Hey that was MY Rose Breasted Grosbeak! He's disappeared from my yard. I saw him come to the feeder for two or three days in a row almost every time I looked out the window, and now I haven't seen him for a few days.

Is that the same finch feeder that your blue (indigo?) buntings have been visiting? I was going to ask you what kind of feeder you have since I've NEVER seen a blue bunting come to my feeders. I don't think I've seen one at all in my yard since we've lived here. That feeder looks exactly like mine though. Does it have tiny slits where they feed from? Mine came with two different sizes of feeder holes and I put in the smaller ones. I might need to switch them out. (If I can find the other set)
I have my feeders in and around a dogwood tree that's close to my bay window so I can view the birds from my kitchen. I spend a lot of time there too. It's nice too look up and see the birds. I didn't have anything planted under the tree but now have a couple hostas that I had to move after the ice storm. I've been thinking about moving some of my hummingbird and butterfly plants to the south side of the tree where it's sunny but I'd have to get rid of the Bermuda grass first.
I've been going through as much bird seed lately as I usually do when there's snow on the ground. The birds must be having trouble finding food.

That is the feeder the buntings come to and it has the small slits installed. I have also seen them at the mixed seed feeder. My book says the Grosbeaks come to the feeders for black oil sunflower seeds. We think we saw a juvenile Grosbeak this afternoon....faint touch of reddish color on the throat and it had a 'unfinished' look.

This is the view out the kitchen window; across the drive is the cellar and the two beds I very cleverly call "The Cellar Beds". I haven't done much to the left side. It is the result of a huge downed ash tree from the tornado that did all the damage to Stockton a few years ago. We had the tree removed and lots of the limbs chipped which is what is now there; it is mostly decayed and I think can be planted now.

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