Wednesday, February 16, 2011

New Neighbors

Time once again for everybody's favorite---Word Bird Wednesday!  You don't have to be an experienced bird watcher or photographer (Thank the LORD) to join in the fun.  All you really need is a love of birds--observing them, photographing them, feeding them, learning about them, sharing them, enjoying them--or just ooohing and ahhhing over the finds of others.  Whatever it is you enjoy about birds, join up with Springman's Word Bird Wednesday at The Pine River Review.  You won't be sorry--unless you miss it.


We've had some birds new to our feeders this week:

We finally had some European Starlings visit!  But they're kind of bully-ish.

Their colors are iridescent.

All the larger birds look so funny, to me, when they try to eat at this feeder.

Cowbirds!  Female and...

lots of males!

And then, this sweet little American Goldfinch.

who seems to enjoy hanging out with the house finches. 

So sweet!


23 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

Amazing pictures. Even though I don't care for the Starlings,they do look quite lovely.
Ruth

Empty Nester said...

I was so excited about seeing the starlings until I realized what bullies they are! They run all the other birds away from the feeders and then fight amongst themselves!

Sondra said...

We get Cowbrids from time to time here in the boondocks but never had starlings visit the feeders..they mostly like urban landscapes. GREAT photos!!!

Empty Nester said...

The cowbirds are new to our feeders...I had no idea what they were but Hubs knew...man, he learned a lot in boy scouts!

Pat said...

Great series of photos! I adored watching and photographing the Starlings until they took over the place! Mockingbirds and Flickers chase them away though. In summer, we fill the feeders with safflower seed, which everyone but the Starlings and Grackles seems to like.

Dave said...

great series of shots on your feeders. I currently have around 70Starlings in the garden... oh the noise!!

Empty Nester said...

Pat- Thanks! I'm going to try the safflower seed if they get out of control!

Dave- Wow, that's a lot of starlings! I've seen as many as 7 or 8 and usually around 12 grackles but 70?! Wow.

Marcia said...

I never have liked starlings. They fly in to my yard occasionally in a flock but fly out just as quickly if I scare them. I've seen occasional cowbirds too, also grackles which can be quite noisy. Fortunately none of them are regulars because they would monopolize the feeders.

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

Great set of photos! The goldfinches are slowly changing their color here too,happy bird Wed.!phylliso

theconstantwalker said...

Beautiful images of some lovely birds (I love starlings).I like to see people enjoying the birds on their garden feeders. Too many only try to capture images of birds in their "natural environment" when garden feeders have become the norm for so many of our birds.

Anonymous said...

Great Starling shot and the colors of the finches are very cool!

mick said...

Great photos and a nice variety of birds. The Goldfinch would be my favorite too.

Empty Nester said...

Marcia- So far we haven't had too many. Hope it stays that way- just because they are such bullies out there.

Phylliso, mick, dream- I was so excited about the goldfinches- it took me forever to identify them!

walker- I have so enjoyed the birds being right outside the window!

BB said...

Looks just like I'm looking outside at my feeder. Funny how they come in packs.

Empty Nester said...

Barb- I'm still waiting on you to join the Word Bird Wednesday meme! Come on- show those pix!

Saimi said...

Great action shot of the bird fluttering his wings!! They are Beautiful!

Springman said...

Interesting week at your feeder! I guess I'm with everyone else waiting for the Gold finches to brighten up the scene. Get ready, springs coming! ;-)WBW

Sandra said...

I'm not a bird watcher, but my husband is, so I am always curious to see what appears in our feeder out back. Nothing as fantastic as the variety you have!

Empty Nester said...

Sami- Thanks! They've been very entertaining!

Springman-Can't wait to see your Florida captures!

Sandra- I love watching them! Which translates into I'm not getting anything accomplished other than watching the birds at the feeders! LOL

Helen Pigott said...

Super photos, we hardly have any birds in our garden dispite putting out feed its quite sad. There was recently a count the birds in your garden weekend here and I didn't see a single bird the entire weekend to report! I have been thinking about putting up a nesting box to encourage visitors so will let you know how I get on.
Helen x

Empty Nester said...

Helen- thank you! We are having a back yard bird count this weekend! Let me know how the nesting box works out. There are a lot of people who participate in Word Bird Wednesday that may have some ideas for you---they are so wise about our feathered friends!

Dave said...

Lovely post!

I dont mind Starlings... I get 50+ daily..... such beautiful plumage

Empty Nester said...

Madama-Thank you!

Dave- I like them too but they have certainly turned out to be the bullies of the back yard! LOL