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...

Thursday, February 11, 2010

February Backyard Birds


I thought it was time (HA) for some more bird photos. As every birder will tell you, when the weather is bad, the birds FLOCK to the feeders. Here are some pictures taken this week. The picture above is always a favorite, one of our beautiful Bluebirds. Isn't this a beautiful male?? How does he stay so pretty in this horribly cold and snowy weather???? Below are a few more.





Not to be outshined, here is the "Missus" in the family... Mrs. Bluebird is also pretty, don't you think????





Isn't this a great picture of one of our little Carolina Wrens??? We don't have many --but they are at the feeders off and on all day--especially when the weather is 'rotten'.. (Even though you can still see the screen, this is one of our better pictures through the computer room window. George captured this one for me.)






I love Goldfinches ---and couldn't resist sharing this precious picture with you. We have more Goldfinches than anything else this winter--and sometimes, there are as many as 35-50 finches on and around the feeders at the same time. (There are still not as many as the 100+ Pine Siskins we had last year.)






We don't have too many House Finches --but the ones we have are very pretty.





This is the first picture I have ever gotten of this cute little BROWN bird... This is a Song Sparrow ---and these little guys can REALLY sing!!!!





I love these little White-breasted Nuthatches. We have many of them---but they are hard to photograph since they dart in, grab, and then dart out!!!!!!






I saved this one 'til last --because this little House Finch was giving me 'the LOOK'.... Is this a 'bird with attitude'--or what?????? ha

Hope everyone is safe ---and I hope that this horrible weather across the country will finally move OUT for good!!!!

Hugs,

52 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: That was such a nice set of birds. I do love the bluebirds and wish I had them. The deer emptied the feeder last night, I guess it wasn't aliens.

T said...

Your pictures make me want to start feeding the birds again - but the squirrels are so ruthless! They not only eat the food, but destroy the feeders!

Beth said...

Wonderful bird shots, Betsy! You are putting that new camera to good use! We have a lot of goldfinches this year, too. We don't have a feeder (too many bears in the area), but we still have seeds in our dead coneflowers, which they really seem to love.

Darla said...

What a great variety of birds Betsy! Those Nuthatches are fast aren't they? I do wonder what that Finch was thinking, lol!

pam said...

We don't have many bluebirds. I don't think they like Patchouli.

~mel said...

Your bird shots are wonderful! I like the one with attitude ... maybe he's just a grumpy old man... thinking back to the days when he could fly on to your feeder and there weren't all those young birds around to contend with.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Betsy, the pictures are so vivid I feel as if I could reach out and touch their little feathers !
Just fantastic !
I love the obe with the attitude, he looks as if he's been around awhile ;)

Busy Bee Suz said...

Oh, you got the 'look' alright...that look was: "Stop invading our privacy, woman"
I just want a flock of bluebirds for my very own...they are so darn cute. How can I do that though? I bet they make terrible pets. :0

diane b said...

The blue birds are just so pretty. I don't understand how they can tolerate the cold. The temps in your side bar are terrible. Keep warm and have fun watching those beautiful birds.

Cedar ... said...

So THAT's where our bluebirds go in the winter! This year they got fooled, eh Betsy? :)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Betsy, I hope you get some card stock and print these wonderful photos as cards for your friends...they're so prettty!!!

Small City Scenes said...

The Bluebirds are so pretty. We have the Western Bluebird--a little different than the Eastern---but I have yet to see one.
Thanks for the sweet birdies. MB

Susie said...

Betsy these are great pics. Thanks so much for sharing your birdies with us. Those bluebirds are my favorites!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Yes! Awesome bird pictures! Hands down my two favorites are the Carolina Wren and the Nuthatch. Because we just don't get them. I've never seen a close up photo of a Carolina Wren, so what a delight to see it,I didn't know they had so much pretty yellow. And I did not notice the screen till you mentioned it, my eyes were all for the bird. The nuthatch shot is amazing. I've only seen one maybe once or twice. They climb dowm the trees headfirts! The finch with the attitude is a scream! Phil just took the screen out of the kitchen door and cleaned the glass. We have a large lilac bush right there a few steps from the door. This way I can take bird pictures from the kitchen door without opening it and scaring them away. I'm looking forward to the first birds.

Sunny said...

Your birdie pictures are amazing, the little Bluebird is precious. I really need a new camera!
Enjoy your day.
Sunny :)

Janice K said...

You have such a "colorful" variety of birds for you and your "new camera" to enjoy. Great closeups!

Roses and Lilacs said...

The song sparrows are one of my favorites too. For such a little guy, he makes a BIG song.

I don't have nearly as many house finches as I used to. The eye thing probably.
Marnie

Connie said...

Such great pictures, Betsy! I love that first one of the bluebird--so pretty! The last one with attitude really made me laugh too. HA! He's really giving you a look!

Peggy said...

I just love seeing your birds! Mine are slowly finding the feeder. Am going to hang another one tomorrow along with a suet.

D said...

Oh Betsy, I love the birds! In fact we just bought a house for the bluebirds and I hope and pray we can attract them. It looks like a lot of rain for us over the next few days so few birds are being seen.

Rose said...

What a sight that must be to see all those goldfinches...and that sure is a bird with attitude.

Dorothy said...

Betsy, Isn't bird watching fun!!!!
You have quite a variety of them! We have more Goldfinches than anything else and they are beginning to get their bright yellow feathers! Have a happy day!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

That Finch really does have attitude,and of all the nerve to give you such a look.:) Beautiful pictures,I love them.
Have a fabulous day.
Blessings,Ruth

carolina nana said...

EXCELLENT PICTURES,YOU MUST BE ENJOYING THE NEW CAMERA AND THE PICS ARE GREAT. HOPE YOU DIDN'T GET TOO MUCH SNOW YESTERDAY,WE JUST GOT VERY HIGH WINDS BUT I HONESTLY THOUGHT LAST NIGHT WE WOULD BLOW AWAY HAVE A BLESSED DAY MARILYN

Unknown said...

Betsy you are certainly putting the new camera to excellent use, these are wonderful shots. The birds add a welcome shot of colour at this time of the year. Stay warm.

MadSnapper said...

they are all beautiful, I like the little brown bird and the house finch because i have never seen one of those. I am enjoying all the birds in your post, a learning and enjoyalbe expericence

The Retired One said...

I loved the bird pictures, especially the bluebird one..we don't have them here and they are gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful birds and I have them all here too except not the bluebirds and I am still wishing.

Jo said...

Betsy;) everyone of the birds was more beaitiful than the last and is something. I just LOVE the Song sparrow. THanks for sharing (((Hugs))) Jo

The Blonde Duck said...

Popped in from Katherine's to say hi! I love the cute little birds!

Big Dude said...

You are a really good bird photogapher.

EG CameraGirl said...

I'm jealous of how many birds you are seeing in your yard right now. :-)

LV said...

You really must have a great camera to capture such bird pictures. They are super good. Thanks for my comment and your interest in my name. Sorry to say when I could have learned where my mother got my name, I was not interested. Now that I am older, I wish I had asked. So many people ask me the same thing. All I can think off, I came into this world screaming and she name the voice. I lost my mother much too soon, but I had my grandmother on her side, to live until she was 98.

Jen said...

Your pictures are great Betsy!! Now that I work from home and especially now with winter time, i am so grateful for the birding hobby.
You have also thought me a lot from some of the thing you say; it makes meI start watching for in my birds.
So --Thanks! I just just have to wait for spring for my Blue Birds to come back tho, they don't seem to hang around here for this delightful winter. ha

Mary said...

Great feeder shots, Betsy! The birds are so hungry and cold looking right now, I feel guilty if I don't have plenty of food for them. Love seeing the House Finch...I had one yesterday, but that has been it for the winter so far. I used to have a lot of them. My Bluebirds stopped by again, too. I sure hope they stick around until spring and beyond.

Diane AZ said...

Wow, gorgeous birds! The Carolina Wren and Song Sparrow are so sweet and I love the look the House Finch is giving you!

Cheryl said...

Such wonderful photos of the birds. I do love bluebirds but haven't seen any this winter. They must be content visiting with you! Today was nice, 30s and the snow melted a little. We are headiing in the right direction! Have a wonderful weekend.

imac said...

Looks like you have been busy with your paint brush Betsy,lol.
Beautifully coloured birds

EcoRover said...

Funny how the populations of various bird species shift so much from year to year. The song sparrow is my favorite--I am sometimes stopped dead in my tracks as my heart soars at their song.

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hello Betsy,

What sweet birds..:0) Those bluebirds and the wren are just adorable, aren't they!?

I wound up with a few inches of snow by this morning but it's all but gone now with the temps going higher today.

Have a great day,
Stephanie

Lola said...

Great pics Betsy. I sure wish we had some of the Blue Birds here. I think they are so pretty.
I hope your weather will improve shortly so you 2 can explore more water falls. Love to see those.
Cold here for this time of yr. Below freezing this A.M. & the weekend doesn't look any better.
Spring is coming.

Wendy said...

Oh Betsy - you are so talented with your camera! Those birds looked so cute! And I'm sure they were hard to photograph, since they don't stop to pose for you. LOL!

Spring is just around the corner. Can't wait for the flowers to come up.

Diane said...

I love your bird shots, Betsy. The colors are beautiful.

Diane said...

I love your bird shots, Betsy. The colors are beautiful.

Meems said...

It is fascinating to watch the birds. I have one bird feeder only a few feet from a front window where I sit to blog often. I always wish the window wasn't there so I could take photos of the activity that goes on in full view. But if the wall and window weren't there ... they probably wouldn't be either.

Very nice photos of some really colorful birds. I hope you all are staying snug and cozy up there this Valentine's weekend.
Meems

Cookie said...

The goldfinch is my favorite. I like how he's giving you "the eye".

Catherine said...

So many beautiful birds. I wish we had lots of lovely birds like this all through the winter ~ but we don't. :(

But glad I can come here and see some. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos!

Joy said...

Great pictures. You are inspiring me to want to start filling my bird feeder. I always fight the squirrels though.
Tell George to take your screens off the windows until you want to use them in the spring and fall so you can get better pictures. But they are good even with the screen though. They always act like they are posing for you.
♥ Joy

Kirigalpoththa said...

So many variety of birds! :)

Unknown said...

That last one does look like she's up to something ...

tattytiara said...

Wow you know your birds! Yes, that Carolina Wren shot is absolutely precious. Great tour of the locals over all, actually!

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh Betsy, I love it when you post photo of the little birds. They are all so cute but my favorites are the Bluebirds. And the House Finch does seem to have an attitude.