Friday, April 5, 2013

Our Little Pigs

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.
Blue Jay - the backyard bully

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.

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.


House Finch
(the white-ish color in the background that looks like a cross is the fence for the baseball field)

European Starling

Downy Woodpecker

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!

46 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

laughing at your comment about Double D. :) good luck with that!

LOVED the brilliant blue jay! and the starling is gorgeous!!! love the pert little wren and sweet goldfinches, too.

TexWisGirl said...

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. :)

Gone Country said...

Gorgeous shots and such a nice variety of birds you have right in your own yard! I'm so jealous, lol!

I 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!

Anonymous said...

What a glorious array of bird species...I especially like your capture of the Blue Jay!

Anonymous said...

a couple hours? oh my! they're starvin marvins! hehehe

Amy Burzese said...

They 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.

Lisa Gordon said...

Gail, these are amazing!
Beautifully done.

Karen said...

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!

hootnonny said...

Amazing shots. Look at the design on the backyard bully!

renae said...

Gail! 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!

Brian King said...

Did 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.

Tricia said...

Good 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!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

You 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!

Pierre BOYER said...

Lovely little birds....
Enjoy your week-end !

Pierre

Stewart M said...

Nice set of pictures - I do like the bluejay.

I can deal with no internet - but painfully slow access is worse than none at all!!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne, Australia

Cindy said...

These are all so bright and cheerful. Love them all.

Kittie Howard said...

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.

Chuckled 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!

Kittie Howard said...

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.

Chuckled 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!

Stephanie said...

Wow, Gail! Your photos took my breath away! The Blue Jay is stunning and I really like the European Starling - beautiful!

I am always so blessed when I visit you, thank you, my friend.

Hugs,
Stephanie

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

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. :)

Deanna said...

I am in love with your little pigs...oh my they are all so very beautiful!!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Hungry little chippers- they are so adorable.

Anonymous said...

So 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.

Charlotte Wilson said...

the colors of these birds are stunningly vivid. I have never seen a European Starling ever!
Rosemary Abut has some pictures on her blog of the spoonbills that you talk about.
Hope you get to go on your trip.

Starla said...

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!)

Donna said...

Wonderful 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.

Suzan said...

Your colors Gail are so vivid - on the black bird!! they just pop out and on the gold finch!!
Always lovely!!

Patrice said...

We can barely keep up with our feeders!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I don't know if I could pick a favourite,but then I don't have to. The Starling is amazingly colourful.

Anonymous said...

#1 and 4 are my favorites.. wow wee photos..
HUgs

Unknown said...

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..

Hugs~

Hilary said...

Wow.. all beauties but I love how you picked up the colours in that starling. Wonderful!

Noushka said...

Hello Gail!
I 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!

Rosemary Aubut said...

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....
LOVE THEM ALL!!!

Phil Slade said...

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.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

What an interesting-looking hummingbird. I have never seen that species. As always, I love the Goldfinch pics :)

Anonymous said...

Another wonderful set of photos. So pretty.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Ha, 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!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Those 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.

And yardbirds can be pigs this time of year especially!

Silvina Soave said...

Espectaculares imágenes, son unas aves muy coloridas!! Excelentes todas tus fotos.
Abrazos desde Argentina.

Stephani Cochran said...

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!

Berto Garcia said...

Que fotografias mas bonitas..preciosas tomas Saludos desde Cnary Islands

EG CameraGirl said...

The birds are beautifully coloured. It sure looks like spring to me!

Chatty Crone said...

What 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

Linda said...

Your pictures are marvelous! Hope your birding trip is great fun.

Rosie Grey said...

This is such an amazing collection, Gail! I love all the wonderful colors - just what I needed on this grey and rainy day!