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 18, 2012

More Backyard Birds

Tufted Titmouse
Last week,  I showed you pictures of  10 different Backyard Birds at my feeders  (click HERE for that post)....  Today,  I'll share a few more which have recently been here to visit.

Birds I showed you last week:  Red-headed Woodpecker,  Bluejay,  Brown Thrasher,  Red-Bellied Woodpeckers,  Mourning Dove,  Northern Cardinal,  Goldfinches,  House Finches,  Downy Woodpecker and the Eastern Bluebird.   Today--I'll show some of these again,  but will add SIX more:  Tufted Titmouse,  White-breasted Nuthatch,  Pileated Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren and a Hairy Woodpecker...

Others that come regularly which I haven't gotten a picture of yet are:  Carolina Chickadee and a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, whose feeders are in different locations...  During other seasons,  I have American Robins (yes--they come to the feeders),  Northern Flicker Woodpeckers (don't know where they are this summer),  Dark-eyed Juncos (winter only),  and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (migrate through here in Spring and Fall)...

We have plenty of other birds around --but these are the ones who come to my Bird Kitchen!!!!!!  Hope you enjoy another installment of my Summer Birds..  Be sure to click on the photos to see them larger.

White-breasted Nuthatch





Pileated Woodpecker on top of the Arbor
This woodpecker is trying so hard to find a way to get down to the Suet feeder!!!  I enjoyed watching him... Think he's a young Pileated....


Gray Catbird
This Catbird looks dark enough to be a Cowbird ---but his 'mew' sound  (which sounds like a baby crying) tells me that he is a Catbird (plus the fact that he doesn't have a brown head)...




Male Northern Cardinal
This male Cardinal --with his tuft standing up--just looks so regal,  doesn't he????  Such a beautiful bird....  (Colin--enjoy him!!!!)




Female Northern Cardinal
Could it be that Mr. Cardinal has a 'lady friend' above him in the plate feeder???????  Isn't she beautiful also?????  (That is one of our many Goldfinches beside her.)




Mourning Dove --and a Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker
This is a good picture of our 'resident' Mourning Dove... We have two of them who come to the feeders regularly... Such beauties!!!!




Carolina Wren
I love the little Carolina Wrens...   The only problem we ever have with them is that they want to nest in our garage.  We won't let them because at times when we are gone,  that garage can get very very hot, since it stays closed up...  SO--we are constantly 'shooing' them out of the garage during the daytime when it is open.



Hairy Woodpecker
I'm excited to finally get a picture of this bird at the suet feeder.  He (they) don't come very often --but I have seen them a few times---always when I am not near the camera.  This time I captured him.. He is a Hairy Woodpecker...  He is similar to a Downy (which we have LOTS of) ---but much larger and with a much longer beak....  What a beauty!!!



Red-headed Woodpecker
I must show you one more picture of the prettiest birds  (well--besides our Bluebirds) at the feeders these days...  Isn't he gorgeous?




Pileated woodpecker
Finally,  here is another picture showing that Mr. Pileated  did make it to the suet feeder... Instead of flying down from the top,  he started at the plate feeder--and flew UP to the suet feeder.. Smart one, he is!!!!  (That yellow thing in the picture is our rain gauge --which is hooked to the arbor.   It had SIX inches in it last week!!!!)

More Bird News:   There are 2 baby Bluebirds in the nestbox,  plus one egg which hasn't hatched yet..  They should fledge about August 1st.....  So exciting!

Have a great day.  And Happy Birthday to my eldest son today...  Bert is 49 years young today.... YIPES---that makes me ANCIENT...... (I was 20 when he was born!)

Hugs,
Betsy

61 comments:

Ms. A said...

Happy Birthday, Bert!

Betsy, these shots are wonderful! Are you taking them through the glass patio doors, or are you outside... or, do you have the camera set up outside and using a shutter remote?

diane b said...

The Hairy Woodpecker is a beauty but like Colin I love the Cardinal. You have such a big variety of birdies in your yard.

Snap said...

Happy Birthday to Bert. Lovely feathered friends you have, Betsy!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a wonderful array of birds you have there. Great photos.

FlowerLady

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Your house is like an aviary!

Happy birthday to your son :-)

Unknown said...

I love these pics, such variety of birds. I like the red cardinal..
Have a great day!

Hugs
Eva

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a wonderful variety of beautiful birds visit your feeders.
I love then all!
Have a happy day, Betsy.

mamahasspoken said...

I'm still jealous in that all I get are crows at my feeders. Sure, I get a few other birds, but then the flock of crows come and chase all the other birds away. What do you do to keep them away?

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love seeing the Pileated,but is a rare occurrence here.Also the Redheaded Woodpecker,is a beauty and One I see too seldom.

I Am Woody said...

I just love the call of a Mourning Dove.

Hope Bert has the Happiest of Birthdays!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i see several of those dudes around our parts too ... gorgeous views. i wish i could capture them ... they fly so quickly. you must be a quick snapper. ha. ha!! i need some lesson do you teach? i need your wisdom. i'm a great student. i think??! ha. ha!! (:

Randy said...

Betsy,
I didn't put out food for the birdies one time this year. I need to make a bigger effort to do that. You have a lot of beautiful visitors!

Connie said...

Great pictures, Betsy. I love the red-headed woodpecker one.

Dorothy said...

I'm loving all your bird pictures, but that Red-headed Woodpecker is my favorite!! He's a patriotic red, white and blue!! We have a couple of those that have a yen for our utility pole! I would have thought they would prefer a tree.
Happy Wednesday!

Marcia said...

I have many of the same birds visit here but am not as agile with a camera to capture them. We don't have the red-headed woodpecker, though but have all the others. Our pileated woodpeckers are very wild and never come to the feeders. We hear them more than see them with their drumming or their laughing call as they fly through the woods. Thank you for the bird tour. I enjoyed it.

Linda G. said...

Happy birthday to Bert! I haven't been taking pictures at our feeders, as the only birds I've seen have been the goldfinches. Nice pictures, all of them.

Shilpa said...

Wow! Lovely birds captured Betsy! I love all the birds here esp. the red woodpecker and cardinals. I’m sure u might not happy driving away the Carolina Wrens… But I love your care for them.

Happy birthday Bert.

Hugs
Shilpa

Hootin Anni said...

Spectacular bird photos Betsy. You should seriously consider joining my new Bird Meme...all birding photos. There are some great birds around the world, and the meme shows off some super images.

My youngest turned 40 this year...I think I had a more difficult time accepting the fact than he did. Happy birthday to the 49 yr. old!!

Rose said...

Very nice series. Seems like in the last few years I have seen so many red-headed woodpeckers. There are even a couple in our neighborhood, but they are very, very shy. And there is a Pileated woodpecker we see occasionally...I am thinking he probably lives down by the railroad.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Beautiful birds! I am so jealous of those six inches..I think we have topped out at around 2 and that was a two week struggle to get there. :(

Janice K said...

I wondered if your Pilated would enjoy your new "kitchen." Looks like the suet was just to irrisistable. How neat to have that red head sticking around too.

Enjoy your day!

Serenity Cove said...

Always love seeing your birds.
My bluebirds have their third nesting in the same box.
Lucky for you getting all that rain. SEND SOME OUR WAY!!! Still no rain here. I cut down a lot of my flowers because they looked so bad! It's been a very depressing summer here:(

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Looking at your lovely bird photos makes me think that I haven't seen a red-headed woodpecker this year! I wonder why not? Usually we have them. But I've never seen a pilated woodpecker, they're an interesting bird! I'm still seeing the bluebirds, I'm happy about that!

Beth said...

Oh Betsy...I've got to admit to being a little jealous of both your variety of birds and your six inches of rain! But I'm delighted that you're sharing the birds with us (and I'm sure you'd share the rain if you could!). Your pictures are wonderful, as always. We had a Carolina wren nest in Tom's toolbox this year. She and her three little babies are still there, but look to be leaving soon. Tom will be glad to be able to access his toolbox again! :-)

Susie Swanson said...

Happy Birthday to your son.. Those are great shots of them up close..You sure do have a nice variety .. The red head woodpecker I like the most and those catbirds are something else..Haven't heard any of those this year yet.. Hope you have a nice week..Susie

Beth said...

I esp. like the nuthatch and the hairy woodpecker, but they are all lovely.

Sylvia K said...

I do love your beautiful winged visitors, Betsy! And your captures are delightful! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!

Tabor said...

What a terrific collection of feathered friends!!!!

TexWisGirl said...

great collection of birds!

happy b-day to your son!

Unknown said...

You do spoil the birds so! I love the red headed woodpecker..

Out on the prairie said...

what beautiful friends you have

happyone said...

Terrific photos! The birds must give you hours and hours of entertainment!

blueskyartist said...

Wow, gorgeous shots, Betsy! I have a feeling I would be very entertained in your yard!

DeniseinVA said...

Love looking at your backyard birds, a wonderful variety you have there. Have a great day Betsy.

Becca's Dirt said...

Happy birthday to Bert. Great photos of the sweet things. Have you given them names yet??? I think entire bird families hang out in your yard. Bless ya'll for feeding the little families.

joy said...

Thanks for sharing your birds to us. I really love looking at them and by the way, happy birthday to your son:)

Kay said...

Love the Pileated Woodpecker. Have never seen any of those before.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

You got an exceptionally good shot of that male cardinal. He just looks so proud.

Ann said...

Regal was the exact word that came to mind when I saw the cardinal. He is a beauty. We have several mourning doves that visit our yard. I love to hear their call

Anonymous said...

Such pretty photos. I love the Cardinal, especially. Have a good night.

Arkansas Patti said...

Happy Birthday Bert.
Love all your birds but especially the doves. They remind me of gentle, little old people the way the walk.
That was a dark cat bird. They are a favorite of mine also.
Hasn't the rain been wondeful? I am actually mowing again.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Hey there Betsy!
You never cease to amaze me with your sweet birdie photos. I have a feeling you leave out some of the best seed in the 'hood....and they love you for that. Luckily, we get to see them all through your lens!
xo

Miss Debbie said...

Wow...you sure know your birds! Great pictures. That male cardinal IS regal looking...really pretty! You asked about the beach..it is Jekyll Island off the GA coast. My hubby grew up close by so we have always gone there when visiting his family. Started renting a house 14 years ago. We love it because it is very natural and not very developed.

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

Great shots of the birds that feed at your kitchen. They are so well mannered!
Happy B-day to your son.

Karin said...

I can't believe the number of different birds you host in your neck of the woods on the plateau! Such gorgeous photos! That Cardinal is certainly strutting his stuff!

Nellie said...

Happy birthday to Bert!

There are many crows who want to settle around here! Not our favorite.:(

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

Quite a collection of birds you have in your backyard. Nice shots, all.

Darryl and Ruth :)

Rohrerbot said...

Wonderful Betsy!!! Thanks for sharing all you beautiful birds. I really like all the Woodpeckers but the pick that stole my heart is the one of the juvenile Mourning doves. Adorable. You certainly have a diverse population at your feeders. I can't imagine a world without feeders around:) Have a great evening!

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, I love all your backyard birds. Especially the Pileated and the Hairy is cool too. Happy Birthday to your Bert. Hope he had a great day.

Jeevan said...

Its great bird watching in your blog... I learn more about the bird kinds here! I have captured a woodpecker that’s very similar to Pileated in my courtyard lately. All birds are precious in their own unique way and I enjoyed these birds sight here.

Birthday wishes to your son :)

Small Kucing said...

Lovely birds. Love the woodpecker and northern cardinal. Happy birthday to your son

Mary said...

We get most of the same birds. Lovely to see them all! I've been seeing a lot of titmice...think some must be young ones. Glad they are successful here since I like them so much.

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Happy belated birthday to Bert! And I'm so impressed that you can identify all those varieties of birds, Betsy! Every time I read your posts, I am moved and amazed at how in touch you are with the natural world around you -- and it makes me want to stop, listen, watch and notice all these everyday miracles!

Grandma Bonnie said...

You have awesome knowledge of birds. I need to start watching our feeders. We have lots of birds that come and drink from our Koi pond. I need to get a book and start learning their names. Hope you have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Amazing shots.

Neal said...

Betsy, I must say that you sure get some good bird pictures. My favorite in this bunch...the wren.

Shug said...

I think my favorite of all the birds are the red birds and the wood peckers. Such beauty!! I tried this past week to take some shots of a red bird that hangs out around her....The thing is way to fast for me..
Enjoyed each one of these pictures..
Shug

Chatty Crone said...

Oh Betsy - I have a lot of those birds but I just can't get a great picture of them like you do with your camera. I have just one thing to say - be careful those woodpeckers will ruin your deck! I know - been there and done that. Love, sandie

Lynn said...

Hmm, I will try once more. I just did a comment and it gave me an error when I tried to post. Let's see, my parents had a beautiful yard and we had several species of birds use the birdbaths and the birch trees in particular. I remember complaining on a weekend when the windows were open, how the noisy woodpeckers would wake me up way too early with all their pecking. Nice memories.

Catherine said...

The little nuthatches are such happy little birds. I love their plastic squeaky toy chirp. We have the red chested ones here in Saskatchewan. I would like to see a white chested one. Cute!
xo C

BlueShell said...

Oh...all those birds are lovely and cute!!!
xoxo
BShell