Magpies ~ Opportunists

 With all of the snow and frigid temperatures the feeders have been very busy! It always surprises us when the magpies show up just minutes after my husband puts out the peanuts and grubs. They seemingly know... or smell... or just do a fly by to see if the food is out yet. The suet feeder is out of their reach but they will sit under it while the other birds and squirrels are feasting so they can clean up any pieces that drop.

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

The call of the Flicker is so unique that we know when they are hanging about. They prefer the suet blocks but will eat the grubs and various seed that we offer in the stand feeders. Once in awhile we get lucky enough to watch them but rarely get a good picture, they seem to know when I grab the camera!

The Northern Flicker is larger than most woodpeckers in Oregon.

The Flicker and Starling seem to have a standoff! Eventually they shared the food.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius (formerly known as a Sparrow Hawk)

Is it a drawback or a huge plus that we feed the birds and squirrels and they, in turn, feed the hawks? Everyone needs to eat! It isn't often that we see a hawk, but they do leave their calling card when they feast in our yard.... feathers everywhere! I cannot, in good conscious, begrudge them a meal, after all they also eat the mice that hang around the feeders and find their way into our home from time to time.

What a surprise when we looked out and saw this beautiful little guy feasting...

The American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk), this is the smallest (dove-sized)
and most familiar member of the family Falconidae in North America

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens

Looks like the little Downy is trying to tell us to feed him! Well, no sooner asked than done! Seems like he prefers the peanut butter suet blocks! I've had to resort to taking pictures from inside my house as these little birds are very wary and will fly away rather than wait for me to take his picture although he did wait around to get fed!

The Downy Woodpecker, the smallest in North America

9 degrees Fahrenheit this morning!

Well, it's a very brisk 9 degrees Fahrenheit this morning! The sun is reflecting off of the gently falling snow. I love watching the snow especially when it falls from a cloudless sky! One of the many wonders of our beautiful world.

The squirrels and magpies are eating and hiding the peanuts. It's funny to see the magpies stealing the nuts the squirrels think they have well hidden.

This looks like a good spot to hide a peanut! 

Apple Cider

Information on pasteurizing the apple cider (please check this for yourself as information varies and gets updated from year to year.)

Pasteurizing the Juice Unpasteurized (unheated) apple cider has been linked with illness caused by E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. If these bacteria are in the feces of deer or cattle, apples that fall on the ground could be contaminated.

Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria. Heat the juice to at least 160 F. If you don’t have a thermometer that registers in that range, heat the juice until it simmers (when bubbles appear on the surface).

Preserving the Juice Pasteurized cider can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. For longer storage, freezing is recommended. When freezing, be sure to allow at least a 2 inch head space since the cider will expand during freezing and can rupture the container.

Apple juice may also be canned. Heat the juice to simmering (185 -210 F). Pour hot juice into jars. Process in a boiling water canner: 5 minutes for pints and quarts; 10 minutes for half gallons. At 1,001-6,000 feet, process pints and quarts for 10 minutes and half gallons for 15 minutes. After processing, take canner off heat. Remove lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars. 

For additional information on making juices or cider, contact your local county Extension office.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fch/sites/default/files/documents/sp_50_455_preservingfruitjuicesapplecider.pdf

If you plan to press your own apples, precautions might be in order. Photo by Tiffany Woods.

End of the Season

We finally have the rain that has been so badly needed! Several days of rain with some sun to warm things up a bit. It's wonderful!

It hasn't frosted, as yet, so still have produce in the garden. Thinking if the rain holds off tomorrow I'd better get the peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and the last of the green beans. Oh! and the herbs! Have some very nice basil ready for picking. The carrots were a small variety, but they came out Very Small! The beets aren't very big either, but beet greens sauted with some onion and garlic will be a delicious

A friend is bringing more pears and crab apples, another friend has grapes almost ready, and I scored 3 gallons of apple cider just for helping clean and cut up the apples! The cider will need to be pasteurized if the little grand children are to have any.