Another Flicker sighting

I saw the flicker again!

This time it looks like he/she is wondering where the tree went -

we lost the tree in a bad windstorm in December.

Here's a great shot of its wings. I wish I remembered if the bird was taking off or landing.

Fall Flicker ?

From my kitchen window, I've been enjoying the color of the Virginia creeper.

Then I heard some rustling, and saw a bird eating the berries....

I'm guessing it's a flicker of some type. But I don't know a lot about birds!

Cat in the tree? a Dr. Seuss moment

The place where we live

has many tall treesAnd when I look out

To see what I see,

I may see some jays

screeching in the trees.

I may see a hawk,

or perhaps a magpie.

It's true, it's true!

I do not lie.

But there was a day

Not so long ago,

When I looked out my window

And a surprise I did see.

A cat in the tree? Oh,

how could this be?

Oh, look, look and see-

It really, oh really is,

a cat in a tree!

More backyard birds

We see these Stellar jays around the neighborhood from time to time. This guy made quite a few pit stops at the (decaying) birdfeeder today, between storms.
This is not the best photo, but this little bird is a fast one. We think it is a mountain chickadee. Again, anyone with more bird knowledge, please let me know if I've got the names wrong.

Stocking up before the storm...and bird I.D.'s

Today we have had temperatures above freezing for the first time since before Christmas, I think. The weather forecasters tell us it is 'the warm before the storm' that is blowing in from California. My daughter and I set up this redneck birdfeeder, a few days ago,which hasn't seen much action before today. I am italicizing my added remarks. We went to the library and checked out a few bird identifying books, and so I think this first bird is a housefinch (with the lovely red markings). You can see it is a creatively styled birdfeeder made from a shoebox and aluminum foil. The pine branches are supposed to protect the food from snow, but are more decorative than useful.

I'll try and find out what kind of birds (finches??) have been visiting, the little red headed one is a favorite of mine. My best guess on this bird with the black head, is that it is an oregon sparrow. If anyone has some better ideas, please let me know! We are not experienced 'birders' here, by any means.

At any rate, they were coming and going at a fast pace, while I tried to snap pictures through the back door (you can see the window frames in the first pic).

After I had taken a lot of pics of the birdfeeder and birds, I heard the familiar scrawtch of pheasants. They weren't about to get up on the back deck to reach the bird food, but they were out and about! I often see them in the yard.

Today I saw two (only got a pic of one), and was also lucky enough to get a photo of that one pheasant flying away.

Maybe I'll put some food out for the pheasants, too. They really are lovely birds.