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, July 28, 2010

Backyard Beauties


Here are some fairly recent pictures of some of our cute little Backyard Birds.... Above is a Daddy Cardinal --getting a seed for his little one!! Below are more!





A young Cardinal---learning to feed itself... Of course, it would much rather Daddy feed it --but Daddy was trying to teach it to feed itself.... Cute little one, huh??? One way to tell a juvenile Cardinal from a female is that its beak is not RED yet.





This little Tufted Titmouse loves to spread his wings out and press his tummy on the HOT deck in the summertime... Many of the birds do this--and I've never found out the 'real' reason. One person said that they are ridding their tummies of bugs!!!????




The Brown Thrashers still love coming to the Suet feeder--although they have to share
it with the Bluebirds, Bluejays, and all of the woodpeckers... It's a popular feeder!!!!





Our Pileated Woodpecker is one of several woodpeckers who love the suet feeder... I go through an entire cake of suet every week...




I love this picture of a Northern Flicker ---who is enjoying the suet feeder. (Besides the Pileated and Flickers, other woodpeckers who enjoy this feeder are the Downys and the Red-bellieds.)


Other birds (not pictured today) who enjoy the feeders are lots of Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Goldfinches, House Finches, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Bluejays, our gorgeous Bluebirds and a Gray Catbird on occasion.

We are so fortunate to live in an area where there are LOTS and LOTS of little songbirds...

Have a wonderful Wednesday...
Hugs,

63 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing photos of the birds. Each bird is so unqiue and colorful. What a blessing to be surrounded by such beauty. Thank you for sharing with us Betsy.

Janice K said...

Neat pictures and a great idea.....putting a stick in the bottom of the suet feeder for them to rest on. I wish my birds only went through one suet cake a week...Most of the time they are gone within a day or two. I've had a lot of young downys lately. One day the parent was on one side of the suet and the baby on the other and the parent was feeding it....Of course, I missed getting the picture.

Have a great day!

Janice K said...

Neat pictures and a great idea.....putting a stick in the bottom of the suet feeder for them to rest on. I wish my birds only went through one suet cake a week...Most of the time they are gone within a day or two. I've had a lot of young downys lately. One day the parent was on one side of the suet and the baby on the other and the parent was feeding it....Of course, I missed getting the picture.

Have a great day!

Jane said...

Great pictures - love the baby!

Jane

Tabor said...

What great visitors and what wonderful photos!! Yes they rub in the dust (or water) to rid themselves of mites.

pam said...

I am battling the squirrels right now! Every morning I get up and our feeder has been torn down and dragged across the yard, leaving a trail of seeds!

Did you make that perch for your suet feeder?

Sarah Knight said...

Those are lovely shots!
Love the cardinals, we have many in our yard and they have the most delightful song. It's nice to hear some sweet notes in a sea of Robins screaming at their fledges and their fledges constantly peeping to be fed...
: )

Neal said...

Neat pictures Betsy. That one laying on the deck looks a mess...a new definition to a bad hair day. :)

Arkansas Patti said...

Great shots Betsy. Didn't know that about juvenile cardinals.
Just think, if she is getting rid of her mites, she is putting them where YOU can get them although I don't know why the mites just don't run up to their backs.
Watch where you walk:))

Jen said...

I've never seen any of my birds spread out on the ground like that. Very odd.
But now you just wait...I probably will today. ha.
Great pictures;have a Happy Wednesday.

amelia said...

I'm so jealous of your cardinals, we are just too far north for them. :(

We do have northern flickers but they don't come to the feeders they just poke around for ants and grubs on our field bed and they are all over the sides of our dirt road. Same with the pileated woodpeckers. They are nesting in the trees around us but never come to the feeders either. Too bad for us!!

diane b said...

You have such a big variety of birds and I admire your photography. Birds are not easy to capture. The red Cardinal is stunning.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Whatever the reason for that Titmouse's position,it is comical.I am just a little jealous of all your beautiful birds.It seems that most birds have deserted us. :(
Oh well.I will enjoy your via the blog.Thanks.
Blessings,Ruth

Harriet said...

We don't have near as many birds as you do. We have a nice shade tree at the back of our house that the birds love to hide in and it is so nice to listen to them sing.

Dorothy said...

My first thought was that the Titmouse was a young one that had fallen out of the nest! Great pictures of your many birds!!

Dorothy said...

My first thought was that the Titmouse was a young one that had fallen out of the nest! Great pictures of your many birds!!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Red bird is a real beauty!

Anonymous said...

I loooove Cardinals! They're all great shots, but especially that last one, great detail! Very nice work, Betsy!!!

Have a great week

Catherine said...

So many pretty birds you have ~ it must be pure joy to sit out in your yard ~ lucky you!

Have a lovely Wednesday Betsy!
xo Catherine

Sunny said...

It really is a joy to see your bird pictures :)
I always thought that when a bird spread it's wings like the little Titmouse, they were cooling off - but maybe not.
Enjoy your day!
☼ Sunny

Busy Bee Suz said...

These little beauties are so cute...love how you can imagine their different personalities too.

Richard said...

Great pictures. I have you beat on the suet....I go through 2 cakes every 4 days.

Dar said...

You ARE fortunate, indeed. The birds are sure loving living by you. I have never had suet feeders in summer, mostly due to them attracting the bears and coon to the feeders. Next thing I know, my feeders have been destroyed or carried to the woods and lost to me forever. Love your baby fanning himself. Awesome pictures, as usual with that fancy new camera, Betsy. I can see you are having a blast with it.
BlessYourHeart

NCmountainwoman said...

Sweet photographs. I especially liked the little titmouse. We are in the midst of Hummingbird wars. Big fights at all three feeders. The suet eaters seem to know what the pecking order is and will wait in the trees until the bigger bird leaves.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Betsy, you are lucky to live in an area with a wonderful variety of birds. I enjoy watching the parents bring the little ones to the feeders too.

What kind of suet do you use. It looks a little different than the Kaytee I use.
Marnie

I Am Woody said...

That little guy is just working on his tan;)

Deb said...

Love the cardinals! Fantastic photo's.

MadSnapper said...

daddy c is magnifico and baby c is adorable. i just saw a few minutes ago a bird that might be a flicker, it looks like this, but ony 4 inches tall, could it be?

Diane said...

Great shot of the little titmouse, Betsy. Maybe they're picking up some cool that we can't feel??? Your bird pictures are lovely, I still can't believe the red of the cardinal. Diane

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Awesome pictures Betsy !
The details on your shots are just spectacular, every feather in detail, I get so excited just seeing the colors and the expressions on their little faces.
All on a mission, and we get to share :)
It's slightly cooler, what joy :)

Valerie said...

Love your baby birds. That was really interesting about the belly on the hot ground - I'm gonna have to look for that.

Anonymous said...

I am so fond of Woodpeckers! Your photo's are fantastic! That Tufted Titmouse looks like it is enjoying the sun, doesn't it? Our rain yesterday was a 5 minute blast and then nothing more. Maybe a steady rainfall today? Who knows!

Folkways Note Book said...

Hello -- I'm a first time visitor. You have some wonderful shots of the birds that visit your feeder. I'm from the state adjacent to yours -- Ky. The Cumberland's are not that far from me. I will stop in again -- barbara

Ginny Hartzler said...

Just wonderful pictures, Betsy! And that tip about the cardinals beak is one I will use! The male cardinal looks too thin! But I don't know how that can be with the way you feed them...perhaps the babies are wearing him to a frazzle. The titmouse is a scream!! You would think he was in jured if you didn't know better. Maybe you have magic wood. Have you tried Googling birds stomachs on wood? Maybe I'll do that, it couldn't hurt.

Anonymous said...

Great variety you have. Love the pileated! Have not been feeding the birds this summer due to the bears!

From the Kitchen said...

Betsy, I just love "birding" on your blog. Wonderful photos this morning. I hope you, George and the birds are keeping cool. It is sweltering in our parts.

Best,
Bonnie

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Hi Betsy! Looks like all is well in your neck of the woods and you are surviving the heat!

Beautiful pictures!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: You are so lucky, it seems that lately I'm feeding the different blackbirds. They aren't even that pretty.

Loui♥ said...

gorgeous shots Betsy!!
loved them all!
warm sandy hugs..
Loui♥

EcoRover said...

Great pics as always, Betsy. The photo of the belly rubbing Titmouse is amazing--I have seen birds dust themselves but never do this--so cool!

Unknown said...

OMGosh! We just recently happened upon a Pileated woodpecker & nearly drove off the road, our first viewing experience ever ... enroute to church. I could not focus on what the priest said, I just wanted to get home & find THAT BIRD! There were 2 of them ... they looked so prehistoric in appearance. We were so excited ... & every time we go by that area we look for them. We have an Audubon large acreage area just up the road a couple miles.

Oh, sorry, got carried away ... love your pics. Today we did Alaskan wildlife & there were some ducks or geese in there.

Have a lovely summer's eve ~
TTFN ~ Marydon

Unknown said...

what amazing photos! thanks for sharing them with us.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Don't you feel that these birds are like a little "bonus" in life that we can enjoy!!! I always get a little excited to see them and feel so lucky!!!

penny said...

Betsy, you are luck to have to have so many beautiful birds come to your feeders. Their portraits are gorgeous.
I wonder if you could take them as a tax exemption, after all to do house and feed them.
Just a thought ;)

Leedra said...

Wonderful bird friend photos. Especially like Daddy Cardinal.

Dylan said...

I like the red one. I'm from SL Benfica, Portugal...

Glenda said...

My, oh my! Love these pics - especially the male cardinal and the northern flicker! You really get some good close ups!

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Love your photos! We enjoy watching birds, but haven't been sucessful in getting a great variety to our yard. There is a sanctuary FILLED with many kinds of birds less than 5 miles from our home, but...not much variety here.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Amazing photos....love the birds...and you capture them perfectly...

Fred Alton said...

Betsy, your pictures are truly outstanding! I loved looking at the birds and reading about their habits. I might try some suet at the cabin - but not sure what other critters might be attracted beside birds. I know there are bear, wild hogs, wild turkeys, and a few squirrels...so I'm thinking of trying to put a strong chain on a feeder. Meantime I enjoy your picures.

Bill said...

You have a wonderful bird life in TN

Anonymous said...

I loved your pictures of the birds, all so colorful and in sharp focus.

Kelly said...

It's all going on at your place, but Red steals the show for me! I like the new look (it's been a while since I've been around, so it might not be a new look, but it is for me!). Hope all is well. I think we will be in your neighborhood in September! I'll keep you posted...

Adrienne Zwart said...

Wonderful shots of the birds at your feeders, Betsy!

Regina said...

What a delightful views in your backyard.
Awesome captures Betsy.

Janie said...

You have lots of activity at your feeders! I'm jealous of your cardinals (we don't see them here), and the great variety of woodpeckers that come to visit you!

Connie said...

You're lucky to have so many beautiful visitors, Betsy. You've got some really great shots in this post. I always thought the birds did that on their tummy thing because they were too hot. They look funny when they do it.

Love Of Quilts said...

Its good you can tell me what so many of the birds are...cause if they are not red or blue or black I could not tell what they are...even seeing them on your blog without seeing them up close I still don't think I would be able to name them....I'm trying to learn some of them. Trish

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh Betsy, you always have so many great birds coming to your feeders. The little cardinal is so cute, it looks like daddy is doing a good job of training him.

I am just imagining what it must sound like with all the song birds in your yard. Very sweet music indeed.

Anonymous said...

I love the cardinals. They are everywhere around here. They get on your car and look at themselves in the mirrors. I have a woodpecker, too. He sometimes pecks on my gutters and drives me wild. I have so many trees you would think he would leave the gutters alone! Enjoyed your photos. They are great.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

You are so fortunate, Betsy! I love your bird photos as we don't see such a variety here unless we go to the wildbird refuge during migration seasons.

PS You have a SPAM a few comments above me --I know you like to get rid of them right away just like I do.

The Retired One said...

Wow...some of my FAVORITE birds...pileateds, cardinals and flickers....I LOVE them and they are too shy here to come to any feeders...you are so lucky!

Mary said...

You have a great variety of birds right now! That little cardinal is sure cute :-) What a funny thing the Titmouse is doing! I know you have posted photos of that before and I have never seen birds doing that. So strange. So many woodpeckeres! It seems like I only see the downys right now. They do love the suet.