Saylorville Birds

I went to Saylorville Lake a couple of times last week, and I saw lots of birds. Day One: There were a lot of Canada Geese, a pair of Mallards in a tiny pond, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers at the visitor center, a pair of Northern Cardinals, an American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, and I saw a Bald Eagle while we were driving there.

Actually two Mallards.

Hairy Woodpecker.

Day Two: This time I went with my dad, and I got a life bird, Common Goldeneye! Dad also
spotted what might be a Rough-legged Hawk. We saw twice as much Canada Geese as last time, a couple of chickadees, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, lots of Downy Woodpeckers, a Tufted Titmouse, four Mallards, some Bald Eagles, plenty of Red-tailed Hawks, and we heard some Blue Jays. It was a very nice trip.

Canada Goose landing.

Life bird Common Goldeneye.

Better picture of the Common Goldeneye.

One of my best photos, White-breasted Nuthatch.

Another one of my best photos of the day, Downy Woodpecker.

Feeder Birds

I put up some feeders about a month ago, and lots of birds have come to them. Most of these birds are year-round here, except for the junco. I have a wooden feeder with safflower and sunflower seeds, a suet log filled with homemade suet, and a completely steel feeder filled with black oil sunflower, peanuts, a little bit of safflower, and some dried cranberries. Almost all the birds have been to the steel feeder, but the woodpeckers prefer suet. The cardinals like the sunflower and safflower, the junco eats whatever is on the ground, the nuthatch likes the sunflower and the suet, and the goldfinches like the sunflower.

Male Northern Cardinal.

Female Northern Cardinal.

Dark-eyed Junco. I think he has some leucism in his tail.

Female House Finch gaping at the safflower.

American Goldfinch and Male House Finch.

House Finches and Goldfinches.

White-breasted Nuthatch.

Male Downy Woodpecker.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker.