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, May 15, 2013

New and COLORFUL Birds to My Feeders

American Cardinal (male)
Here are some of the latest Backyard Birds in and around my yard recently.  Today I'll show you a little color!!!!  Above is a regular,  our male American Cardinal.  Isn't he gorgeous?  This is the prettiest time of year for the male birds!

Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements... Hope you enjoy them!




Pine Siskins (eating me out of 'house and home') plus one Goldfinch!
Since we have SO many of these little finches (as many as 30+ at a time),  I must share another picture of some of our many Pine Siskins. We have quite a few Goldfinches also--but the Pine Siskins outnumber all of them.




Eastern Bluebird (female)
Our Bluebirds are busy taking care of their babies... They go back and forth to the nestbox all day long... This is Mama Blue at the mealworm feeder.   Bluebirds are very protective of their nest.  AND--I found out that they do NOT like Blue Jays AT ALL.  Every time a Blue Jay comes around,  the Bluebirds dive-bomb the Blue Jay....  But--they don't seem to bother any of the other birds... Wonder why?????




Purple Finch (male)
Our Purple Finches (at least 2 of them) are still around...  This is not a very good photo since it was getting dark --and since I was shooting through the screen door... BUT--you can still see how beautiful he is.




Purple Finch (female)
The female Purple Finch looks alot like other little brown birds.  She is, however, larger than the other similar finches.  She and her male friend are ALWAYS together.




Purple Finches
Here's a photo of both the male and female Purple Finches.  They love to each take a side of the feeder and munch out on black-oil sunflower seeds.  (That is suet on either end of this feeder.)   Whoever named this bird a "Purple" Finch must have been color-blind.  Their color is not purple at all.  It's a very deep rose/raspberry color.



Indigo Buntings (males)
This is a new 'life' bird for me... It's the first time I have ever seen one of these.  They were in my neighbor's yard ---and that beautiful blue color really stands out.  These are two male Indigo Buntings. 




I zoomed and cropped to get a closer shot of the Indigo Buntings.   Wish I could get them to come to the feeders.  I read that they like thistle, nyger, and mealworms... I have all three.  Aren't they beautiful?  I got SO SO SO excited!!!!




Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)
A couple of times a year,  the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks visit us (spring and late Fall) as they migrate through the area.  On April 30,   I saw a female Grosbeak...  They are such unique little birds.  Love her big white eyebrow!!!!!




Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)
THEN---on May 2,   I saw a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Aren't they just gorgeous?  Talk about colorful!!!!!! 




Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)
Here's one more shot of the male Grosbaek----with his mouth full!!!!!! ha ha  (They really love the black-oil sunflower seeds.)

Hope you enjoyed seeing all of the COLORFUL birds at my feeders recently... Birding is just so exciting!!!!

Be sure to 'fly' over to my Photo Blog NOW (click HERE) to see a great photo from Ocean Isle Beach.

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,

48 comments:

Ms. A said...

If you and other bloggers didn't post all these amazing birds, I'd never get to see them! This is quite a nice variety and I KNOW you'll have more for me.

eileeninmd said...

I love the Grosbeaks! It is there bird that started my interest in birding. Gorgeous photos, Betsy!

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful Betsy, a lovely assortment of feathered friends. Have a great day, you have started mine off with a smile.

Small Kucing said...

"flying" over there now :)

Beth said...

Thanks for beginning my day with your lovely birds. I got a kick at the way the red bird seems to be looking at you --somewhat quizzical.
I'm happy to see another bird challenging the blue jays. When I had bird feeders, the blue jays were quite aggressive and bullied the other birds.
Those Indigo buntings are beautiful.
The rose-breasted grosbeak female looks so delicate and sweet.
Such simple joy these creatures bring to us!:>) Thanks for sharing them with us, Betsy.♥b

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the Indigo Buntings - gorgeous. ( :

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

All your birdie friends are gorgeous! I don't have think we have that many different kinds of birds at our feeders.

Marcia said...

Love those indigo buntings. Sarah and I saw one along the road side one morning. I've seen them occasionally in the wetlands at the bottom of my driveway but they have never come into my yard that I've seen.

My first seen this week was a Kentucky warbler that hit the window and lived. Photos on my blog.

Bluebirds here a busy getting insects so those eggs must have hatched.

Snap said...

Your feathered friends are indeed colorful. I don't get the selection of birds that you do, but I enjoy each and every visitor.

Janice K said...

The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks finally got here this week. I haven't seen any of the Indigo Buntings yet. I hope they come back.

Hope you have a family of baby bluebirds again this year.

Big Dude said...

Looks like you are having quite a selection stop by. The Cardinal shot is great - looks like he stopped to pose for you

linda m said...

Love the pictures of your birds. I have some of the same birds you have and really enjoy watching them. Yes, the finches eat me out of house and home as well; as do the Red-winged Blackbirds and the Grackles.

Donna said...

What a wonderful grouping! Lovely photos. We saw an Indigo bunting for the first time in our area not too long ago. Love the color of their feathers!

MadSnapper said...

love the indigo birds and that male grosbeak. awesome colors on them.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

That cardinal shot is spectacular! your feeders certainly bring in some interesting and beautiful birds. Love the indigos. We don't see them much here.

Busy Bee Suz said...

I never understood why the Purple Finches weren't purple either. :)
Those buntings are just gorgeous, I would have been excited as well!
I have a plethora of vibrant cardinals too, I never tire of them!

LV said...

With a little help from you, nature has you surrounded by the best of beauty.

Sylvia K said...

Such a wonderful variety of beautiful, colorful birds, Betsy! And such great captures!! A lovely way to start my day!! Thanks for sharing!! Hope your week is going well!!

Nellie said...

Such wonderful photographs of those lovely birds! Hugs, Nellie

Chatty Crone said...

That redbird in the first pic was fantastic. Now do you get to see them that close or does your camera? I loved your photos. Hugs my friend. sandie

Dorothy said...

Don't you just love it when those migrating birds stop by your yard!!!!
Beautiful!

imac said...

Lovely

Small City Scenes said...

Aren't those Pine Siskins a hoot. Yes they will eat you out of house and home. I always love your bird series. What a thrill to see a 'new' bird. gorgeous. MB

Linda P said...

I get excited when I see our robins around the place so imagine how delightful it is to see so many of your different birds that are not found in the UK. The indigo buntings do stand out. I'm sure you will be looking out for them again.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Betsy, I am so excited FOR you! I know how exciting it is to put ANY new bird on your life list, let alone a gorgeous one like the Buntings!!!! We have seen one only once, up on Skyline Drive, and ONLY one, you are so lucky to have a PAIR!!!! I SO hope they find your feeder, then you can show us MORE!! And BABIES!!!! Baby buntings!! There used to be an old song about baby bunting, that would be good to put on the baby bunting post. Did you know that they are not REALLY blue?? They are a very drab grey or brown. Their feathers have a special reflective ability to make them LOOK blue. I am not kidding, look it up. MR. cardinal looks like he is looking quizzically at YOU!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Beautiful birds. I thought I had all the line Siskins at my house.It is almost a full time job to keep the feeder full.Spring is the best time of year.

Linda G. said...

You captured wonderful photographs of the birds; so many colors! I saw one Indigo Bunting a couple years ago. They are such pretty birds. I wish I would see another one some day!

Grandma Bonnie said...

You sure do have such pretty birds at your feeder. I can hardly wait to travel home and watch our new feeders. Just reading all you awesome bird posts have made me add new feeders to our yard and start reading up on nest watching.

Connie said...

Fantastic photos of your colorful back yard birds! They are so pretty and cheerful to see.

Ann said...

gorgeous birds. Those indigo buntings are beautiful and so is that rose breasted grosbeak

Rohrerbot said...

Oh my oh my!!! So many awesome birds in this post!!! I have yet to see half of them!!!! First off, congrats on the IB!!! That is exciting. It means you can splurge and take George out for dinner and celebration!

I always wonder how I'll recognize the Purple Finches from the House Finches. Some of those birds can be very very tricky. Cassin's I can tell, but Purple.....maybe I'll know it when I see them someday. Love your post!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Gorgeous bird photos Betsy!

Carletta said...

I bet given a little time the buntings will see all those other beautiful birds flying to your feeders and finally tag along. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Exciting that you actually saw them.
The grosbeaks are indeed lovely birds. Wish they would visit me. :)
Happy Birding Betsy!

Marie said...

That cardinal is a ham! I enjoyed all these photos! I'll be back later to show hubby...he will love these. :)
hugs,
marie

HolleyGarden said...

The male rose-breasted grosbeak is so pretty. And the eyebrow of the female makes it look as if she's keeping her eye on him! ;) But those indigo buntings are just gorgeous. It's amazing to me that birds are adorned with such vibrant colors.

Kay said...

Good photos

Shug said...

goodness....that is a beautiful color of red on all these little birds. Gorgeous actually!! I'm gonna have to get me some feeders so I can get some birds coming around here...In the meantime, I'll enjoy yours...
Hugs to you..
shug

Rose ~ from Oz said...

WOW - stunning - amazing!
I would be intoxicated with sheer delight at having these beauties visit my feeders! I really really understand your excitement Betsy.
I always try and pick a favourite as they are all so foreign to me so... it's the male Cardinal gets it from me today!! :)
I just loved this post so much.
xx

Arkansas Patti said...

I have only seen one indigo bunting and it was here in Arkansas. They are stunning.
You really do have a lovely variety but then you put out such a varied menu which attracts all kinds. Really nice work.

Rose said...

Great shots...wish I had bluebirds...mom always had some that nested in the back yard.

Andrea said...

These are lovely colors of your birds and nicely shot too, but i am waiting for waterfalls, haha!

A Colorful World said...

Id be VERY excited if I saw an indigo bunting! They are beautiful! Your whole post is just so lovely with color! I do love the grosbeaks also.

Hope the rain is past now and that it isn't too hot yet. Our hot season is upon us, with 90's and some threats of 100 degrees very imminent. Our rainy season won't start for about another month(when the REAL heat will also arrive!) and I'll be so glad when it does....get a little break from the constant watering of my garden I'm doing right now! :-)

All my best!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Your photos are fantastic, Betsy! I love the Indigo Bunting. We had one come to our feeder 2 years in a row, but haven't seen him lately. I've only seen a Grosbeak here just once. They are so colorful. I'm a fellow bird-lover, you know, so I've enjoyed your photos!

Catherine said...

You always have the most colorful birds!!
xo Catherine

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

hello Betsy, All your birds at your feeders are so very lovely but I LOVE those Indigo Buntings. Their color is such a intense blue. I saw some at our bird feeder a couple of years ago.. They seem to come and go quickly. Hugs Judy

Anonymous said...

So many delightful birds! Lovely.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Wow! Betsy, your photos of the birds are awesome! What beautiful birds. You take excellent photos. I sure love birds. It's so relaxing to watch them at the feeder. Thank you for sharing your splendid photos.

Joe Todd said...

Thanks for putting a smile on my face today.