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, January 13, 2012

Best of 2011: BIRDS

Two Pileated Woodpeckers playing Peek-a-boo around the tree--taken 1/13
Most of you know how much I love our Backyard Birds... Even though I haven't taken many photos lately,  I still love to watch the birds as they come to the feeders on our deck...

Today I'll show you seven of my favorite bird photos from 2011...  Hope you enjoy seeing them --and I promise I'll start taking some new pictures of these cuties soon. Be sure and click on the photos for enlargements.




Juvenile  Red-Bellied Woodpecker  --taken 7/21





Mrs. Bluebird is waiting her turn at the suet feeder.  Mr. Northern Flicker is taking his time eating and eating!!!  Taken 1/18


I love this picture of the female Eastern Bluebird.  Taken 2/8

I loved seeing these Turkey Buzzards when we visited Mt. Nebo in Arkansas --taken 3/31





This Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits us in spring and fall when they are migrating--taken 4/27.





And my favorite bird picture of 2011 goes to the "Shall we Dance"  Carolina Wrens--taken 8/7.
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my Backyard Birds from 2011.  I hope to get many more great pictures in 2012...

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.
Hugs,
Betsy

71 comments:

penny said...

I always enjoy seeing your wonderful collection of beautiful birds that visit your backyard eatery, Betsy.
We use to have so many different types of birds visit our yard, but sadly after developers built houses on their habitat they left.
Be Well and happy,
Pam :)

Jo said...

Beautiful, as usual Betsy! I love every one, especially the wrens (and "Shall we dance" fits the image!) which look like our pipits. Your header is SOOO beautiful too. Wow, I love your blog, dearest Betsy and it's good to "know" you. Have a great weekend. (((Hugs))) Jo

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betsy, These are all wonderful bird photos! My favorite is the pretty bluebird portrait, looks like she was posing for you. Looking forward to your 2012 backyard birds!

pam said...

Those are wonderful Betsy!!! You really must participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count!!! It's coming up in February.

Anonymous said...

My favorite pic is the dancing wrens! They are such feisty fellows! Have a good weekend.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Excellent pictures. Hope you get to take lots more this year. Have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

Ya'll should participate in the Great Backyard Birdwatch in Feb.

Kelly said...

....great shot of the pileated woodpeckers and the sweet eastern bluebird! I wonder what birds 2012 will bring? :-) Have a good weekend, Betsy!

Unknown said...

Oh my Betsy, your photos are marvelous! I would have been thrilled to have taken any one of them.

John and Ellen
connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

Beth said...

It's always a treat to see your bird pics--I'm still missing having bird feeders.
My favorite was the "Let's Dance" one--so cute--s big grin spread wide on my face.:>)

Unknown said...

I love them all. Especially the woodpeckers.

Fred Alton said...

Most excellent photography on these birds, Betsy! Publishing quality.

Dorothy said...

Love those birds!!! I especially like the two Carolina Wrens!!!!

Big Dude said...

You sure do capture you little friends well. We had enough snow to almost cover the roof - none on the ground - I was disappointed.

Out on the prairie said...

i miss my feeders, I haven't set any up at my new place.Loovely choces, that bluebird caught my eye.

Lynda said...

Besides being beautiful, they all look happy and content!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Hope you're not too snowed in, we just got enough to make people drive like fools. You caught some fantastic shots of yout little backyard friends, just gorgeous photos Betsy!

Anonymous said...

What beauties. This is a treat for me, as I never see these birds in Hawaii. All I see are mynah birds.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

All are beautiful, but that last one brought a smile to my face. :)

TexWisGirl said...

all of these are great - the pileated are beautiful! but, yes, those wrens are priceless!!!

MadSnapper said...

love them ALL, but am picking the turkey buzzard as my favorite for today because of the all over composition of the photo. beautiful

Sylvia K said...

Such beautiful, colorful birds and such wonderful captures! Your photos are the next best thing to having them in my backyard! Hope you and George have a great weekend, Betsy!

Sylvia

Jane said...

Those little birds are all so pretty! I am still enjoying our red birds. Blessings Jane

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Beautiful pics! Pierce and I just broke up a bunch of old bread crusts and put them into our milk jug feeder for the birds last night :-)

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I'm on the lookout for a Pilated woodpecker, I've never seen one around here. I just love that last shot of the wrens, too cute! Now, I need to get up away from this computer and go out and feed MY birds! Have a good weekend!

Ms. A said...

Excellent shots, Betsy!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Great pics- my favorites are the bluebird and the dancers- Carolina Wrens.

Chatty Crone said...

You know what I feel and think about this Betsy - those photographs and the birds - are like eye candy to me. I look at the top and go down - then I go up - and look again. Really enjoy them. I think my favorite was the beautiful woodpecker. Sandie

Anonymous said...

HI Betsy, Yes, we got a bit of snow but probably not as much as you did in the Glade. I sure do like your selection of bird photographs. The one of those Carolina Wrens does win my vote as well. Have a great day and stay warm! By the way, next week will be a lot warmer.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow, what a great surprise when I came here and saw those huge Pileateds!!!! Hard to pick a favorite here! Love the cute close-up of the bluebird, and the dance, they are mirroring each other!! Can't figure out whether it is a waltz or rap!

Neal said...

Wow Betsy.... those are great shots. I really like that last picture....funny. :)

happyone said...

Wonderful shots. My favorite is the Blue Bird!!

LV said...

Never tire of seeing your glorious bird shots.

NCmountainwoman said...

Loved them all!

Janie said...

All the photos are great. Love the Shall we Dance, and the Eastern Bluebird's portrait.

Adrienne Zwart said...

I always love to see your bird photos, Betsy!

HolleyGarden said...

Great photos! Birds are hard to capture! I am especially impressed with the pileated woodpeckers. I have only once seen one here, and it was gone before I had a chance to go inside to get the camera. Beautiful!

Susie Swanson said...

Oh how I enjoyed these.. I've been watching them today also.. they have covered our yard up.. I bet with the snow you had they are really flying in.. We didn't get as much..Hope you have a nice weekend..Susie

Wendy said...

Beautiful pics, Betsy! I love eastern bluebirds, but seldom do I see them here any more.

Shall we dance? So cute!!
Hugs

Rose said...

I can sure see why these are your favorites...

Ann said...

I just love all your bird shots and the one of the female eastern bluebird is my favorite of the bunch. that is such a gorgeous shot

Splendid Little Stars said...

Your bird photos are a treat, Betsy!

Arkansas Patti said...

Thank you for the close ups. Especially the Blue Birds. The English Sparrows have run all mine off. I really miss them.

Mary said...

Those were really some shots to be proud of! I love your header, too....very dramatic and beautiful!

Diane said...

Great bird picture Betsy. They last one does look like they're choreographed. I love the birds, too, yesterday we watched a HUGE northern flicker at the suet cake, it was so easy to see the beautiful markings. Thank God we have these beautiful living decorations to entertain us. Diane

Tami AKA My Kid's Mom said...

I miss seeing the birds when I lived in the country! I just don't get them here in town. My favorite was the Indigo Buntings!

KathyA said...

I lose seeing the flickers in our yard -- such interesting coloring. And I've never seen a grosbeak around here. I wonder if they come up this far north?

Michelle said...

I love these...especially the dancing wrens!

Donna said...

The Carolina wrens made me laugh! Cute shot! And the bluebird picture is downright adorable. Love them all!

Serenity Cove said...

Beautiful Betsy. I see the pileated woodpeckers occasionally here.
LOVE the wrens doing the "bird scootin' boogie". Awesome!!!

carolina nana said...

Love that pic of the 2 wrens ! We didn't get any of your snow thankfully. Hope you are having fun in yours, make lots of pictures !!
Blessings
Marilyn

diane b said...

Fantastic shots. I like the "Shall we dance"" it is funny.

SquirrelQueen said...

Betsy, I always love to see your pretty birds. Even the Turkey Buzzards are interesting in their own way. My favorite is that cute little Eastern Bluebird.

Happy Weekend!

amelia said...

Your birds are always lovely. I miss ours since we moved but here we have snow buntings, a bird we had never seen before.

Birdman said...

Colorful bird shots. Tehy keep me company throughout the Maine winter.

Betty Manousos said...

your photos are always worth the look, dear betsy.

such beautiful birds/photos...yet i have never ever seen a woodpecker in person, so thanks for posting this!

hope you're having a great weekend!

hugs
betty

Anonymous said...

WoWoWeee, that's an awesome shot of the Eastern Bluebird! You really hit the nail on the head!!! heheheee =)

Small City Scenes said...

Wonderful, Betsy, you take very nice pics of the birds. I like the Pileated one because mine are blurry. Maybe the birds are just blurry themselves. LOL MB

Terry and Linda said...

Your photos are amazing!


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

What wonderful photos!

A Colorful World said...

I LOVED seeing your favorite bird photos of 2011. They are all wonderful, but I particularly enjoyed seeing the juvenile woodpecker, and the female bluebird. Great shots all, though! Hope you have as much success in 2012!

Glad you enjoyed the rest of my Old Tucson photos. It was a fun day!

Catherine said...

You know I love the birds Betsy! I can hardly wait for spring and all my fine feathered friends to return. :)
I hope you and George are having a terrific weekend!
xo Catherine

Anonymous said...

Love your bird pictures, especially the bluebird.

CameraCruise said...

Great shots of all the beautiful birds.
Love them.

Tracy said...

I love the femal eastern bird...such a sweet look on her face. YOu always do a fnatastic job on your photos; I aspire to be like you :)

imac said...

Peek a boo Birdy Betsy.
Nice to feel the spring in the air soon and birds nesting.

eileeninmd said...

Hi Betsy, your birds photos are all wonderful and it is much too hard to pick a favorite. The dancing wrens are cute, great captures.

blueskyartist said...

I really enjoyed your bird photos.Your yard is colorful year round, I think! I haven't seen much variety at my feeder this winter, just sparrows! Maybe I need to put out more exciting food and suet! That, or everyone else has flown south!

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

These shots are wonderful. What a collection of friends you have.

Darryl and Ruth :)

Kirigalpoththa said...

Superb collection!

Annesphamily said...

I think watching birds is so fascinating! They are as sweet as can be! Thank you for sharing with us! Anne