Holler Feeder~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life

The Holler after the rains.

The birdies are happy,

healthy and fat!

For the first time we have goldfinch in large numbers, (tap or click to enlarge to see flying bird detail)

feasting on a bowl of seeds,

along with all the other finches and sparrows. The little black seeds you see scattered all over are thistle seeds. It is the first time I put thistle out and the goldfinch love it!

The tiny gold beauties,

manage to hold their own,

with the much larger,

finches.

It’s no brag,

just fact,

The Holler has the very best neighbors!

Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Heavies~

250 thoughts on “Holler Feeder~”

    2. Cindy, your photos are simply beautiful, as always, and technically, perfection. The Holler seems like the place to be. Especially with the food you so generously provide!! Thanks for giving us a few glimpses into this special place!

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    1. Smiling…. It is such a relief. We have record snow pack. I can see it from my window as I type. Our resevoirs and lakes are full and everything is green, green, gree. It is pure heaven after all the drought. დ

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  8. Curt Mekemson

    The Holler has a wonderful collection of birdies indeed, Cindy, and, fortunately for us, you there to record their each and every antic. Golden and Rosie finches are two of my favorites! Thanks, as always.

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    1. You are so welcome Curt. The Gold Finchs are new to The Holler, and I couldn’t be happier. I love finding new birds here and it happens regularly. Take good care my friend დ

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  13. Delighted. Delighted for all the colors sprouting wings. Maybe (more, should I admit) delighted seeing your Holler (a shade of heaven I think). Love the California lush scrub hills (always) (homesick some). Love seeing where your wandering begins. I can near feel how it is being there, the sounds, the smells, everything, can imagine my feet on that ground. Odd remembrance like I was back in my Bay Area home – what wonder this would all have been before we humans arrived (no offense, just awe). Thanks Cindy.

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    1. I know exactly how you feel. I imagine about how places would have been before humans ruined them all the time. One thing that drew me powerfully to The Holler was that it was like a time capsule, bringing me back to the California of my childhood, where I explored all the open spaces where cities now live. The Holler is like California 50 years ago. I was very moved by your words Neil. You understand perfectly. Thank you my friend & be well დ

      Reply

    1. Thank you very much Kathy. I think he is a house finch, even though I was puzzled by his orange coloration. Apparently house finches can have orange coloration due to dietary differences. Of course, I could be wrong. Finch identification is difficult as they are so many different varieties. Take good care my friend დ

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  26. So beautiful and poignant. It’s been a tough time for so many birds and in nature.
    Your post is so uplifting and hopeful. Nature prevails … and she is always gets herself ready for the next cycle of Spring. 🥰 Great captures Cindy 💛🙏🏻💐

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  33. Every time I see one of your posts, I think to myself, this is Cindy’s best – that is until I come to your next post. WOW! Your photography continues to inspire me. The colour, drama, stories are beautifully presented. Every post is a treasure. Thank you.

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  39. Great pictures Cindy, they have put on a show. And in fact, the flying bird one you said to expand (and a great mid flight shot I might add), reminded me of that cartoon character of Scrooge McDuck diving into his Money Bin, only this was a high dive into a tray full of food 🤣❤️🙏🏽

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  47. Any time I think I’ve seen best birds, I find that your next piece has more “wow” than the previous one! I absolutely LOVED these gold finches. They gave me an early morning smile.
    Thank you!

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  53. Cindy, these photos are GREAT! I especially love those little red-headed birds. I was going to say purple finches but then I noticed the traces of orange. Do you know what those birds are called?

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    1. Thank you so much! Finch identification is very difficult because there are so many obscure varieties. I looked it up because I too was confused. I think they are house finches, orange because of differences in their diet. But as always, I may be mistaken. Let me know if you find out differently დ

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  57. This is perfect. I haven’t seen a bird in a long time. Yesterday it was a bit warmer and I heard them, but didn’t see them. This is a feast for the heart. It’s wonderful.

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    1. Thank you dear Gigi. I am happy the birdies lifted your spirits. They certainly do mine. I am also so pleased to hear you are on the mend and feeling better. Kiss Emily for me, if she’ll let you! 😉

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  61. So beautiful! The birds and colors fascinate! Our below zero wind chills have forced the birds to use our feeder. With the fierce winds, it is difficult to identify the birds. Enjoy the weekend. oxox

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  63. Goldfinches are some of the most beautiful birds to watch 🙂 I can’t wait until I start seeing them in my neck of the woods again, because that will mean summer is coming.

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  84. It looks like you treat these beauties very generous, Cindy. This is why they behave like really nice photo models. Awesome photo session!
    We have feeders behind the window as well and like to watch how they enjoy their food, playing with each other, and lighten our grey winter. However, yesterday we saw unexpected guest under the feeder, and it was not really welcoming one. The huge rat spent probably one hour and had pretty good dinner. By that time there were no one bird on the feeder. Perhaps, they did not like this guest. I have to do something with that…

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    1. Yes. This is a complicating factor. I feel for you. It is hard to place a bird feeder where a rat can’t reach it. Try suspending the feeder with a very thin wire, up high, and away from any structure. Rats can’t leap and climb as high as birds can fly. Good luck with this & take good care Alexander დ

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      1. Ditto! To be honest, when I first started blogging, I was not keen on birds. It was that movie “Birds” when I saw as a young kid. But I started noticing the beautiful features of birds from pictures and have started to admire their amazing features. Thanks for showing us the beauty of birds!

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  97. I think I have enjoyed slowly perusing these bird photos more than any other blog post I’ve seen in months! I adore backyard bird feeding and miss finches and other small birds so much (where we live now is too windy to feed birds other than magpies). I shall live vicariously through your photos! Great shots – thank you for sharing these!

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  101. Georgina

    Do beautiful to see the Holler. Those birds certainly come to your feeders and the rain has blessed you too. We have had quite a bit too after last years drought. We have had a lot of chaffinches recently but never goldfinches. I used to in London.

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  102. That feeder plumb full of birds?! Gorgeous little birdies! You are truly blessed! And thistle seeds? Neato!

    So glad y’all have had some good rain after so much drought for so long!

    Reply

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