Wild Bird Wednesday: At The Feeder

This weeks backyard visitors.

~ as seen through the sunroom window

Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch

Cardinal

Blue Jay

Posted for Wild Bird Wednesday.

Feathered Friends in Ruby Attire

(Click to Enlarge)

Ruby Tuesday seems the perfect time to begin a little blogging again. For those of you waiting for a new Lily and Lucy pic I promise it's coming soon. If you're wondering where I've been I unfortunately got sick during my visit and had to prolong my trip back home. I'm still not quite myself but I feel much better than I have in a couple of weeks.

On to the rubies above. I took this a couple of days before I left. This was taken through my sunroom window as I watched all the varieties of birds that showed up that day. I was excited to see the cardinal couple be joined by the red-bellied woodpecker. Their bright reds make lovely rubies don't you think?

An added bonus the same day was the cardinal being joined by the red-winged blackbird. Just a moment before the cardinal was perched calmly on the edge of the feeder when the red wing landed on the other side causing the cardinal to lose balance as the feeder swayed. I had been clicking continously and by luck caught the flurry of wings and tail feathers.

Wishing you all a Ruby day!

For more Ruby Tuesday join Mary here.

Ruby Tuesday: Mouthful of Seeds

I took this through my sunroom window so the image is a little grainy when you enlarge it but if you do you can see the cardinal has just about all he can eat crammed in that little orange beak.

For more Ruby Tuesday join Mary here.

Thursday's Nature Notes

Sky Watch is here: Carletta's Captures

Michelle of Rambling Woods has started a new meme called Nature Notes. In her words Michelle states "I’d really like to know how my blogger friends observe about nature. Post a photo..a poem..artwork or a few words about what you see, how you felt and maybe something you hadn’t paid any attention to before."

It was a beautiful day in my world Tuesday morning. The sun was shining brightly through the sliding glass doors in my sunroom where I do my blogging. I decided to open them up and let the fresh air blow in through the screen door. I could hear the wind whistle through the trees in the nearby woods.
As I sat visiting my favorite bloggers I heard the distinctive sound of nature calling - singing actually. It was a cardinal and the first I had heard this year. I had been watching them all winter but with the house closed up to the cold I hadn't heard them sing. I wondered where he was and glanced first out my sunroom window toward the bird feeder. There above it in the oak tree sat a cardinal. I grabbed my camera and started focusing through the glass. I wasn't sure if he was the one until I watched him singing away and I snapped the photo. I tried to get his mouth open but by the time I snapped each time he had stopped.

Not minutes later I was at Michelle's blog and read of her new endeavor and decided this would be my first post in her new meme. Later still while waiting for Hubs at the hardware store I started thinking about what to write and was hoping a poem might come to mind. The following is my attempt written on an old envelope I found in Hubs truck as I waited. It was a quick write and isn't Emily Dickinson but it's what I got.

The Cardinal Sings

He sat stately in the tree.

His voice I heard

Filtering down to me.

All winter I had watched him

Feeding on the seeds

There beneath the oak.

Here now he greeted me.

How did he know my needs?

I listened as he spoke.

Spring is here.

Oh, the joy

Oh, the hope.

Go by and check out others who are participating. Click the badge in my post and it will take you to Michelle's where you can find the rules. I'm sure you'll want to join in. Tell Michelle I sent you.

Camera Critters The Cardinals and The Hawks

For my critter post this week I chose to share some of my feathered friends I found lurking in the past week. You'll need to enlarge all of them for best viewing. When you've finished browsing here join Misty by clicking on the badge to see other Camera Critter posts. You never know what you'll see.

I wonder how cold it felt sitting on that metal in 25 degree weather yesterday!
The cardinals filling up before the storm.

I believe this is a Cooper's Hawk. As I was leaving one day I saw him in the branches and parked farther up the road and tried walking back. He was still a little too far for my zoom lens but enlarge and take a look.

The sun came out yesterday and I saw this guy's shadow in the snow as he flew over the bird feeder. I think he too is a Cooper's Hawk. Again, a little far but if you enlarge this you'll get a much better view. It was a joy to see him against a blue sky after the snow storm.

Remember to click the badge at the top for more critter fun!

Camera Critters: A Cardinal Story

(Enlarge images for best viewing.)

Sometimes I like to sit up in the branches and just survey what's going on down below.

Sometimes I get the munchies and fly down to the ground for a seed or two.

I especially like hanging out in this flowerbed underneath my human's feeder. Why you ask?
Because you never know who you might meet. Look at her isn't she gorgeous!!!

Most days though I just feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.

For more Camera Critters please visit Misty by clicking on the badge at the top of my post. You never know what you'll see.

Camera Critters: A Menagerie In The Snow

It was snowing and very overcast last Saturday when I stopped by a park on the Ohio River. I knew I was a little too far from this guy to get a clear shot but it was worth it to me to just point and shoot!

I love how the red cardinals show up so colorful in the snow. We had gotten about an inch last Saturday night. On Sunday this little guy was actually pushing the food to the ground below the feeder. Why?

The Mrs. and friends just so happened to be underneath. I have watched these two for weeks and he always seems to watch out for her. I've even seen them sitting on the branches and 'kissing'.

She did take her turn however! So dutiful!

I know - more deer! But, I had to show you 'A Buck and His Harem.'

This is almost three inches of fresh snow from Friday afternoon.

Alphabet Photo Challenge - "R"Camera-Critters Sunday

Alphabet Photos Challenge is hosted by Quilly.

Camera-Critters Sunday is hosted by Misty.

This is a single Rose from an Easter bouquet.

I took this Red Cardinal back in late April when the oak tree was just beginning to bud. You can tell from his puffed up feathers that it was a very cool day.

Do you think he knew I was watching him and turned to pose for me?

Watch the Birdies!!!

Mr. Blue Jay actually posed long enough to get his photo taken. He is such a flighty bird!

Mr. Robin listening for his lunch.

Mr. Cardinal tries to hide behind the yucca plant. I see you!

This Blue Jay fell for the old throw out a piece of bread trick!

Maybe, just maybe, this little Robin had too many worms!

More Glimpses Around the Yard

Yesterday I spotted a cardinal in my backyard. I think there is a nest in my wisteria vines; so I'm keeping my distance so as not to disturb him and his mate. By the way, did you know the cardinal was named by early American settlers after the Catholic Cardinals who wear bright robes of red?

The sun tried so hard to shine; but rarely

peeked through the gray clouds.

This pic is an I SPY for you. Can you find the fellow from my post a few days ago? At least he looks like the same little woodpecker who had so much trouble hanging on in the snow. On this day he wasn't having as much trouble finding his

lunch!

More blooms! The crocus seem to be having a hard time popping up with all that tangled mess in my flower beds.

Having moved in the summer I hadn't seen the spring blossoms.

What a lovely surprise on a dreary day!

The birds are out, the rain is sprinkling, and the blooms are emerging from the earth ~ it might as well be Spring!!!