BIRDS ON THE BACK DECK BUT FIRST...

This is an illustration I found at Pixabay.  You may remember me mentioning the site before.  Sandra at Madsnapper told us about it in one of her blog posts quite a while ago.  I go to it frequently as I enjoy not only browsing through their wonderful photos, but several of my signature graphics come from there. I put them together in a program I have called Paint Shop Pro, adding my name and a few other details if needed, tweaking the design if I need to tailor it to see if it will look better to my eye, generally playing on the program until I have something satisfactory.  I get so focused an hour or two have gone by without me realizing. The picture above appealed to my love of wildlife, and I thought I would share it today.

I have been enjoying my own wildlife this week.   The Robin stayed up in the tree for a long while and I took photos.

I was able to get a bag of bird seed.  Not too long after I had replenished their supply, the second bird to show up was the Goldfinch.  He seems to be getting the beginnings of his bright yellow summer plumage.  Added note: Anni from Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin' said she thought my Goldfinch might be a female with more muted colors.  Thanks Anni! 

A male and female House Finch was sitting up in the tree waiting.

Quite a look you have there Mr. Finch!

A White-throated Sparrow paid a quick visit...

as did the male Red-bellied Woodpecker.  You can just about make out his claws hanging onto the edge of the deck rail.  Another collage with a few other poses...

and another male House Finch flew down for his lunch.

The next photo is the last one of the birds, this time a male Cardinal and a female House Finch.  They seem to be quite comfortable in each other's presence.

I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, and a squirrel was busy gathering leaf material.

Their home is in a tree in our front yard.  She is on the branch of a tree in the back garden in this photo, which gives her easy access to the roof of our house.  She scurries over the roof which leads to another overhanging branch on the other side, belonging to the tree in front, which she uses to scurry up to her nest.  We're going to have to get the trees trimmed this year, at least so that these little darlings don't have access to the roof anymore, and can't dig a hole into our attic to take up residence next winter! 

Added note: 4-18-20

I had an invite to join Anni's link at I'd Rather B Birding'.  If you have any bird experiences and would like to join in, you can add yours at this link here.