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...

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Summer Backyard Birds

Trips and vacations are nice,  but it's also nice to get home to see all of the precious little backyard birds which are eagerly awaiting me to get home and fill their feeders!!!!  Here are some recent photos of some of my little sweeties.  Above is one of our MANY Hummingbirds this year... For the past couple of years,  we hadn't seen very many here,  but we have a big group of them this year...


Another cute picture of a 'hummer';  They are such busy little guys!!!


And here's one more 'hummer' picture for you. 



Two precious Carolina Wrens trying to get to the suet feeder....  (I think the outside one pushed his way in and got there first!!!! ha)



Here's a beautiful male Northern Cardinal... He's had a busy summer being 'Daddy'...  AND--he looks a little weary, don't you think?  Look at the back of his head.  He's beginning to molt.



Here's a cute little female House Finch... She was one of the biggest Finches I have seen.



A favorite woodpecker of mine,  the Northern Flicker;  Such a gorgeous bird!



And finally,  I just cannot do a bird post without adding one of these gorgeous birds,  the Pileated Woodpecker.  They are such a joy to watch!!!!

Have you noticed that I've had to start water-marking my photos?  Both George and I have had trouble with someone stealing our photos and using them as their own.  Hopefully,  the watermark will help!!!!!   GOSH---why can't people just be honest?

Have a great Tuesday.
Hugs,

54 comments:

Twilight Man said...

I wanted to scream in excitement to see this handsome molting Northern Cardinal birdie! It is so unusual to me.
All your birds look nice and they were so patient to wait for you. Now who invented the word 'bird brains'? They are smart indeed.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Looks like you've had a garden full of Hummingbirds this year, we've been getting them in spurts.
Love seeing your birds Betsy, and this close, you can count the feathers :)
It's suppose to be a little cooler today, I sure hope they are correct !
~Jo

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely shots

Beth said...

The redbird does look a bit harried--somewhat like us getting gray hair! Ha!

Love the hummingbirds--haven't had any here this year.

That is a big house Finch! Love the Northern Flicker and the Pilated Woodpeckers always have a great expression in their eyes!


Great post to start my day--thanks, Bets. And thanks for your encouragement about my son. Yes, in some cases, divorce is the best option.

diane b said...

The cardinal looks all tuckered out from a busy summer. Maybe he has been henpecked. A lovely flock of birds and super shots, a shame someone has used your pics as their own.

penny said...

Fantastic shots, Betsy.. I love the little humming birds and all the beautiful birds that come to visit.

Hugs,
Pam

From the Kitchen said...

I love those two Carolina wrens. They look like they are auditioning for the Rockettes.

Best,
Bonnie

Ruth Hiebert said...

Love all those birds.My personal favourite is the Pileated,perhaps just because I don't see them very often.

ruthinian said...

wow... this is awesome. you got lots of little friends paying you a visit huh. We have some bird feeders scattered around our yard too. I just don't get the chance to sit longer outside to wait for them and take pictures. I am constant on the move. lol

TexWisGirl said...

love all of these, but hands down, the wrens were my favorite!

DeniseinVA said...

Beautiful photos of these delightful birds Betsy. My post is also about birds. I love to look at them, so entertaining.

Neal said...

Very,very nice. There was a hummingbird feed (2 actually) at the place where we had the family reunion and it was like a beehive. There were so many that there would be no ports for some to eat at.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Oh no! How did you find out your photos got stolen?!

Love hummingbirds. You got some great shots!

Catherine said...

So many pretty birds Betsy! Poor little fella that is moulting!!

Happy Tuesday!
xo Catherine

linda m said...

Always love your bird pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I love the hummingbird pics! Yes you should mark your photos, they are beautiful....

Arkansas Patti said...

Hum, I wonder if I am molting. That would explain a lot:))
Great shots Betsy and too bad you have to mark you pictures. Actually it a form of flattery, no one steals mine.

MadSnapper said...

the Carolina wrens are my favorite today and second is the northern flicker. so sweet hummers.
the thing is about the watermarks, is they are super easy to remove, on yours, i could remove it in under 30 seconds in photos shop. if it is big and goes across through the middle it is hard to remove but can be done with time. it beats me why people want to use things as their own. how did you find out, did you see one of your on another blog? the good thing about the water mark, is with it there, if you find it on a blog with it removed, you can prove it is yours.

Ms. A said...

The cardinal looks like something took a bite out of him. Kids will do that to you.

You might want to make that watermark bigger.

Snap said...

Beautiful shots, Betsy and yes, Daddy cardinal looks like he's had a hard summer with his kids!!!!

Reanaclaire said...

Last time i also used to water mark my photos but it is taking a lot of my time.. in the end, i didnt... i just hope that they wont come and take our pictures..
Betsy, your trademark is so small, they can just crop your name out too..

Janice K said...

Yes, indeed...Daddy Cardinal looks a like the kids just about did him in. Neat pictures!

Just curious...How did you find out someone was using your pictures?

Tabor said...

That wren photo needs to be set to music. Looks like they are dancing.

Becca's Dirt said...

Thieves are stealing everything. I hate people who steal. Betsy you have the busiest yard with visitors and so many different ones too. Love the pics.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You know I love your bird posts!!! And my favorite today is the two wrens!! It cracked me up, because they look like they are doing a dance move! All they need is a lead singer in front of them!! Was it a blogger who stole your pictures and put them on her blog? How many times? Tell me...

Ginny Hartzler said...

Sandra is right about removing the watermark, but a lot of people don't know how to do that. BUT this will detract someone, who will find it too much trouble to mess with, and a warning, so maybe they will go on to an easier place.

happyone said...

I always getting back home after being away too.
Great photos. The cardinal looks like he's been in a few fights!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Betsy, you know I love the birdies! I enjoyed all your photos, but especially love the shot of the wrens. The way they are standing, just alike, makes me smile! I wish I could put out suet blocks, but as soon as I do the pesky Grackles show up and devour one in a matter of minutes. I do not like those birds!
Sorry someone is stealing your photos. How do you know when it happens? Why can't people take their own photos? The lazy bums!! Have a nice day, we're going to enjoy cooler temps this week. Yay!

Jo said...

Hi Betsy;) I just love the Carolina Wrens although they're all beautiful birds as are your photos. How awful that people steal your photos. How did you find out? Have a great day, (((hugs))) Jo

carolina nana said...

We have had an abundance of Hummingbirds here also this year.
Everyday I see at least one at my feeders.
Hope you are having a blessed day
Marilyn

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Like so many others, I'm curious as to how you learned that some of your photos had been stolen. I've wondered about my own but didn't think mine were good enough to be at risk. Yours are lovely, though. Interesting little beard on the hummingbird.

Anonymous said...

I miss our variety of birds from Nalley Valley. Thank you for sharing your pictures. I love the Northern Flicker especially. Have a relaxing afternoon.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Wow, Betsy! These photos are fantastic. I just love the hummers. I enjoy watching them at a feeder very much. The cardinal, wren, woodpecker, photos are marvelous. You are a fantastic photographer. I've tried to take photos of the hummingbirds, but they are too fast for me. You are indeed a marvelous photographer. Thanks for the lovely posting and thanks for visiting my blog.

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

Love the wrens...they look like they're dancing! I don't know how you get such great photos of the hummingbirds. Amazing!
It's too bad people can't be honest. Sometimes I think it comes down to the fact that they only think about themselves. That was my 2 cents, for what it was worth.

camp and cottage living said...

Betsy
You do get the most amazing shots. I don't know how you ever capture the humming birds. They won't stay still long enough for me to shot them. Especially today when there are 4 of them fighting each other over the syrup!
I sure hope your watermark helps!

Terry and Linda said...

I don't know why people have to steal...I just don't get it.

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

blueskyartist said...

Gorgeous pics, Betsy, as always! You could work for Nat. Geo Magazine! I love to watch our little hummers, too. You're lucky to get such good photos of them!

Tabor said...

NOT Hee men...Tee Hee Hee men!

mamahasspoken said...

One thing I have enjoyed this summer is sitting on the couch and watching the birds at my feeder. I love how creative some can be when trying to fit on it.

Janie said...

The Carolina wrens look like they're doing a dance duet.
Love the hummingbirds!

imac said...

Pretty birds you have in your garden Betsy.

Together We Save said...

You get the most amazing pictures!! You shots are beautiful.

Sally Wessely said...

There are two things that I really admire about this post:
1. You had your camera ready when the birds showed up.

2. You are such a wiz with photography.

I was just bemoaning on another post that I have yet to see a hummingbird this year. We usually have a yard that attracts them.

I Am Woody said...

Beautiful shots!

Wendy said...

What a lot of activity in your yard! Those bird shots are great. I love hummers, but have yet to photograph one. They're just too darn fast!

You know, Betsy, the best form of flattery is someone taking your stuff. Not that it's o.k., of course. It's not! But your pics are good!

Thanks for sharing.

Chatty Crone said...

Is watermarking putting your name on the picture? Sorry someone is doing that.

And why do birds molt - is that losing their feathers - getting ready for winter?

And I will never understand how in the world you can capture all these birds - they are amazing.

And of course they are beautiful!

Connie said...

I love the picture of the Carolina wrens, Betsy! They really do look like they are dancing. :D

Rose said...

Oh, Betsy, love that one of the wrens. My cardinals...well, one has been looking really rough for a long time but one looks quite handsome.

And I think I could have a bunch of hummingbirds, because I see them quite often but am afraid I would live to regret it with one of my cats...she is a hunter and will go to great lengths to get what she wants.

Also, how did you find that someone was using the photos as their own? I have heard there is a way to find them, but don't remember how. People sure do stoop low, don't they?

Lynda said...

Your birds are always beautiful. A couple of them look like the heat has worked on them a bit.
I saw someone else asked - - - how did you know your photos got stolen?
Is it difficult to watermark them? Perhaps you can tell us how to do that on a blog.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Betsy you know I love your bird visitors!

I'm so sorry to hear your photos are being stolen! How did you find out? I think you will have to make your watermark much larger and pplace it over the middle of your photo if you don't want that to happen again. It's so sad when this happens. :(

Donna said...

I agree that it's been a banner year for the hummers! They fight so much, LOL, and run into the windows every few minutes! The poor cardinal looks bad. Never saw one, molting before! Lovely photos of tweeters...

SquirrelQueen said...

Those hummers are just so cute. The Carolina Wrens look like they are doing a dance, maybe an audition for America's Got Talent.

Sorry to hear someone is taking your photos. I have found many of my photos on Google Images. Some folks don't understand that the images there are not free to use and are copyright protected even though Google states it very plainly.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Hi Betsy.
I bet your birds missed you both while you were tooling around the country this summer. :) LOVE them all.
I did notice you both started watermarking....perhaps that is a lesson for all of us.
xoxo
Suz

Loren said...

Oh my goodness...your birds are adorable!! I LOVE to watch ours each morning and throughout the day! Just a sweet kiss from the Lord...having HIS creation in our backyard...heaven isn't it!