Today I have good news and bad news... First of all, the good news: Our Eastern Bluebirds (pictured above) are nesting again .. This will be Brood Number II this Spring/Summer. The Mama Blue is coming to our feeders --picking up raisins. You'll have to enlarge the picture to see the raisin in her mouth.
The bad news (or maybe SAD news) is our LACK of Hummingbirds this Summer so far. I began putting out our four feeders the end of April (when they usually get here). I've continued to change the nectar frequently--hoping that TODAY will be the day... But--as of today, we have seen NO hummingbirds at our feeders this year. Wonder where they are?????? I'm so sad. We always have had alot of these special birds! Sniff Sniff!!!
We do have an abundance of backyard birds. I made a list of all of the birds I have seen so far this Summer. They are (in no particular order): Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, Caroline Wrens, Song Sparrows, Goldfinch, House Finch, Eastern Bluebirds, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Brown Thrashers, Bluejays, Robins, and several woodpeckers (Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy). I'm sure there are many other birds around that I either don't know about, or haven't seen. I need my birder friend Kelly to come and live here for a month---to teach me more of our birds!
I haven't taken many pictures of the birds lately (except for our Bluebirds) ---so I took some time yesterday and took a few for you. Hope you enjoy them. I'll try to take more on another day.
The Tufted Titmice have to be one of my favorite birds to photograph. All of the backyard birds have had babies recently---and it's so much fun to see the 'young' ones come to the feeders.
We have two Mourning Doves which are now brave enough to scope out the deck several times a day. They love to clean up the sunflower seeds which the other birds drop on the deck.
The Downy Woodpeckers have also had babies---and the entire family comes to the suet feeder during the day. Our Red-bellied Woodpeckers come regularly also--but I didn't get any pictures yesterday.
This little guy is one I have never captured in a picture before.. He's a Song Sparrow. I know they are quite common (I grew up calling most little birds sparrows)---but he is the first bird to enjoy eating on the seed bell. Most of my birds turn their noses up when it comes to the seed bell. Have you ever heard this little guy sing????? He and the Carolina Wren can really put on a show.
I saved this guy 'til last!!!! He's one of two Brown Thrashers that LOVE the suet feeder. Between the woodpeckers, the nuthatches and these big Thrashers, they can really go through the suet!!!!!
Now--if you know anything about Thrashers, you will know that they are supposed to be ground feeders. WELL---not these two... They entertain us all day long--standing on the top of that suet feeder and bending down to reach the suet... Sometimes the feeder goes round and round and the Thrashers look as if they are getting dizzy. AND---when the suet gets smaller and smaller---they have a hard time reaching it at all. BUT--they stay there and try and try... They can't hang onto the sides like the woodpeckers do. SO---let me just say that our Brown thrashers put on a comedy show for us. One of these days, I'll try to get a short video. It's SO funny!!!
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I usually close showing one of our Roses. But today--I want to show you one of our beautiful lilies. This gorgeous orange lily is named TREFFER. Isn't it pretty?????
Have a wonderful day and weekend.
Hugs,
We've not had many hummers either Betsy. I have seen maybe only two at a time, and not that often.
ReplyDeleteNice to see all your other visitors. How funny that those Thrashers get on your suet!
Have a beautiful weekend!
Betsy: Very nice captures of the birds and the lily. You have a nice list of birds. I didn't see the Grackels or Cow Birds on the list. Why is that? LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a variety you have. I had to quit feeding my birds because I had a huge flock of cow birds and I really wanted to discourage them.
ReplyDeleteGuess I could put out some raisens for my Bluebirds though. Didn't know they liked them.
Treffer is awesome, now on my list.
My Hummers came late but are here in force now. Wait a bit. They get more excited with my feeders as the spring flowers don't produce as much. With George keeping you in blossoms, they are probably going for the real stuff.
What a wonderful list of visiting birds you have, Betsy. I'm jealous. Each year we have less and less because our area is becoming so over developed. I mostly have nesting mocking birds and doves and I love watching the baby's grow.
ReplyDeleteWell I didn't know bluebirds like raisins. Thanks for letting me know that. Our second brood of blue birds will be leaving the nest very soon.
ReplyDeleteAs far as hummers I have the same thing here. We saw a few earlier but now none.
Lovely photos and the color of that lily really says summer, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou have quite a variety of backyard birds. Hummers have been hit and miss around here too. They do not come out so much when it's very hot. Overcast and rainy days is when we see them the most. Lovely lily!
ReplyDeleteI always joy the posts with the birds. Your pictures are always quite lovely and the prose wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar lily called Partner. MB
Great bird pictures and Gorgeous Lily!!!
ReplyDeleteBetsy,
ReplyDeleteI finally saw our first hummer yesterday. I don't know where they are either. We haven't even seen a butterfly yet.--Randy
I love all your bird pictures! I've noticed our hummingbirds seemed to have come through early this year, here in Michigan and I haven't seen as much of them as usual. I have lots of plants they love and that's usually enough. Sure enjoying all the other species singing their songs of joy!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your Blue Birds have returned-we need more of them around. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting about your Brown Thrasher eating the suet.
Enjoyed your post.
Your Song Sparrow is really cute. Looks like he loves that seed bell. Around here House Sparrows are common, but I have yet to catch one with my camera.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of your birds, Betsy and that orange lily is really beautiful. I hope your hummers come back soon! Have a great weekend! :D
ReplyDeleteWe've had quite a few hummingbirds in our yard.They love the feeder,but especially love the canna lilies.We usually see them in the morning and evening.We've had an abundance of cardinals,titmouses(or is mice?), and woodpeckers this year,too.
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs. I saw a recent article about hummingbirds in NC and perhaps the same is true there. The article stated that they had received many calls about the few number of hummingbirds. It went on to say the actual counts are not down...it's just that after we see the first ones, we expect to see them in larger numbers. We forget that the same thing happens every year. We will see them in large numbers again in July and then until they migrate again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lily and wonderful bird pictures. We are enjoying the parents and babies coming by to eat and drink. We don't have the all the different kinds of birds that you do, but we have enough to keep us entertained and the camera at the ready!
ReplyDeleteSnap ... from Snap dragon .... :D
...Betsy I would LOVE to come down and live in the mountains for a month. When I was on my inlaw's porch I heard so many birds, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, an Acadian Flycatcher, a Phoebe, a Whip-poor-will at night...a couple warblers I couldn't identify...just to name a few. You're so lucky to live in such a beautiful place...and you get such a nice variety of birds in your yard!
ReplyDeleteSit tight with your hummers. I had one show up at my feeder 3 days ago...the first one, and at Mary and Ron's house I saw one briefly, and they just live 5 minutes from you. So they have to be on their way. I read somewhere that the "nectar corridor" has been disrupted in areas and the hummers a taking different routes here and there and arriving much later than normal. Who knows....Alos in the past I've had years when mine didn't show up until around Independence Day so maybe this is one of those years. I hope they arrive soon...
:-)
Hugs! Kelly
Great photos, I love to watch the birds on a feeder.
ReplyDeleteNo hummers yet, usually by now they visiting my hanging baskets. Soon I hope.
Have a super weekend,
Judy
I have enjoyed seeing your backyard birds.Too bad about the Hummers,but if it makes you feel better we rarely see them in summer over here.
ReplyDeleteThe lily is gorgeous.
Blessings,Ruth
We've only seen two different ones that we know of. In other words, we've seen a male and a female so we know for a fact that we've seen two.
ReplyDelete"Isn't it pretty?????"
ReplyDeleteSure is--and the rest are too. I've never seen a bluebird in Oregon, or a cardinal for that matter. I sure miss them.
All the hummingbirds are at my sister's house in Memphis. I was amazed at the number that we saw at her feeders at any given time!!
ReplyDeletewow !!
ReplyDeleteall the birds are are great....no matter whether the birds are coming or not but you are really privileged to enjoy all this.....
loves your orange lily
cheers!!
Beautiful pictures! We haven't seen a lot of hummingbirds either this year....
ReplyDeletelove all the great shots you do have of the birdies..I am concerned about the missing hummingbirds. Should we call John Walsh? Did you remember to put out your 'welcome' mat?
ReplyDeleteI hope they come back to see you and George!
You wonder about trends like that: is it just a season, or a long term pattern. Only time will tell ...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betsy for your beautiful bird pictures. I haven't had any hummingbirds but I never do, I thought it was me. Maybe later we'll get some.
ReplyDeleteI remember you posting at my blog about your two Brown Thrashers eating your suet and I was curious for pictures. So funny!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the otehr brood of Bluebird eggs. Bummer about your lack of hummingbirds!
Betsy, your flowers are gorgeous. I saw a few of them on Kelly's blog recently. How did you get your bluebirds to accept raisons?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering about your hummers too. My male from last year did not return, which makes me sad, but I have plenty of both male and female visitors (Knoxville). You would think with all your flowers you would have many.
Loved your pictures of all the different birds! That lily is stunning!!
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your bluebirds! Great shot of them too! You do have a great variety - wish you had hummers! Wish I did too! I'm going to pray tonite for the both of us! :-) Shelley
ReplyDeleteYour Song Sparrow needs to wipe his mouth, er, beak. Give him a napkin!
ReplyDeleteI like brown thrashers and haven't seen any this summer. They disappeared after a brief visit in the spring. Great lot of visitors you have.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful variety of birds you have, Betsy! It's so fun to watch them. Glad the bluebirds have come back for a second nesting.
ReplyDelete