Saturday Critters

This morning I'm  sharing with Eileen's Saturday Critters party.  What a roller coaster ride this weather  has been...  frigid cold with ice and snow  and two days later  it's 61 degrees.  There  was a bevy of excitement around the feeder this week!

The female house finch was  first seen  bright and early at the feeder...

Meanwhile, the numerous house sparrows    foraged the ground for left overs and  

many of them would swarm the  bird houses  trying to dominate the  whole!

Many more    welcome birds  had to be so quick it was difficult to capture on  the  the frame.. until this handsome   cardinal  stood sentinel

 daring  the interlopers to come near. ...

 so his  queen could  venture in and  partake.  She had been patiently awaiting her turn..

Stealthily she  approached   the    crook  awaiting her opportunity

Her mate signals and she moves in!

 and her  steadfast guardian  dares  anyone  to move in upon her!

Try as I might I'm just not sure  what this darling fellow is....at first glance I thought of chickadee  but he is minus the  black cap.  Can someone help me with  him!  He was  very  timid,  not anxious to take on the  fury of the sparrows.

  

Upon further investigation and some suggestions from  visitors  it could be an Eastern Phoebe, or  possibly a young  Eastern Wood Peewee..What fun to investigate   my  lovely  sojourners!