A FEW FEATHERED FRIENDS FOR YOU - 1-23-25

As you may already know, I get a lot of joy from seeing all our feathered friends out back, especially as I am not able to go too far afield lately. I am starting off with an American Goldfinch who managed to get a drink of water. The snow and ice were melting in the bird bath. I have put links on all the names of these birds if you would like to find out more information, and hopefully I am not repeating the same photos. I know you've seen the same birds at some point or another.

Next I managed to get a photo of a White-breasted nuthatch, before he darted off with seed in mouth. He is a flitterer, in that he flits in and he flits out.

A closer one of the Northern Flicker. Such a handsome bird. You can tell this one is a male because he has a black mustache. Females don't have them. I will do a post on him later with more information. Because he has only just started visiting, I am enjoying finding out more about him.

Next is an Eastern Bluebird. 

For years we never saw any out back, and now we get several and often. 

Here's a White-throated Sparrow.

A Carolina Wren on one of our snow days.

I am finishing off with another Eastern Bluebird, a male Northern Cardinal and a few House Finches on the same snow day. Our Christmas tree is showing on the right. I had to move fast to get them altogether, no time to frame it out of the picture, and I didn’t want to cut the cardinal out.

That's all for now. I hope you have enjoyed.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - ON HIS WAY UP NORTH - 1-18-25

 

The Kissing Bunnies were doing what they usually do and not paying much attention, but the little House Finch seemed interested in their new guest.

A White-throated Sparrow was waiting for her partner but decided to practice her half of the pas de deux. She was tired and feeling very blurry! She couldn't focus at all! 

The Eastern Bluebird was taking it all in from her branch on the tree above.

Next word of the day, "Quirky" but we will wait on that one. It seems to explain things somehow.

And that's the way it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. Frappé was soon on his way back up North, and for some strange reason, Camera Lady was heading for the coffee pot.

Thanks for looking and I hope your day

is a great one! 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER

 

Really?

And so it goes on a Saturday morning at the birdfeeder!

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by.

WHO IS TURNING UP AT THE FEEDERS?

After the concern of not seeing any birds for a few weeks with all the upheaval, things are slowly returning to normal. The House Finches arrive with great regularity.  

They are always welcome.

This one also.He wants to know if that is a problem. The frogs who are in a perpetual state of uncertainty, don't seem sure but I always say of course not!  Squirrel always says thank you, to me and to the frogs.  I tell him that good manners go a long way with me, and if he could perhaps not scoff all the birdseed, that would be lovely.  He said he will try but his inner greedy kicks in and he finds it difficult.  Just try I said.  I speak squirrel as you know, and I am aware that his inner greedy is a powerful force.Next, the Mourning Doves turn up. I always enjoy their soft cooing in the morning hours during the summer.  It is my soothing alarm clock to start the day, though I haven't heard them lately. Perhaps it is getting too cold.

Another House Finch arrived, this time at the birdbath.  It looks a young one, a juvenile I think.

The doves leave and more finches turn up. They are a bit messier...

but I will be handing out tiny brooms later.

Two other visitors were American Robins.  It was blogging friend Red - of Hiawatha House - who mentioned to me a while ago that they weren't actually robins at all, but part of the thrush family.  I am always grateful to Red for this interesting information.  Thanks Red!

Early colonial settlers named the American Robin for its resemblance to the familiar but unrelated European Robin, because both have a reddish-brown breast. At this link you can read more information.

Our Black-capped chickadee was next.  It picks up a morsel and flies up into the trees immediately afterwards.  Often hard to get a decent photo.

There were four of them in the space of half an hour, and they seemed to get on well with the smaller birds.  Perhaps because they only take one seed and disappear quickly.

I saw them at the top level, and the lower level of the feeders, and then at the birdbath.

Lovely little things, as is the American Goldfinch. He was a surprise as I thought he may have migrated south.  Perhaps he's just a little late. His feathers were more muted now that he is wearing his winter plumage. 

Incoming!  The Mourning Doves are back.  

I will finish with this last photo and show you more in another post.  In the meantime...

They make me smile these birds.  I am so glad they are back.  

A quote from David Attenborough:

"Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?"

Thank you for visiting, it is always lovely reading your comments.  I am a bit behind in returning visits again, but I'll get there.  Enjoy your day!

MEADOWLARK GARDENS, IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA - 9/14/23

First of all, a wedding scene. I blurred the faces and we were quite a distance away.  What I did want to see was this young bride's wedding dress, which I thought was charming.  I also liked the lady's outfit (groom's mother I'm assuming).  When we have been to the garden in the past, we have often seen a bride and groom having their photos taken.  Later as we walked back to the visitor center, the wedding party had moved on and we focused on the large chess set. This is a new addition since we last visited. 

The small pom-pom flowers are Globe amaranth but for the moment I am concentrating on the little bird I saw resting on the wooden framework, which I shared in yesterday’s post.

I didn't know until later in life how many kinds of sparrows there were.  I think perhaps this is a House Sparrow?  

I was able to take several photos and she was still resting when we continued our walk.

I took another photo of the Globe amaranth before we moved on.  It is very delicate.

The Panicled Hydrangeas were a bit passed their peak... 

but still very pretty...

with a few in full bloom.

and then there were the Red spider lilies, but more on them next time.

When we got home I noticed a Goldfinch making use of the bird bath.

The birds - and squirrels - seem to be enjoying it, not all at once thankfully.

The bird bath is a relatively new purchase.  It came as a kit with a fountain feature.  Once our feathered friends got used to the water shooting up in the air, I could see they were enjoying it.  They drink, they bathe, and sometimes they just like to perch to keep an eye on their surroundings.  It is solar.  When the sun is on the attachment, the fountain shoots water almost two feet up in the air.  If clouds appear it gets lower and finally when the sun goes in, it stops completely.  It gets cleaned and refilled daily.  

The birds are not the only ones it keeps entertained.  The woman inside with the camera has a lot of fun too.

More from the garden very soon.

Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you all 

A Very Happy Wednesday!