Birds! Birds! Birds!

One of the kids and I were going to out to play trackball. When I opened the laundry room door, which leads to the garage, this bird flew in the house.  The picture is bad because my husband wanted him OUT and wasn't being very considerate of my need to photograph this cutie in its very unnatural environment. I was pretty floored when I realized it wasn't your average everyday bird - it's the first time I've seen a woodpecker since moving to VA. I can hear them from time to time - but haven't seen one. Until tonight.

I had 3 new friends visit the feeder today. I think they are Yellow Finch. 

And I finally got a picture of the shy blackbird. It IS a Red Wing Black Bird - The picture isn't good enough to post. Very bury, however, with the zoom I was finally able to see the red! YAY! 

Hello, to all.

I've always been interested in birds, but never like this.  I'm finding birdwatching very relaxing and interesting. I have a simple caged tube feeder with fairly generic bird seed. I resorted to this feeder because the numerous blackbirds and crows that would gobble up all the seed before my little birds could feed.  The feeder hangs from a young red maple in my front yard, which is located in Northern VA. As I sit at my laptop during the day, I have a perfect view of the tree, grass and feeder.  Currently, there is a lonely Purple Finch having a snack with a Black-capped Chickadee picking the ground beneath the feeder.  There is another bird joining the Chickadee, but I haven't identified him yet. Beautiful smoky gray from head to tail with a soft powdery white underbelly. Small like the Chickadee, if not a smidgen smaller.

I found What Bird during a search - one that has lasted more than a week so far - to identify a bird. He has not feed from the feeder. He is completely black, except for a very thin golden line following the curve of the lower wingbar. When I first saw him, I thought he was injured, or had straw stuck to his side. When he turned, I saw the same marking on his other side.  I've never seen this bird before.

So, I opened the bird book my Grandmother gave me..The closest thing to him is a Red-winged Blackbird. BUT, the lower wingbar marking is too thick and too light. This bird doesn't have a red patch either. Though I've learned through What Bird, the red can be hidden -I'm not really buying that it's a Tri-color or Red-winged blackbird. The wingbar stripe is very, very thin and straw gold in color.

I found a picture of a blackbird and added the stripe using my photo editor. It's an awful depiction, but close enough. I've tried many times to take a picture of him but he seems to be extremely camera shy. 

YAY! My first Cardinals of the year (that I've seen)!!  Two - both males! Joined now by four Ground Doves and a Grackle (I think).
(the pictures isn't terrific - it's raining outside and I took it through the window).

 And, does any one know what little guy is with this Morning Dove?

Thanks for reading!

Willow