My Christmas Gift to You

For nature bloggers, this week has not been ideal, at least in my neck of the woods.

This was the forecast on my weather widget earlier this week, and so far it's been pretty much on track.  I don't usually take my camera outside in the rain!  While today isn't super rainy (though it hasn't exactly been sunny either) this morning I have been working in my kitchen on our Christmas cheesecake, so today's post will be from the window (again) with inspiration from the cheesecake as well.

My Christmas gift number #1 to you will be showing you what happens here when I put a couple handfuls of corn out for the birds.  Gift number # 2 will be the best-ever, easy-to-make cheesecake recipe.  

If you still have someone on your Christmas list you don't know what to buy for, head to your local feed store (it's  probably not as crowded as the Mall) and pick up some shelled corn.  They can simply spread it in their lawn and be entertained by the birds.  No feeder necessary.

They can count how many kernels a Blue Jay can take at one time.

Or they can count how many Blue Jays come at the same time.

I only had 5 this morning.

Or they can see what happens when other birds dare to come while the Blue Jays are there. 

First, some brave Mourning Doves.

Then, a Red-winged Blackbird and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

The Red-winged Blackbird isn't even supposed to be here (at least according to my field guide, it should be a 'summer only' bird) but we've had one or two stay all winter before.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker makes repeat trips to get more corn.  He's bold enough not to care what the Blue Jays think.

Oh, by the way, our lawn has that nice bare spot which is an ideal place for me to toss the corn, don't you think?  It's not far from where I put the mixed seed on the ground, so it tends to keep the Blue Jays away from the other feeders, at least for awhile.  It gives the other birds a chance to have a meal, without being bothered too much by the Jays.

Our Cardinals are still coming but they aren't as 'close' as they were when they were nesting.  In fact, some House Finches seem to have come between them.

The Blue Jays make quite a racket, too, while they snatch up the corn, which momentarily startled the Mourning Doves.

"What's up?  What's going on?"

I love their demur look and their pretty pink feet.  Also, don't miss that patch of iridescent pink on the throat.

Now, the cheesecake is out of the oven and it smells sooo good.  I've been making a cheesecake for Christmas for many years (it's a good birthday cake for Jesus) and I've shared the recipe with many people.  It's really the BEST cheesecake.  So, here is my Christmas gift to my blog readers--

Creamy Sour Cream Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups shortbread cookie crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
8 ounces sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter.  Press firmly on the bottom of a 9" springform pan.
In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese til fluffy.  Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
Beat in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 50 to 55 minutes until lightly browned around edge.
Cool, then store in refrigerator.  Serve with fruit topping and whipped creme, if desired.

It's simple to make and you can make it several days ahead (it only gets better!)

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! 

Desperate Times Require Desperate Measures

Or, "The Dove who Dared!"

Yesterday I decided to remove the cage from one of our sunflower feeders.  Meant to keep squirrels and large birds from being able to eat from that particular feeder, it had seemed like a good idea.  But the small birds who could fit thru the holes were not using it.  Basically, it was being used as a perch for them to land on before hopping to the feeder next to it.  Only once in a great while would a bird go in for a seed, even after the feeder had been up for a couple of months.  So, I decided the cage might as well go.

It took the birds a little while to realize it was now just as easy to use as the other feeders.  Within a couple of hours though, the chickadees and finches were taking advantage of another spot to feast on sunflower seeds.   

The snow we've been having lately has brought huge numbers of birds to the feeders.  If the weather is really bad, I have to replenish the food a couple of time during the day.  Well, today, I looked out the window at noon and thought it was looking a little bare and the birds were hopping and scratching around trying to find food.  One dove, in particular, was desperate!!!

You see, doves are mostly ground feeders.

"Things are getting a little sparse here, please feed us!"

They will eat on the top of the bird table or on the deck, but typically they don't perch on the feeders.
So when I saw this dove on the feeder which no longer had the 'small-bird-only-cage', I had to watch to see what would happen!

 She spied all those seeds....

And she got one.
But she was curious.... she had to see what was on the other side, even if it was slippery walking around!

"Oh, more of the same on this side!"

"I'll eat some of these."

"Whoa, it's slippery!"

"I'll use my tail to balance myself better and eat a few more".

I was quite impressed with her daring and poise!

The other doves who weren't so brave also needed food, so after I took these photos, I went out and spread more seeds for them.  As you can see, they are quite plump-looking so I think they are pretty well feed!  ;-)

 Then again, considering the weather, they do need to keep their metabolism up!

"It's cold out here!"

Furred and Feathered Babies Abound Around Here!

It's a busy time of year for both furry and feathered parents! We don't have a name for our place, but last night I was thinking it ought to be called 'Rabbit Hill'.  I could see rabbit families in three directions from our front deck!  There was lots of nibbling of grass and playing going on.  I probably wouldn't be happy if they were nibbling my flowers or vegetables, but our yard provides plenty of clover and yummy weeds for them to eat, and so far my plants have been safe.  

These bunnies were in the front yard:

 You might remember the next bunnies from my other post.  They are growing fast.

And having fun, too!  They were bouncing around and chasing either other.

Still more bunnies... and you can see the white clover in bloom that they love to eat.  The yellow flowers are Yellow Hawkweed (which I don't think they were eating).

There's also quite a bit of action at the bird feeders.  I used to take my feeders down once winter was over, but then I discovered how much fun it is to feed them during the spring and summer.  (Though we have to bring them in at night, because otherwise we have visits from Black Bears.)  

When the birds have babies in the nest, the parents will carry food back with them to feed their nestlings, like this Red-bellied Woodpecker with a chunk of suet.

You can see the red belly for which they are named in this photo!

Once their babies have fledged, they bring them along to the feeders to show them a good place to eat, like this Mourning Dove and baby.

"There's nothing here, dearest, but wait til we get up on the deck."

"I'm following you, Momma."

After wandering thru my herb bed, they came up on the deck, where the baby tried to figure out what was food and what was not!

"Nope,  just dirt!"

A trio of House Finch babies relentlessly chirped at and followed their parent around, asking to be fed.

 Everywhere he went, they were right behind!

 Our rain gauge became a baby House Finch measuring stick.

And down underneath the deck was another furry baby... the cutest one of all!  I think he's going to be a nature explorer.

"I will see what is under here!"

"I am examining these plants closer... yes, they are FERNS"

"Hi, my name is Mac!"