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...

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Backyard Birds

Here are some new pictures I took recently of some of our cute little backyard birds.  The picture above is a little dark (since they are in the shadows) but this is a frequent happening on our deck during the summer... Daddy Birds (usually the Daddy's are the ones who teach them to eat) come and feed their babies ---and teach them how to feed themselves.   The picture above shows a Daddy Northern Cardinal (on the right) feeding one of his little ones... Note that the little ones are sometimes as big or bigger than the parents...  The parents fatten them up --and then teach them to feed themselves.




Looks like a young Northern Yellow-Shafted Flicker Woodpecker




One of our many Blue Jays



One of our young Red-bellied Woodpeckers at the plate feeder



A young Red-headed Woodpecker who doesn't have his pretty colors yet



An Adult Red-headed Woodpecker --beginning to molt




 
A new one for me!!!!  This is a Red-bellied Woodpecker on the left and a Red-headed Woodpecker on the right on my suet feeder at the same time.  I was just SO excited to see this.  They usually come one at a time.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"NO----you cannot come into our yard and eat our Roses."
Since I didn't have a new picture of one of our Pileated Woodpeckers to show you today,  I showed you a recent picture of one of our neighborhood deer.  I'm not sure he's the one who ate our Roses this last week---but if he is,  then I say "Shame on him!"

Hope you enjoyed seeing more of my gorgeous backyard birds today..

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,

Betsy

48 comments:

Ms. A said...

I enjoy seeing anything in your yard!

Beth said...

I enjoyed this so much---your excitement and joy flows through the internet! Such adorable birds.

My daughter is struggling with feeding her 6 month old cereal. Abby will put her foot in her mouth right after the spoonful of cereal or her fingers and then of course the foot and fingers have to fling cereal or touch hair! Looks like Papa Cardinal is having an easier time of it!;>)

Beautiful deer, but I wouldn't want her eating my roses either, no matter how lovely she is!

Unknown said...

your photos made me feel like I birdwatched too.

eileeninmd said...

Hi Betsy, I just love all your woodpeckers. I would love to see the Redhead woodie in my yard. You do see some great birds in your yard. The deer is a cutie. Great photos.

diane b said...

The second pic, the one of the woodpecker is lovely. I like his eye.

Big Dude said...

Your yard must be a giant aviary - I like the cardinal shot. The deer seem to have their favorite food, even with plenty of grass and such all around, they'll go for it.

penny said...

I love seeing the variety of birds and other critters who come to visit your beautiful yard, Betsy.. they are lucky to have you for a neighbor.
Hugs,
Pam

Snap said...

Beautiful feathered friends and a furry one -- even if it ate your roses!!!!

Harriet said...

Beautiful birds!

Ruth Hiebert said...

You have such colourful birds visiting your feeders.Right now I am happy to see a Blue Jay now and then.For now I will enjoy your birds,mine will be back again soon.It seems there is always a period when I see very few birds on my yard.

Beth said...

I always enjoy your bird posts, Betsy, but I especially love these shots of young ones! I've never seen a baby flicker before---what a cutie.

You really do have such a wonderful variety eating at your bountiful bird cafe--thanks for sharing them with us.

MadSnapper said...

love the deer.. and this is my first time to see a yellow flicker. they are all adorable and sweet and pretty, and my only opportunity to see all these birds

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

What gorgeous birds - you got some really wonderful photos! With all the birds and roses, I think I'd like your yard! ;-)

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely pictures.The birds there seem to have a different molt than around here. They loose a lot more at once.

You are right about my liking to fish. I used to have a broken pocket watch I found, that I would say it told me when to stop and go home.I catch quite a few, but don't take them home hoping to catch them again.

Birdman said...

Lots of different winged friends, I guess.

TexWisGirl said...

SO cute. love all those youngsters learning the tools of the trade!

Christine said...

Love all those woodpeckers Betsy! We have lots of cardinals here but I never see the young ones.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Your yard is a little paradise, with all your flora and fauna. It would be tempting to become a hermit in a setting like that. :)

Unknown said...

Hi Betsy! My new job kept me travelling to China --- which is blogspot-blocked. I can't open Blogspot.com so I missed it a lot. I get to go to HK every now and then and try to post a blog when I can find time. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tracy said...

What beauties...I like the Daddy feeding the baby :)

Diane AZ said...

The Daddy Cardinal feeding the big baby picture is so sweet. The beautiful Blue Jay's colors/patterns reminds me of stained glass windows. Thanks for sharing your backyard birds and neighborhood deer. :D

Twilight Man said...

All your birdie visitors are beautiful and we don't have these types here. Maybe there are in the jungles but I live in the city filled with sparrows, swallows and ugly crows!!!

Unknown said...

Betsy
these are some really great Photos.

Rose said...

You must have a lot of fun watching all those birds...I do here, too, but not sure I have the variety you do. Well, I don't have bluebirds for sure...and don't have a pileated woodpecker that comes either, though for a while there was one in the neighborhood.

Fred Alton said...

Betsy, I always enjoy the posts by you and George. Your bird pictures are always so good. The cardinal feeding his young was great. We had two cardinals visit our place yesterday. Plus several mockingbirds and other sparrows. I just don't manage to get the quality pictures of them like you do. Thanks for sharing your joyful reflections here.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You know I love your bird posts! I noticed right away that the baby is bigger than the daddy! Oh, how could you deny the beautiful deer some delicious roses, Ha ha! He is a beautiful one and must have been very hungry to cross that invisible fence. Will they bloom again or are they ruined when they are eaten? I suppose he damaged the plant and tore it up in the process...some people try deer food at the edge of their property...

Busy Bee Suz said...

I can hardly believe that beautiful doe did anything bad. :) *snicker snicker*
So birds are like humans...the parents FATTEN them up asap!!
xoxo

A Brit in Tennessee said...

The birds that frequent your garden are precious !
So many colors, and varieties...
The doe looks guilty, and is back for a second helping :)
~Jo

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

That doe looks very guilty, Betsy. I'm sure your beautiful roses looked so tasty to her. You need a dog that will chase the deer away.

From the Kitchen said...

I don't know how you get anything done with all those amazing birds to watch!! That deer looks like she's saying "please, just one bite of those tasty looking roses"!! And, you have to admit that they form a tempting "buffet" for the deer.

Best,
Bonnie

imac said...

Real nice work my friend.

happyone said...

Flowers, birds, deer. All in at home. You live other peoples vacations. : )

Connie said...

Great pictures, Betsy! I love the deer. I don't want them to eat your roses, but they are so pretty and graceful to see. :)

Unknown said...

Frankie's roses! So that's why the deer are wandering closer to the house this year! She got a rose bush for Mother's Day. Buddy thinks it's great because he has someone to run with when he goes out at night but the deer can run and jump a LOT better than he can.

Rob said...

Fellow birdwatcher here. I love the blog! Will check back often.

Neal said...

You sure get some nice pictures of birds. Be nice to that little deer...he wants something to eat besides the normal every day stuff. :)

Angela said...

I learned something new today! I had no idea that the male cardinals fed their babies. I have seen what I thought was the male was feeding his lady and now I'm wondering if it wasn't just the dad feeding the baby!

I love woodpeckers! You sure do have a lot of beautiful birds in your yard!

I never thought about putting a stick through the suet feeder like that to help them to be able to eat. I'll have to do that! Right now it is just too hot to put out the suet for them.

Hugs,
Angela

Janice K said...

I haven't seen a redheaded woodpecker for quite a long time, but I have a regular young redbellied that looks a lot like yours.

Karin said...

Bambi looks so sweet - and innocent!! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous birds! I would never get to see them up close like this! Hugs!

Shelley said...

You have wonderful birdy friends! So sweet to see the daddy cardinal feeding the young one. And of course Greg and I would covet one of those red-headed woodpeckers!
Hope you're doing well! It's raining and lightening right now here!
hugs,
shelley

Small City Scenes said...

I always love the shots of your birds. They are great. That deer does look a little guilty. LOL
MB

Sylar said...

great pictures :P
nice post ;)

Unknown said...

Well you inspired us to buy a suet feeder to go alongside the seed feeder, nut we will have to wait for cooler weather as it just melts in an hour here!!

The pic of the Grand Canyon is awesome I am going to have to make time to go back and see your trip pics. That is somewhere I am busting to go to. :-)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

I do love seeing your backyard birds...it makes me want to slow down and look at the ones around here. Beautiful deer photo!!! I'm sure that one did not eat George's hard work!!! It had to be another one.

Sally Wessely said...

Your photos are amazing. You have a sanctuary going on there. I have friends who have had deer eat all their flowers. That would be so frustrating. George works so hard and is such a great caretaker of his beautiful roses. I'm afraid I would declare deer hunt season in my yard if the deer came around and lunched on my roses!

SquirrelQueen said...

Aw, the male cardinals are such good dads. I love to see all of the baby birds, they are so cute. The little Northern Yellow Shafted Flicker is just adorable.

Oh Betsy, how can you scold something as beautiful as the deer. I would have to plant a few extras just for her. Of course I imagine she is not the only one so that would be a LOT of extras!!! LOL!

Chatty Crone said...

Your birds and backyard are so wonderful - I love it. How do you get all those birds to come?

Loren said...

Awww love your birds!! You are such a fantastic photographer, you know that, don't you!!!


My neighbor has continually poured deer corn in her yard to bring the deer. Well, now they are eating her flowers! She has quite a few beds full of flowers.... My husband tried to tell her not to do that. Bet she wishes she would have listened...Now She has to go out & shoo them away. It is quite funny watching her. LOL