Spring is playing hide and seek with us this week. You'd think by now in the Deep South that we would have beautiful weather, but no. I had to turn the heater on in the house and my hands at this moment are stiff and cold. I really shouldn't complain too much; we are enjoying colorful blooms, and the oppressive heat and humidity will be suffocating us soon enough. Here are some birds that have been eating like hungry pigs in our yard this week. Maybe the cold weather is causing them to eat more because I seriously cannot keep the feeders filled. Within a couple of hours they're empty.
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| Blue Jay - the backyard bully |
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We have two hummers now - a Ruby Throat and this one. It might be Anna's or a Black-chinned.
I love how his eyes are closed and his tongue is sticking out. |
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Happy to report we have high numbers of American Goldfinch - at least a dozen or more.
I purchased this feeder to attract Baltimore Orioles. There are three cups that you fill with jelly.
I gave up on the jelly and filled the cups with seed. The Goldfinches have taken it over and that's okay with me. |
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House Finch
(the white-ish color in the background that looks like a cross is the fence for the baseball field) |
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| European Starling |
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| Downy Woodpecker |
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| Carolina Wren. |
I see a return trip to Lake Martin in my immediate future. According to a birding list I subscribe to, there are at least 200 Roseate Spoonbills nesting right now. I'm sure Double D will fall all over himself with excitement when I deliver the news to him as soon as he arrives on Saturday from his 500 mile business trip. :/ If he declines to take me this weekend, I can always go visit the owlets. Y'all have a good one. See ya next week!
laughing at your comment about Double D. :) good luck with that!
ReplyDeleteLOVED the brilliant blue jay! and the starling is gorgeous!!! love the pert little wren and sweet goldfinches, too.
and i celebrated our 2 cold days here with fires in the fireplace. today was back to 70 so it won't last for you very long. :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots and such a nice variety of birds you have right in your own yard! I'm so jealous, lol!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the seeds being gone in a couple of hours. That happens here daily. I fill them once a day in the morning and that's it. Otherwise I'd be flat broke feeding my little piglets, ha!
What a glorious array of bird species...I especially like your capture of the Blue Jay!
ReplyDeletea couple hours? oh my! they're starvin marvins! hehehe
ReplyDeleteThey are eating you out of house and home. Bird food is not inexpensive at that rate. These are all great, and I hate to say it, but that Starling is so pretty. I know they aren't usually the favorite bird. Every time you post, I'm convinced to order myself the 100-400mm lens with an extender. So far, I've been able to resist.
ReplyDeleteGail, these are amazing!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done.
It's snowing here tonight. Pretty unusual for this time of year even in my part of Canada. You got some gorgeous shots! That little hummer is sweet. It's the Starlings not the Jays that are the bullies in my yard. I can't help but admire the Starlings colouration though!
ReplyDeleteAmazing shots. Look at the design on the backyard bully!
ReplyDeleteGail! I love the first blue (piggy) jay! Isn't it magnificent that a bird that can be that color? Too bad his personality doesn't match his looks. hahahahaha. Have a great weekend, my dear!
ReplyDeleteDid you take these in my backyard? LOL! No hummingbirds here yet, though. Love that shot! These are all beautiful photos! Great colors! I'm having the opposite problem...I want to use up seed, but the action has slowed way down here. I can't give it away right now.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens, these are gorgeous! I'm in love with the photos of the blue jay and starling...the colors are spectacular. Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou have som many beautiful bird visitors Gail, none the same as we see. I hope they stay around as the weather warms up, but hopefully not eating so much of your feed!
ReplyDeleteLovely little birds....
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week-end !
Pierre
Nice set of pictures - I do like the bluejay.
ReplyDeleteI can deal with no internet - but painfully slow access is worse than none at all!!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne, Australia
These are all so bright and cheerful. Love them all.
ReplyDeleteIf Double D's like my hub, he's going to be beyond himself with happiness, LOL. Your great photos are increasing my longing for spring. Not much here in VA. My poor tulips don't know what to do.
ReplyDeleteChuckled when I read you don't like Italian food. Our godson is Italian. He doesn't like it either. When asked why, he just shrugs. I, on the other hand, absolutely adore a simple basil sauce made from fresh tomatoes. It's to die for!
Have a great week!
If Double D's like my hub, he's going to be beyond himself with happiness, LOL. Your great photos are increasing my longing for spring. Not much here in VA. My poor tulips don't know what to do.
ReplyDeleteChuckled when I read you don't like Italian food. Our godson is Italian. He doesn't like it either. When asked why, he just shrugs. I, on the other hand, absolutely adore a simple basil sauce made from fresh tomatoes. It's to die for!
Have a great week!
Wow, Gail! Your photos took my breath away! The Blue Jay is stunning and I really like the European Starling - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am always so blessed when I visit you, thank you, my friend.
Hugs,
Stephanie
What a great set of images. You're so right about the blue jay being the backyard bully. Your skil with a camera even makes that pesky starling look beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteI am in love with your little pigs...oh my they are all so very beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteHungry little chippers- they are so adorable.
ReplyDeleteSo many great birds and shots. I haven't seen any goldfinches this year yet. I may not get to if they keep going this spring.
ReplyDeletethe colors of these birds are stunningly vivid. I have never seen a European Starling ever!
ReplyDeleteRosemary Abut has some pictures on her blog of the spoonbills that you talk about.
Hope you get to go on your trip.
The Blue Jay may be a bully, but OH MY!! Look at the incredible pattern of color on his wings!! (ok, I admit, I LOOOVE the color blue so maybe I'm a bit biased!)
ReplyDeleteWonderful array of birds...our woodpeckers continue to amaze and amuse with a few new birds, robins and bluebirds. But the temps are cold here so not much else right now.
ReplyDeleteYour colors Gail are so vivid - on the black bird!! they just pop out and on the gold finch!!
ReplyDeleteAlways lovely!!
We can barely keep up with our feeders!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could pick a favourite,but then I don't have to. The Starling is amazingly colourful.
ReplyDelete#1 and 4 are my favorites.. wow wee photos..
ReplyDeleteHUgs
Well my sweet friend you photos have me smiling once again. The colors on that blue jay look like someone painted them on they are so vibrant. And you know I just adore that little hummer.. So cute..
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Wow.. all beauties but I love how you picked up the colours in that starling. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHello Gail!
ReplyDeleteI already am a member of your beautiful blog and although I have little time to write many comments, I have to admit these last posts are fantastic!
Your birds and your flowers are a must!
Congratulations!
Oh Gail those feeders are worth every penny to get shots like these! Loving the House Finch especially! No, no, I like the Carolina Wren better. No, no I like the....
ReplyDeleteLOVE THEM ALL!!!
It sounds like your having similar weather to us Gail with no sign of proper Spring. At least its giving you lots of photo opportunities though. Brilliant shot of the Blue Jay and I'd love to see some of your Goldfinches around here as a change from ours.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting-looking hummingbird. I have never seen that species. As always, I love the Goldfinch pics :)
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful set of photos. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteHa, funny... I was actually thinking for a moment I would be seeing some pig pics! I was going to pick out a favorite but I can't. All are excellent!!
ReplyDeleteThose are so gorgeous...every bird is perfect. Even the starling, not high on my list of likes, is beautiful with those red berries. But the hummer is my favorite just because I love them and I'm sure I'll never get a good picture of one and yours are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAnd yardbirds can be pigs this time of year especially!
Espectaculares imágenes, son unas aves muy coloridas!! Excelentes todas tus fotos.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos desde Argentina.
I love the beauty of the Blue Jay (Even if they can be kinda mean sometimes!)Thank you for letting us see a God's creation close up!
ReplyDeleteQue fotografias mas bonitas..preciosas tomas Saludos desde Cnary Islands
ReplyDeleteThe birds are beautifully coloured. It sure looks like spring to me!
ReplyDeleteWhat awesome catches you have my dear. That first one - did you see the small patter of well I guess blocks on his back? Wonderful. sandie
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are marvelous! Hope your birding trip is great fun.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing collection, Gail! I love all the wonderful colors - just what I needed on this grey and rainy day!
ReplyDelete