When we were on our trip in February to Arkansas, we stopped at the Visitor Center at Mt. Magazine. They have a birding area behind their facility ---and we stood inside looking out of the window and taking pictures. Here are some of them for you to enjoy today. The picture above is the very familiar female Cardinal. Below are more.
I love seeing the Juncos. We have so few of them in our area of Tennessee. (Or at least, there have never been many of them in my yard.)
See that bird above the Goldfinch????? That is a Purple Finch (the FIRST one I have ever seen and photographed)... I got so excited seeing this finch! We have House Finches (not too many) and lots of Goldfinches at home---but I've never seen a Purple Finch. They are gorgeous!
I love this photograph. Here's two Goldfinches and two Purple Finches. I love the Goldfinch in flight --since I seldom get a photo of them in flight. That is the female Purple Finch on the bottom right. It was fun watching the male above her, giving her some seed----flirting I'm sure!!!!!
The Purple Finches (like our Cardinals here) cannot hide in winter!!!!!
Here's a picture of two male Purple Finches and a male Goldfinch. Wouldn't it be neat to see this picture in spring --when the Goldfinch was a bright yellow???? Wow!
Here is another good picture of the Purple Finch and a White-breasted Nuthatch. There was a huge feeding station in the back of the visitor center--and inside, they had books of all kinds telling about all of the birds. There were lots of windows and even binoculars for people to use. This was a 'Bird Learning Center'!
I love this photo of the male Purple Finch. I can certainly see a huge difference in him from one of our male House Finches.
Hope you enjoyed my pictures of the Birds in Arkansas.
Hugs,
49 comments:
I did indeed enjoy your Birds in Arkansas photos Betsy! Thanks for sharing! :) xo Catherine
We have all the birds you show here but you have the one bird that I'd love to have but never will and that's the cardinal!! We are just too far north and it almost makes me want to move further south to be able to see them!!
Nice photos. Love the one captured in mid flight. That blanket of sunflower shells on the ground, that's what part of my garden looks like now. As things start to grow I will have lots of little sunflowers trying to grow until I clean it all up.
They are all so sweet and angelic looking compared to our big raucous birds. You are really getting a professional bird photographer. The one in flight is so good.
So glad you finally got to see that Purple Finch Betsy! Once you see one, the differences are really apparent from the House Finch.
LOVE the new look too! You've been exploring too I see!
Wonderful photos, Betsy. The purple finch is so beautiful. Like you, we have lots of the house finches, but we've never been fortunate enough to see the purple finch. Thank you for the virtual glimpse of those lovely little birds!
Like you, I see house finches but not purple finches at my feeders. You got some gorgeous pictures at the visitor center. It is exciting to see and photograph "new" birds.
Purple Finches are nice! They surely can't hide in winter!
Bet if those birdies knew how you fed your birds they would follow you home! Betsy when do you put out your humming bird feeders. I thought I usually put them out in May but its getting so hot here I am wondering if the little birds will come in sooner.
Beautiful,just beautiful! I've never seen a Purple finch ...now I have ...through you!
How do you tell the difference in a house finch and a purple finch? I'm new at this bird stuff=)
I always love seeing bird photos. I hardly ever see the purple finches either. Their color is almost glowing in your photos.
Marnie
Juncos are my favorite feeder bird. They mostly clean up under the feeders and out number any other species here. They remind me of monks with their "cape" shading across their chests.
Great shots.
I don't think I would ever want to leave a place like that.The Purple Finches are gorgeous and I am waiting for them to show up at our feeders soon.Hope your day is filled with more beauty.
Blessings,Ruth
Betsy,
I am so overwhelmed with your beautiful new layout. It makes your stunning bird photos look even more wonderful than usual, if that is at all possible. Their colors are so vivid.
First let me say that your header is beeUtiful!
I always enjoy your birdie pictures, and the Goldfinch is flight is amazing.
I am going to be posting some very special birds tomorrow, I hope you will check them out.
Sunny :)
Doing a little catching up this morning. Love the header and the background on your blog...very springlike and beautiful! Purple Finches are so gorgeous. I always think they are more "raspberry" than "purple", but no one asked me to name them :-)
Love them all but my favorite is the bird in flight. I want to get a bigger camera so bad..but ya' know...$$$$. In my next life I will be wealthy!
These are all so sweet and pretty.
That Purple finch was quite a find Betsy!!!
The things one learns from the blogging world! I didn't know about the Mt. Magazine bird center.
I had a goodly number of purple finches earlier this year, but haven't seen any lately. The gold finches have taken over. They are cleaning out my finch feeders almost as fast as I can fill them.
Thanks for sharing your pretty photos.
Betsy, your bird photos just keep getting more beautiful! I love the birds in flight especially, but ALL of them are gorgeous in their array of colors!
Have a wonderful day!
You do have the most colorful and beautiful birds in that area of the country. I agree with you, the purple finch is gorgeous. Diane
Excellent bird shots, Betsy. We have Purple Finch out here but I don't recall them being so bright reddish. Maybe the rain fades them out. And of course the Goldfinch--our state bird and one of my favorites.
MB
Fantastic photos, Betsy! I've never seen a purple finch before. I really like the shots of those.
Those are wonderful pictures! I did not even know there were purple finches!! I know you have an awesome camera but really those shots are so clear.
good morning betsy,
what a great time you must have had getting all those photos.
i love the purple finches too...they are so colourful. yours are glowing.
happy springtime.
Cool shots, Betsy, especially that one you said you love of the finch in flight by the bird feeder! They're all so pretty!
Have a wonderful week - Spring is here & I'M LOVIN' IT!!!
BTW, that's a very pretty header photo & I love your new blog look, Very SPRING-Y & I LOVE SPRING!!! LoL!
I am learning so much from you.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Hello there Betsy, and thank you for stopping by.
Wow, do I ever love that Purple Finch. Wish we had them, up our way.
I had my first Purple Finch this winter too! I can tell you were excited. Too bad you couldn't take it home with you.
The purple finches are just amazing-I've never seen one-wow!
The purple finch is such a pretty bird. I haven't had an opportunity to photograph my birds lately. I'll have to try and get some more pictures later this week.
TOO cool! I have never seen a purple finch, either, so I'm excited! And you even got a bird on the fly, and it's a very good picture, as well. That goldfinch may not have the spring colors, but look at the white stripping pattern on the back, it's a great shot of that! You need to go back there this spring, pretty please? Take more pics to show us all. Look at it as a senoir volunteer job! The purple finch seems very shiny compared to a house finch. Phil is the oldest, and he's the one on the right. There were six, and I've changed my blog to say that. We were not even allowed wedding rings, and for many years, I wore a head covering like the Amish do. People seem interested in this, so I have several different posts planned about it that I'll do once in a while, not all at once.
Betsy, that last photo of the male Purple Finch is awesome! I know I told you I like the new look here, but forgot to tell you that I love the photo in your header.
Great photos, Betsy.
One thing I love about this time of year is seeing and hearing the returning birds.
There are no leaves for them to hide in, so I see so many birds on my afternoon walks.
I wish I had a camera with a good zoom, so I could get good pictures.
Have a great day.
I love that you come from TN and show me all the great birds in AR/ha
Great shots!!!
First, I love the header! And what a nice place to visit and see birds. It certainly sounds like a place we would visit. What pretty birds.
Great pics of the Purple Finch, I especially like the last one. "Lifers" are so great!
I love the new color theme of your blog, Betsy. And the new header photo is perfect for spring. Great captures of the purple finches and other birds. Just lovely!
Beautiful photos, Betsy!!! I swoon over your Cardinals, every time! We have the purple finches here, but not very many Cardinals. LOL Those little purple finches are adorable and they have such sweet faces, don't they?
Those purple finches look wonderful.Glad you were able to see them
Cheers!
You know how to get my juices flowing ... I LOVE every single bird ... great shots, Betsy.
Happy Easter!
Have a beautiful week.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon
Fantastic pics Betsy. I've never seen a Purple Finch before. He is gorgeous. Sure wish we had some here.
I saw a purple Finch in my backyard the other day. Of course I didn't have the camera ready so no picture. They are such pretty birds.
Wow that purple finch is awesome,wish I had some in my yard. thanks for sharing the photos.
Have a blessed day.
Marilyn
I is amazing to me how many birds you have that we also have here. Love the beautiful pictures.
the finch fotos are Awesome!
Hi Betsy,
I'm trying this again. For some strange reason when I got to this post earlier this evening I couldn't post a comment, after I had commented on your other posts!!!!
What I was going to say was the Purple Finches are so cute, it must have been great to see them in person. The color of the ones in your photos is brighter than the ones in my bird book. I love the shot with the two of them and the male goldfinch.
Hugs,
Judy
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