Bird feeding, bird feeders, birds, squirrels

I have thrown in the towel and just accept invasive squirrels as part of the equation. Nothing is going to stop the squirrels from coming by for a free lunch. Can you blame them? I've had six of them lunching here at the same time. When I open the door they scramble like gamblers at a raided craps game. I did a bit of research and discovered that there are some squirrel avoidance techniques; first is to use niger seed in a niger feeder. The holes on the that type of feeder are so small,  the squirrels lose interest very quickly. I think they see the payoff is so measly they can't get enough of a meal to make it worth their time and effort. I have tried the technique of actually providing a feeder for the squirrrels so they leave the sunflower seeds alone. They love corn, so they will always go to the corn when they can. Today I saw something you don't usually see, a squirrel and a bird eating from the same feeder at the same time. It is unusual to see the two critters together. Birds do not regularly battle a squirrel for the feeder. These two weren't battling, but I didn't believe what i was seeing, these Red Wing Blackbirds are really skittish, so to see him sharing the plate feeder with the squirrel was a surprise.

Simultaneously the American Goldfinches were quite thankful that the corn feeder was keeping the squirrel and Blackbird busy. they were digging into the niger seed and the sunflowers. The male Goldfinches are gradually turning yellow, it can be seen a bit in the photos, especially on the bird in the center of the photo on the left feeder.

Out on the water we have a flock of Bufflehead ducks that have been residing here for at least a month. It is the first time we have had a flock in our cove over the winter. Something must have been different this year, we have had several Bufflehead flocks, and several Ruddy duck flocks just floating around and fishing. It was fun to watch them. I've never lived where ducks winter over before, they are fascinating to watch. The way they forage for food, and work together to get it is amazing. I sure enjoy the wonder of it all.