Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, April 3, 2009

Guess Who I Am????????


Look at the picture above---and see if you recognize this bird.....???? He came to my feeders yesterday. At first, I thought he was a chipmunk!!!! ha









Okay---here he is a little closer... He's the color of the Carolina Wren---but much larger. And look at that long tail.... I was curious --but couldn't figure it out YET. Do you know now?????







Now--you can see his face. That long beak made me think I knew... Do you know now???? He loved that suet---but these birds are ground-eaters and don't usually come to the feeders. AND---he's smaller than what I thought he should be.... Hmmmmmmm....







Now you can see his 'underside'...... The picture makes him look bigger than he really is... That's a small suet feeder---so you can get an idea of his size. This bird was about the size of a Cardinal. (Sorry for the picture quality. I was using my small camera --looking through the blinds, the window and the screen... SO--they came out better than I thought they would.)







He moved from the suet to the sunflower seed feeder... He didn't seem to like that as well. He loved that suet!!!! You know now what he is, don't you????? He's a Juvenile Brown Thrasher. I watched him when he left the feeder. He went to our neighbor's yard where there is a thick bush (apparently where he lives)... Later I saw two young ones---but I never did see Mom and Dad Thrasher. I'm sure Mom and Dad would tell their baby that he is a ground-eater---and should not go to the feeders!!!! I loved seeing him there though!!!! Do you ever have Thrashers at your feeders?







Besides the Thrasher, we are having many other birds at our feeders and in our yard. Mr and Mrs. House Finch were enjoying breakfast at the new feeder outside of our Computer Room window. Again--this one was taken through the window and screen. We had very few House Finches when our trillion Pine Siskins were here. I am so glad to see them now!!!







I took this picture of the male House Finch yesterday --after the Brown Thrasher left. (Have I mentioned how nice it is NOT to have so many Pine Siskins???? ha ha)







This female Goldfinch was also enjoying the new feeder in front. I am enjoying watching the birds eat at this feeder --when I am on the computer. We've had some gorgeous yellow male Goldfinch--but so far, we can't manage to get a picture of any of them. At the new feeder, we've seen both Goldfinch, House Finches, Tufted Titmice and Chickadees.







I'm going to make a 'birder' out of my husband yet!!!!! HE spotted this Eastern Towhee in a tree in our front yard. Luckily, he had his camera that day. We've seen them several times lately---but they don't come to the feeders.







Finally, here's another photo of one of our favorite birds, the male Cardinal. I can't wait 'til the Cardinals have babies.. Last year, Daddy brought the babies to the feeders and taught them how to eat. I remember seeing those precious babies, just shaking all over---as they learned to eat, and to be out here in the big ole' cruel world. Have a nice day and take time to enjoy the birds!!!


Hugs,

38 comments:

SmilingSally said...

I can see why the cardinal is your favorite; he's so beautiful.

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

What great pictures..the Trasher was on the tip of my tongue! I love how the Towhee moves when on the ground..it's almost like a bunny hop. ;0)

Stephanie

Kim said...

You got some really nice birds at your feeder. Love the thrasher and the towhee.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Neat photos from your yard. I would have never guessed that bird, ever. I love your Cardinal, just beautiful.

Jane said...

At I'm Downtown, we have pigeons. Isn't that exciting?? Alas, it will not always be like this....


Jane ;)

Jayne said...

How fun to see a Thrasher at your feeders! :c) Only you, Betsy! Lucky you! I'll add my name to the list of those happy the trillion siskins have gone on their merry little way. Whew.

Connie said...

I'm glad you put up that new feeder. I never tire of the bird pictures.

Susie said...

Thanks for sharing your birdies with us Betsy. I have never seen a brown thrasher in this yard. Use to all the time in GA. I haven't been feeding the birds lately. The brown headed blackbirds and redwing blackbirds are still invading everyones feeder. I hate not putting out seed but I am so tired of these birds.

Pigeon said...

I have never seen a Thrasher or an eastern Towhee around here. I wonder if they come this far north.

Loran said...

I love watching birds at the feeder too. They are hard to photograph, though, aren't they?

Shelley said...

I've never seen a thrasher but it's nice to see yours!! Great find! And that cardinal looks like he's giving you the sly eye!! Cute!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Very cute Betsy. I don't know many bird names...only the basics. HE is cute and misquided I suppose.

I saw some vultures this morning having breakfast...but I suppose that would not make a good post would it????

Connie said...

I enjoyed seeing all your bird visitors, Betsy. That cardinal is a beauty isn't he.

Beth said...

Great bird shots, Betsy! I love that baby thrasher--I wonder what Mama and Daddy Thrasher said to him when he got home? :-) Love the towhee shot, too. We've been hearing them around here, but haven't seen one yet.

Harriet said...

Wow! What wonderful pictures, as always. So glad to see the picture of the Eastern Towhee. I saw one of these at my feeder (or under it on the ground) this morning. I didn't know what kind it was and had not gotten around to getting my bird book out yet. The Cardinal's are my favorite birds also.

Meems said...

Hi Betsy,
Don't you just love this time of year when all the birds are feeding and nesting. Such a flurry of activity in the yard. You've got quite the array of species coming around. We don't have the thrashers in my yard or the house finch :-( I WISH that towhee would visit! But then not everyone has Sandhill Cranes and Peacocks sauntering through either. :-)
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Diane AZ said...

I've seen thrashers flinging seeds out of the feeder. We have curve-billed thrashers here. They look like your thrasher, similar bills and eyes, but gray feathers instead of brown. I like the curious expression on the cardinal's face!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

What an enjoyable post..if I had a bird feeder that I could watch while I blogged...ohhhh nnoooo...I'd have "blogger butt" soooooo bad...loved your photos....

Janie said...

We don't have brown thrashers or cardinals at our feeders, but we get plenty of house sparrows and goldfinch.
Great bird shots, Betsy!

Diane said...

You're blessed with so many beautiful birds, there, Betsy. Thanks for sharing them. Some I will never see here.

Dave's Bird Watching Blog said...

We do get some brown thrashers up on our seed plate. I like their bright yellow eye color!

Becca's Dirt said...

Betsy you have some great bird shots. I loved all of them. I just reckon I'm gonna have to get me some bird books and put out more feeders. Good camera work. Have a good weekend.

Rose said...

I cannot even remember the last time I saw a brown thrasher....

Deborah Godin said...

Always good birding at your place, Betsy! And my particular fave, too - big bright red cardinal!!

amelia said...

Beautiful pictures!

I'm interested in knowing how you keep the bird suet from melting in the heat. I usually take mine in till the winter because it drips everywhere!!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Betsy it is so gooed to see the variety of birds coming to your feeders.
Blessings,Ruth

Pat - Arkansas said...

Nice post, Betsy, and great photos. I guessed at Brown Thrasher at the second photo. I had a big adult Thrasher knock itself out cold by darting into my picture window where the cats were sitting. I thought it had broken its neck and was dead, but after about 15 minutes, it turned over and staggered to its feet, then about 10 minutes later flew off.

Leedra said...

I was proud of myself, I knew the Brown Thrasher before you told us. I have only seen one. Nice post of all the flowers.

Leedra’s Photos For Fun

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Photography By Leedra

Sunny said...

Wow, Betsy! These are very wonderful pictures of the birds. :)

You sure are excited!! I am like that too, when I see and hear the Florida Mocking bird.

They are'nt around hardly at all in the wintertime.

Have a great weekend. :)

EG CameraGirl said...

You have some wonderful birds at your feeder! I've never heard of a thrasher so I'm going to have to look them up. ;-)

Wendy said...

I've never heard of a thrasher either. I thought you were going to say a road-runner, with that long tail! Guess that shows how much I know. LOL!
All of your bird pics are lovely. I didn't realize the male and female finch were different in colour. See? Ya learn good things every day.
Hugs

Femin Susan said...

Lucky you! For seeing all sort of birds. I enjoyed reading your post.
Cheers!

Tina said...

Betsy,
Wow listen to you...whipping off all those photos and describing all those birds!! This was a wonderful post Betsy..all those different type of birds at your feeders..how jealous I am of you and Geo. That thrasher is gorgeous and oh I would love to see a towhee in my back yard!!!

Great post!!

Elenka said...

Nope, no thrashers. Chicadees, cardinals, and blue jays mostly.

Unknown said...

We have a cardinal that keeps tapping at our window. Not at us ... but his reflection!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Yes we have had some visit us. I love the early morning when all is quite, you can sit outside and enjoy all that God has given us in nature. Have a great weekend...m

Anonymous said...

We still have some pine siskins. They are showing much more yellow these days.

What fun to see some new birds on the block. The thrasher would have been cool to watch for me. I see thrashers occasionally in California, but I have never seen one here in western Washington.

Mary said...

Wonderful birds! My Thrashers haven't shown up yet. I'm getting so I can guess what is going to arrive here next, by what you have now :-) That Towhee is lovely, too.