at the hot tub! 🙂
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We have lots of Chickadees. They are my state’s official bird. 🙂
Oh wonderful! I’m happy to get a lot of them here too! Our state bird is the gold finch but I rarely see them!
How lovely to have these pretty feathered friends as regular visitors 🙂
Yes, I really do love them! They have such a sweet call and they’re so friendly!
We don’t have them over here
Aww… I guess you have to come back to the U.S. to see them! Then listen for their call – chick-a-dee-dee-dee. 🙂
I love that stream! If you hadn’t told us that Bob made it, I would have thought it was there naturally!
Thank you! I love the stream too and am amazed at Bob’s handiwork!
Who needs a bird bath? Have you ever had them take seed from your hands? I did once in central Oregon and it was priceless.
That must have been wonderful! I don’t actually feed them anymore because of the 2 resident felines. The seed tends to drop to the ground and I’d rather they stay in the trees save for a bath and a drink. 😊
I forgot that your lovely cats would naturally go after birds despite their domesticated selves.
Unfortunately, Benji is an exceptionally good hunter.
Who can blame him? He doesn’t know any better.
Exactly! It’s the cat nature. So I try to limit contact between the species as best I can!
Beautiful ! Thanks for sharing !
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
You are lucky to get so many delightful visitors, Susanne. Thanks for showing them to us.
Best wishes, Pete.
So glad you enjoyed them, Pete! I love these charming birds!
The photos of the mossy stream are beautiful – with and without birds!
Thanks so much! My husband built the stream and I turn it on with the flip of a switch. 😊
These are great. I love hearing the sounds of the birds in the morning.
Thank you! Me too!
Chickadees are so dang cute, and fast, too! Sometimes it’s impossible to get their picture.
I love them!