I love to see the Buffleheads swimming about in the winter here on Cape Cod. They are so distinct with their black and white coloring. I’ve seen many of them at Boat Meadow Creek and at Rock Harbor. They are pretty skittish if they see you or hear you, so it is easier to take a photograph at Rock Harbor where they are further away and there’s some noise about.
This male was flapping his wings as the 2 females swam nearby. There is such a difference between the males and females.
Have you ever seen a Bufflehead? Cool-looking, don’t you think?
It was a gorgeous day for a nice hike at Fort Hill. It was sunny with temps in the 40s but little wind. We had just hiked up to the overlook when this seagull looked as if it was posing on the map of the National Seashore with Nauset Marsh and then Coast Guard Station way in the background.
The Brant is a part of the geese family and can be seen on Cape cod during the winter months. This Brant was sauntering along the shore at Wellfleet Harbor.
It’s very distinguishable with its black head and belly and brown-grey upperparts. It has pale grey underparts. It’s easiest to identify by its broken collar pattern at its neck.
We had such a problem last summer with all of the Grackles and Starlings and Crows eating all of the Bluebird’s mealworms (very expensive food but the Bluebird’s favorite), Phil decided he had to do something about it.  He designed his own Bluebird bird feeder that only allows the “little” birds to eat from it. (Click  on link for a better photo.) It has worked wonderfully!
We bought a bird feeder from the Bird Watcher’s General Store in Orleans and then Phil “retrofitted” it with 10 screws going all around the inside of the dish and some electrical tape. Â The inside of the dish had to be raised so only the Bluebirds, sitting on the edge of the dish, could eat the mealworms. Â You can also adjust the height of the top cover so that only the Bluebirds can get in. Â It is amazing that they fly right in and out, even when lowered more than in the photograph.
The Bluebirds and a few other small birds have no trouble flying in for a meal, while the other “pesky” birds that eat everything in sight cannot get in.
Ingenious, don’t you think?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
