Monday, March 12, 2012

Backyard Birds

All of these images were taken within the last two weeks. I've taken so many bird pictures I need to use some of them. We had some bright warm days and it was good to see the red-winged blackbird make an appearance. The grackles have also returned. While I love their iridescent colors I do not enjoy the constant emptying of the feeder. To try and get them to move on I'm leaving this feeder empty for a couple of days. I have another spot closer to the house they don't seem to bother but the other birds enjoy. We'll see.Here the ever present cardinal and a junco share lunch.In the same week which was last week we had a quick snowfall that at sometimes was a whiteout as you can see from this shot. I think Mrs. Cardinal is voicing her dismay. Notice, doves aren't always ground feeders. At my house they don't wait for scrapes to fall they fly right up there and get their fair share.It was crowded everywhere on this day with all of them jostling for a space to eat.The male cardinals stayed nearby at the top of the pergola perched on the bare wisteria branches. Look closely and you'll see three females perched there as well but better hidden in their subdued colors.My favorite visitor of the week was this little guy who showed up on the snowy day and probably wondered how he had miscalculated his arrival time.
All of these are taken through my windows but I think if blogger cooperates you'll be able to click on them to make them larger to see more of the detail.

43 comments:

Colin said...

Oh Those cardinals! So rich and for such small birds, they look all power and glory. ( Are you listening Cardinal George Pell??) Sorry got carried away. ha ha!
That last little bird, sure looks lost. Do you know what it was?
You are so lucky to have all these magnificant birds visiting. Here - Zilch! Courtesy of those mongrel Indian Mynas and you know well what I think of them! Unprintable for a family blog!
Beautiful photos of your wildlife of the bird world.
Cheers
Colin,
Brisbane. Australia.

Jientje said...

I love all your multi colored visitors, you're so lucky to get them at your feeders.

TexWisGirl said...

i love all the cardinals clustered in that one shot. very nice! and your sweet little warbler pal!

Anonymous said...

Ohhh love the Cardinals... I see them, the 3 females =) They're all beautiful, but I love Cardinals! =)

Kim, USA said...

I like backyard birding. The birds are beautiful!

RT

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Carletta, Love seeing your backyard birds. We have almost the same ones here--but we have lots of woodpeckers also. Do you get woodpeckers at your feeders?

We are home from our 2nd trip is a month--and both of us have colds.. Yuk! Guess it will be REST for this upcoming week for both of us.

Hugs,
Betsy

Ralph said...

I like the iridescent look of the grackles too - I like that they eat mosquitoes, but they are very obnoxious (and thieves as well, as they have been caught in the act). Cardinals are lovely, and you have caught a female - they are so hard to see. Birds of any feather make wonderful subjects!

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

Carletta -- you really live in a birder's Paradise (I know you've made it one yourself!) All of those Cardinals -- just amazing to me (there aren't any in the Pacific Northwest, so they're still exotic to me)....I love every one of these pictures (and every one of the birds, except the grackle -- and it definitely is the best looking one of the few birds on my naughty list.)

George said...

I'm glad Blogger cooperated and allowed us to enlarge these pictures. You captured some great shots of your visitors. I really enjoyed your pictures of the red-winged blackbird and grackle since we rarely see them around here.

MarieElizabeth said...

A gorgeous variety of visitors you have!

lina@women's perspectives said...

Enjoying your wonderful bird photos!
Thanks for dropping by :)

Rose said...

Carletta, these are wonderful. Can't you just see the one with all the cardinals in the bush as a jigsaw puzzle?

Felisol said...

I'm totally breath taken and a trifle envious. Such gorgeous photos and what plenty and variety. All in your backyard!
WE don't have such wonders at our Nordic place. If I hear some nice evening song in the woods, I have never been able to spot the artists. This spring I have however had a double cataract operation on my eyes,( in Norwegian ironically called gray starling), and I have a hope of making a closer acquaintance with the local master singers the spring!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Great bunch of colourful, feathered characters! I did not know of a red winged blackbird! Such a dramatic sight! And love the last little yellow cutie!

Gattina said...

How sweet these featherballs !

DrillerAA09 said...

It's amazing to me how the cardinals seem to form a social group and hang out together. I could literally capture the same photo as yours, with six or seven male cardinals in a nearby tree, waiting their turn at the feeder. Nicely captured.

EJ said...

Beautiful birds, cardinal has always been my favorite bird of all times.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

You do like we, have a wide assortment of birds that frequent the feeders. Lucky we are.

CameraCruise said...

Great shots of your beautiful backyard birds!

Linda said...

Cardinals are my favourite bird. Lucky you capturing 4 in one photo. Lots of other birds are visiting your gardens too.

Anonymous said...

We'll still be here when you get more barn shots, we ain't goin nowhere...

boy, oh boy, how hick did that sound... you should hear my accent! ROFLMBO! =)

Unknown said...

Beautiful series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Bill S. said...

The snow seems to make the birds sit a little longer for pictures. Great series. Some are the same as we have here, but cardinals are not in the area.

theconstantwalker said...

I will never tire of seeing your wonderful birds.. they are so lovely to see..

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

You are blessed to have so many birds visiting your feeders! The cardinals, of course, are my favorites.

Mask of Red and Yellow

mick said...

Great photos and very nice to see so many birds around.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Lovely post and we too have had an abundance of Cardinals in our yard and at our feeders. I especially like your little visitor that arrived alone, soooo pretty!

eileeninmd said...

Hi Carletta, I always enjoy seeing lots of Cardinals. And the Pine Warbler is beautiful. I had a male Pine warbler here most of the winter. Lovely yardbirds and photos.

kayerj said...

wow1 what a sight.

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Beautiful photos.
I especially like the last one.

Regards and best wishes

FAB said...

Hi Carletta. Excellent series from thro' the window.

Jessica said...

beautiful birds especially the red ones :-) Visiting from Ruby Tuesdays 2, hope that you can return your red visit too.

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Cheryl said...

How lovely to have so many species visiting you.

lanie said...

really nice, i love bird do much..
visiting you from RT2 Hope you could visit me here Wifey Online Diary

A wondering star said...

You are lucky to have so many different birds to your feeding place.
Some also visit Norway!
Cardinals are so beautiful!

EG CameraGirl said...

Looks like your backyard is a perfect habitat for attracting birds!

Pat said...

Great shots of your yard birds. I love to hear the Red-winged Blackbird call.

joo said...

I love them all, but the second photo is GORGEOUS!!!!

Springman said...

Wonderful Carletta, a gorgeous depiction of the transition into spring!

Chronicles of Illusions said...

These are all just wonderful captures.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with you on the Grackle problem. I love them, but when it comes to their takeover of the feeders I chase them away! My Juncos seem to like finding their meals on the ground, I have yet to see one on a feeder.

gtyyup said...

I love those red Cardinals...wish we had them here. I remember them when I lived in AZ.

judi/Gmj said...

OMG! the redwinged blackbird is marked like Bolt!

I really miss the Cardinals, not here in the PNW. Thanks for sharing these bright spots of winter.