Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

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.


Hope y'all are enjoying the springlike weather.  If not, hopefully spring will get to your area soon.  Our weather has been perfect for The Great Backyard Bird Count (February 18-21).  It was great- we just put up the study window, sat back-camera ready, and waited.  This week, for WBW, I am featuring the Yellow-Rumped Warbler who frequents the feeders and was included in the bird count.  I love to watch the way they flit around the suet.  As far as numbers, I've seen 2 at the same time but, mostly, it's only one at a time.  They don't seem to come in droves like the Bullies (Starlings)










Sunday, February 20, 2011

Backyard Bullies or- the Starlings are here

I never knew that Starlings were such bullies!  And NOT just to the other birds but also to one another.

It all starts out innocent enough.  One Starling flies up to the suet...



And checks out the situation...


Very. Carefully.


And things are great.  Until another Starling wants to join in for breakfast.


A rather heated discussion ensues...


 And, sometimes, someone bites someone else.


But they usually work it out.  At least until that one at the next feeder decides to make a move...


And tries to join the other two...


wherein, another discussion ensues...


 and there's always one who complains more than the others.


Every so often, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker comes in for a meal.   But the Starling does NOT like this at all!


The woodpecker, however, is NOT impressed and tells the Starling just where to get off.


And he does.


DUDES!  All I wanted was to eat in peace!



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!


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

But you got to have friends...

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 you 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. 


Friends in the yard this week:

Lots of Mourning Doves were in the yard this week...just hangin' out with friends and chillin'...


The Pine Warbler and the Downy Woodpecker hung out together at the suet feeder...


Wonder if these two pine warblers have something more than a friendship brewing?  (male on the left, female on the right)
Curious pair- European Starling and a Blue Jay. (the Starling is new to the yard).

A Pine Warbler joining a Red-bellied Woodpecker

A lady Cardinal sharing the table with a sparrow





Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Word Bird Wednesday

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 you 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. 


These pictures were not cropped at all...the birds just let us get close...maybe it was too darn cold for them to move last week....it sure as heck isn't cold this week!  Anyway without further ado---

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...


This pretty Mockingbird just sat there and let me get closer and closer....


This Great Blue Heron was playing possum with us- or very focused on a fish...

This female (no red) Hairy Woodpecker was way too interested in eating to be bothered with me taking her photograph.