2010 Best of....: BLUEBIRDS

This past Friday,  I shared my favorite Woodpecker pictures from 2010.  Today,  I will show you my favorite little bird of all-time,  the EASTERN BLUEBIRD...  I wasn't a birdwatcher at all UNTIL the little Bluebirds nested in our backyard.  After that,  George bought me some bird books,  a CD with bird sounds,  and a pair of Binoculars.

I was 'gung-ho'---and started reading and learning ALL I could about birds,  especially little backyard songbirds.  My interest and passion just expanded from there.. George made me a nice feeding area on the deck --complete with clothes line for more feeders...  And the good news for me was that I could watch the little guys from 'inside' the house --and get great pictures,  especially after getting my new Canon Rebel camera and the 300 mm lens.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the Bluebirds from 2010.  Above is a male Eastern Bluebird showing all of his beautiful colors.  This picture was taken on 1/15/10.

Here is a good picture of the female Eastern Bluebird.  You can tell that she is pretty--but not quite a colorful as the male.  This picture was taken on 1/31/10.

Here's another great picture of  a male Bluebird,  taken on 2/1/10.   I just cannot stop taking pictures of these little beauties.

And--here's the female Bluebird,  taken on 2/9/10.  We had a snowy, cold February--and all of the birds loved coming to the feeders ALOT when the weather was bad.

I just HAD to include this picture since Mrs. Bluebird was giving me "THE LOOK"--like the Pileated Woodpecker gave me in last Friday's post...  She is probably telling me to quit taking pictures, and turn some heat on outside!!!!! ha.. This picture was taken on 2/11/10.

Here is my favorite time of the year---when the little Bluebirds nest.  Some years they nest twice -but in 2010,  they only had one brood in 2010.  See the little one sticking his head out of the nest???   Is he ready to check out the big ole' world?????  In 2010,  there were 3 baby birds I think.  I saw them fledge in 2009 --but missed them in 2010.  This picture was taken on 6/8/10.

This is what a baby bluebird looks like.  He/she's speckled--as you can see.  They will come to the feeders once they learn to fly really good.  This picture was taken on 7/16/10.

Here's one more picture of the precious little baby Bluebirds as they come to the feeders. This one was also taken on 7/16/10.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the  "Best of"  my Bluebirds in 2010..  If you have Bluebirds in your area,  then I hope you will put a Bluebird nestbox in your yard.  They are the cleanest birds I know of --and such a joy to watch!!!!

On another note,  we had about 2.4 inches of snow here this past Friday.  Then,  the bottom dropped and our temperatures dropped to almost zero... Now--there's another 'front' hitting us in the face.. This one may bring us the most snow of the season when it's all 'said and done'... As much as I love snow,  I think I have had enough of it this year.. AND--it's only January!!!!!  Yipes!!!!!   Guess I just need to relax and enjoy it!!!  OR---maybe I will just move to Florida and live with SANDRA.  ha ha

Hugs,

2010 Best Of...: WOODPECKERS

For the next several weeks,  I will be posting my '2010 Best Of' pictures.   I have fun going back through all of my pictures,  making a list and then choosing my fav's... I'll tell you though-----it is NOT easy!!!!!  There are so many that it's hard to choose just a few as favorites.... But---here is my best shot at my favorite WOODPECKER photos.

Above is a favorite bird of mine since I named this one (Pete) ---and he loves to squawk at me from the trees when I am outside.  This is our RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.  This picture was taken on 3/6/10.  Below are more!!!

Here is a gorgeous bird, the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.   He doesn't come to the feeders very often --usually only during mating season.  This picture was taken on 6/1/10.

This little woodpecker,  the DOWNY WOODPECKER,  frequents our suet feeder several times every day.  He's the smallest of our backyard woodpeckers.  This picture was taken on 5/11/10.

This woodpecker looks alot like a Downy,  but is a HAIRY WOODPECKER.  He's ALOT larger than the Down,  and has a much longer beak.   This guy doesn't come to the feeders very often--but will come when the weather gets bad.  This picture was taken on 12/12/10.

One of the most beautiful of all of the woodpeckers which come to my backyard is the NORTHERN FLICKER.   He doesn't come to the feeders every day --but I do see them quite often in the trees, and in the yard.  This picture was taken on 3/25/10.

And --I'll close with two (of the many) pictures of my favorite LARGE woodpecker,  the PILEATED WOODPECKER.   These birds are at the feeders ALOT ---and I probably have more pictures of them than any other bird.  I cheated a little with this picture because it was taken on 12/30/09---but it's one of my favorites and is filed with my January pictures....  Let's just pretend it was taken on 1/1/10... ha ha ... I love the way they hang onto the suet feeders.  In this picture,  you can see the BITE he just got.

And finally,  here's one of my favorite pictures of the PILEATED WOODPECKER, taken on 11/25/10.  This time,  he was giving me the "look"....  Has anyone ever looked at you like that?????  He should be thanking me for giving him all of that delicious suet---but I'm not sure that is what he is thinking.....  What say you?????

Hope you enjoyed my Favorite Woodpeckers from 2010.



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On another note,  look what came in the mail to me this week????  Thanks to friend AMELIA,  I now have a heated birdbath on my deck.   She 'reminded' me how important it is that the birds have water in winter in addition to food.  SO-since I always listen to my good friends,  I found one which will work for us.  George is going to balance it a little better for me--but I just 'had' to share my new toy with you...

Have a fabulous weekend and enjoy life to its fullest.   See you on Monday!
Hugs,

P.S.  We heard on TV last night that they have found some dead blackbirds in Tennessee now.  They have found about 500 in Lebanon (southeast of Nashville). This is just SO sad.... Wish they could find out what is causing this..   They have been found in four states now (Arkansas, Louisiana,  Kentucky, and Tennessee).