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, July 2, 2009

Birdies are Entertaining ME!!!!


I've taken quite a few pictures of our backyard birds recently... There's alot happening right now ---so it keeps a girl busy!!! Forget the housecleaning... I have birds to WATCH!!!! ha


I've mentioned that we have four little bluebird eggs in the Bluebird nestbox. I will check the box about July 7 --and hopefully there will be four tiny birdies in there!!! Mama is incubating the eggs now. (This is their 2nd brood---and besides Mom and Dad, the last group of fledglings are also helping. And to think----I saw these juvies when they are first born!!!)


AND---as if that is not enough, we have the Brown Thrasher babies (3 I think) in the front yard in our Jasmine bush. I put some suet out front for them yesterday since they love our Suet feeder. (Hopefully the chipmunks don't get to it first.) The babies are still in the nest---so I'll keep watching for them to fledge!!!!


We have many other birdies---so I will share a bunch of cute pictures today!!!! Above is a Bluebird at one of my feeders. This is the first year the Bluebirds have come to the feeders so I am excited. They enjoy fruit including raisins. I haven't purchased mealworms yet--but I might sometime!!!! Below are more pictures.









Our Bluejays are plentiful this year, but so far, they don't seem to 'bother' the other birds --like Bluejays sometimes do. What I wish would happen is that the jays would start chasing away the squirrels like they did last year!!!!! ha









Here's a gorgeous Goldfinch at our hanging Niger feeder.. We have LOTS and LOTS of Goldfinches and House Finches this Summer, but nothing like the numbers of Pine Siskins we had in the winter.









Our Cardinals frequent the feeders also... They are the first in the mornings and the last at nights. I love seeing this beautiful female. Last year, Daddy Cardinal brought his babies to the feeder. So far this year, I haven't seen any baby Cardinals at the feeders--but maybe I will sometime this summer.









The Downy Woodpeckers love the suet feeder (in addition to our Brown Thrashers, the Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers). By the way, I saw my first (of the summer) Red-headed Woodpecker yesterday morning --at the feeder next to the computer window. I tried to get a photo---so IF it comes out, I'll feature this beautiful Woodpecker later.









Our two Mourning Doves love to clean up the deck floor ---after the other birds finish making their messes.









Here's a beautiful male House Finch. I know these finches are 'common'--but I still love seeing the colorful males.







Mama Bluebird is protecting her nest... Look at that serious look on her face!!!!









Another picture of Mama Cardinal.. I love hearing the Cardinals CHIP when they are at the feeders.









One more shot of the Downy --enjoying his dinner!!!!









Finally, here's one more photo of one of our beautiful male Goldfinches. Hope you have enjoyed seeing more of our backyard birds. All of these pictures were taken recently. You can see how busy I have been keeping up with all of 'my' birds!!!


Hugs,

P.S. I saw my first hummingbird yesterday .. Hopefully this is the beginning of us having MANY of them here!!!! Yeah!

44 comments:

Darla said...

Your yard is very active. Nice~our hummers are everywhere...

Anonymous said...

What a great way to start my day enjoying all your pretty visitors!

NatureStop said...

Besty,you have so many beautiful birds in your backyard so you must be busy capturing them:)Very nice post.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

I love your birds...we couldn't put up any finch feeders this year because of so much tree damage...I've really missed having my bird feeders...hopefully next year we can have them up again...I agree with you...birds trump housework anyday...

SmilingSally said...

Great pictures; no wonder that you can't leave and do anything else.

Housing is bad in all of Florida. It's some of the worst in the country. I think that's why we are able to rent such a nice property.

Tina said...

You have been a very busy girl..all those birdees in your backyard..what a haven that must be!! NICE! Great catches with your camera..I can see why you are outside a lot..lol, forget the house work..it will always be there..won't it?

Carol Murdock said...

Betsy, I so envy your Golfinches! I put out a thisle seed feeder in the Spring and have not had one! They are my favorite bird and I miss seeing them!
puppy hugs :D

Jayne said...

Love seeing all your visitors Betsy!

Beth said...

How wonderful to see all the fine feathered citizens of your yard, Betsy! I'm like you...why clean house when you can watch birds? You've got some great photos here---thanks for sharing them with us.

P.S. I sure hope you're able to capture those baby thrashers with your camera! :-)

Randy said...

My goodness your yard is alive with visitors. We can't seem to keep the wrens out of our bluebird houses long enough for them to nest. What brand/type of Suet do you use?--Randy

T said...

You are so lucky to have so many beautiful birds coming to your feeders!

I miss that. We have so many d*%n squirrels that they not only eat the food (before the birds) they destroy the feeders!

Arkansas Patti said...

Aw, you have such lovely visitors. I had to quit feeding as I had a ton of cowbirds and I really don't like their mothering skills.
My bluebirds fledged their second group. Don't know if they will go for three or not.
Even without feeders, I have a decent crop of birds because I make sure there is plenty of water.
Hummers are different. Sounds like a beehive on my porch. Seems like I am always making nectar.
Thanks for the lovely pics.

Susie said...

Oh Betsy I always enjoying looking at your sweet little birdies. They are so much fun to watch!

We've been having regular visits from the hummers now which I am so glad to see.

Have a great bird watching day!

Mandy said...

What fun it would be to see all that going on! Great pictures!

Mandy

Dorothy said...

Beautiful birds!! You know how I love them!! Happy 4th of July to you and George!!!

Karin said...

The variety of birds you have coming exclusively for your entertainment totally amazes me!!! I just love that you capture all of this on film and share it with us - with me - totally bird deprived up here on the 9th floor of a city apartment building! The only 'chirps' I hear are from the heavy construction machines below us when they back up, lol! Totally drowning out any bird sounds. At least I hear the robin sing his evening song!

Shelley said...

You have a great variety of birds! I just adore that female cardinal - I've always had a soft spot for that bird since I used to have a one tap on my window when the feeder was empty - lol! I think you should definitely treat your beautiful blue birds to some meal worms - yummy! Ha,ha!
love from the farm - shelley, greg, scout & marvin

Janice K said...

It is interesting to note that the "regulars" at your feeders are very similar to ours in Indiana. However, I haven't seen a blue bird in quite a few years.

Your blog is always enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.

Janice from Indiana

Small City Scenes said...

birding Betsy. I love to watch all the birds too. I have a small birdhouse outside the window of my computer room. (computer room--a large closet in my bedroom) The little birds out there are talking and whistling all the time. MB

Small City Scenes said...

Oh BTW: I am going to be gone for a few days. I am going to visit my eldest daughter in Eastern Washington. MB

Loran said...

It's better than TV and certainly better than cleaning house!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Great pictures Betsy. I have only a few of the same as you...and I also love hearing the cardinals 'chip'...mine get especially excited just after a rainfall.
I thought it was funny how the doves always do the clean up work...I suppose if I were a bird, I would be a DOVE!!!

Anonymous said...

wow! i could spend hours watching your delightful birds. what an awesome source of entertainment right in your backyard!

Jen said...

Love it! You are taking such good care of you birds, no wonder they visit you. :D

Betty said...

You have such a variety of birds I realy enjoy seeing them.I agree House work comes second or third or even father down the list.

Deborah Godin said...

I have cardinals nesting nearby this summer, but so far have not seen any babies - what a treat that would be. Love all your birdie shots!!!

I Am Woody said...

Beautiful shots!!! Keep them coming!!

I have a finch feeder - where they have to eat hanging upside down. Goldfinches are the only ones that can eat that way. Some days there will be a finch at every station. I love it!!

Unknown said...

Marvelous close ups of the lovely birds! I have the same varieties, even the very tame doves on my deck! I had a gnatcatcher building a nest and haven't seen her in a couple of weeks. I'm worried that a cowbird or someone might have gotten the eggs inside the birdhouse. How can I better protect them? Any ideas?

Adrienne Zwart said...

I always love seeing your birds, Betsy! Have a happy day!

Becca's Dirt said...

Hey there Betsy - Love the colorful Goldfinches. You have a lot of varieties of birds at your place. I need to put out more feeders and a variety - maybe they'll come - the rains have to come first. Have a great Independance Day.

EG CameraGirl said...

What a wonderful variety of birds in your yard right now!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Loved seeing your birdies. I'm missing mine right now, as I'm house/dog sitting in an adjacent town. I just run by my house in the late afternoons, hug my kitties and take care of their needs, water what needs to be watered, and refill the bird feeders outside... but then don't get to watch the birds.

Tammie Lee said...

such wonderful bird photos! They make me smile. Love your rose Header on your blog too, lovely.

RA said...

Wow, I have been missing your wonderful photos and posts! That is a stunning header. Flowers and water drops are such a perfect match. Hope I can come visit more often soon. Hugs and love from Indonesia. Have a great weekend, Betsy :)

Anonymous said...

I love all the life flowing over in your yard!

Also, I thought of you when I saw this:

http://naturesbestblog.com/2009/07/02/flickr-photo-review/

SquirrelQueen said...

So many beautiful birds, I love the Goldfinches. It would be great to be able to see them up close like that every day, my cat would really like it if I put up bird feeders.

Just curious but why not put out separate feeders for the squirrels and chipmunks? They are so much fun to watch.

All of your little birds remind me of the post I did awhile back http://tinyurl.com/nfgodj

Hugs,
Judy

Grammy said...

Hi Betsy, I love to watch the birds too. They make fife very interesting. Have a great week end.

Big hug.

Mary said...

Your nests are doing so well and the photos are great!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

With all that cvolorful activity,I can see where house work would stay undone.:)Great pictures.
Blessings,Ruth

Kelly said...

Lovely, lovely, lovely birdies!! That mama bluebird guarding her nest is soooo cute!! Love that fierce look in her eye! (Also....I'm with you....I tend to dump housecleaning a little too often to look at birds instead!) :-)

Nina said...

Such beauties in your yard! They are amazing and so much fun to watch. Keep the shutter clicking! Thank you for the beauty and the smiles they bring. Love and Light, Nina P

Nance said...

Hi Ms. Betsy,
I surely learned a lot about birds from this post! Thank you! All the birds are just beautiful!

Rose said...

I sure have missed a lot in your blog--all these beautiful birds! I always wonder what God thought when he was creating them....did he ooh and aaah over them the way we do?

Connie said...

Marvelous photos, Betsy. I felt like I was right there watching the birds with you. :)