Colorful Spring Birds in our Yard

Northern Cardinal

I gave you a little preview on Friday of some of our wonderful Backyard Birds who have visited the Bird Kitchen this month...  Today---I'll show you more of them!!!!

Hope you enjoy seeing these little beauties.  I especially love them in Spring -in their colors...  This is the season of love and nesting for the birds ---so the area is bustling with songs and joy!!!!!  Thank God for our little BIRDS!!!!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

Brown Thrasher

Goldfinch

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (we always look forward to their visits in Spring and Fall)

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak  (She has a huge long, white eyebrow!)

Another photo of the Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue-Jay (looking for a peanut)

Pileated Woodpecker getting ready to...  (see next photo)

...STRETCH to reach the Suet!!!!  ha ha (crazy birdie)

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker (one of my favorite birds and one of the most gorgeous)

Mama Bluebird ---who is busy (along with Daddy) feeding 4 little mouths in the nestbox!

Well---that's it for today....  Hope you enjoyed seeing more of my precious little Backyard Birds!!!!  They are truly such a joy to watch -and photograph...  OH --and by the way,  we do have some Hummingbirds here now---but no photos yet.

Have a fantastic Monday!!!
Hugs,

Emoticons

More from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia---and a Surprise from Right Here at Home!

In the beautiful Shenandoah Valley --with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background

If you read the April 11th post (click HERE),  you will know that we took a trip to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia from April 6-9, 2014.   There are many highlights from that trip --but today,  I'm going to share more from April 8 as we drove through the Shenandoah Valley on the backroads (between the Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive and our 'home' that week at Strasburg,  VA) late that afternoon. 

We had had a picture-perfect day that day ---and driving through this lovely valley as the sun was setting in the west gave us another opportunity for some great photography.  Hope you enjoy today's set---and if you ever have a chance to visit this area,  GO and DO IT... It's fabulous!!!!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

One of the beautiful old homes along our route

The Shenandoah Valley

Another one of the fabulous old homes in the valley

Oh the Beautiful Shenandoahs!

And one more home/farm in the valley

Cattle are grazing;  Isn't the late afternoon sun just marvelous?

There are many farms in the Shenandoah Valley.

The sunset in the distance was showing off some pretty skies for us as we drove.

I put on the long lens to capture this sky picture as the sun fell behind that mountain range.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now ---to change gears a little,  we are back at home following that trip.  Here are a few photos of some of my Backyard Birds ---who are ALWAYS happy when Mama comes home to feed them!!!

A Gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker Visits my Bird Kitchen!  (photo taken on April 12, 2014)

The Blue Jays are back --and they love the Peanuts (shelled and unshelled) which I put out for them.  I miss these little guys in the winter--so am always happy to see them return.  (photo taken on April 13, 2014)

The Brown Thrashers are also back.  I love these little guys ---but they are gone during the winter also.  (photo taken on April 17, 2014)

 I didn't want you to think I had been neglecting my little birds.  They are always important to me even though I don't take as many photos of them as I once did.  I think I told you this also---but we have some Baby Bluebirds on the way!!!!!  Mom and Dad are working hard ---so hopefully there will be four little fledglings in the near future.  YEAH!!!  Gotta love my Bluebirds!

Hope you enjoyed all of my photos today.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,

Emoticons

2014 Daffodils in our Yard

BRECK'S  COLOSSAL

Hope all of you had a fantastic Easter.  We certainly did -although I've been struggling with an 'stinkin' ole COLD or ALLERGY of some kind.  No FUN!!!  Anyhow--I didn't let that stop me --and we visited George's daughter and hubby --who took us on  a wonderful picnic --plus a hike on a gorgeous Easter Day in TENNESSEE...

Today,  I won't give you lots of words ---but will just ask you to get another cup of coffee (or something) and sit back to view all of the different types of Daffodils we have blooming in our yard this year (2014).  They are prettier this year and have bloomed longer than some previous years... It is interesting to compare one year to the next since each year brings new and different blooms.

I have worked hard to get the names of our Daffodils (if we know them)---but some look so much alike that it does get confusing... I'll try my best though, especially the ones which I know the names. Click on them for enlargements.

EASTER BONNET

A new collection,  QUAIL,  which we purchased this year

ACCENT

WILD CARNIVAL

ORANGE PROGRESS

REPLETE

SPELLBINDER

MON CHERIE

DAD ADAMS' DAFFODILS

LAS VEGAS

PINK CHARM

ROMANCE

FORTISSIMA

SUNNY GIRL

PINK RADIANCE

TAHITI

MOUNT HOOD

Well---what do you think????  This is not all of them,  but will give you most of what we have blooming this year.  You like so many different varieties?  We enjoy seeing what will pop up each year... Do you have a favorite out of this group?

It's hard for me to pick a favorite... The white one (Mount Hood above) is one that blooms alot and keeps its blooms.  SO--it's a favorite... I think --although I love them all.  An interesting one to me is Romance,  and another couple of fav's are Fortissima and Wild Carnival...

Hope you have a great day.  I'll publish a post on this blog on Friday---and will have a Photo Blog  (click  HERE)  on Wednesdays now. 

Hugs,

Emoticons