Yes, the hummers are back in town! We had at least two different ones at our feeder, maybe three, and they are so much fun to watch. First we saw this female red-throated hummingbird (or maybe a juvenile?); she really kept an eye on me:
Shortly thereafter, this male showed up. He’s my favorite! He sat up straight and posed for me! Check out those delicate little feathers around his legs:
His throat only appears red if the sunlight hits those throat feathers directly. This is a crummy picture, but you get a better look at the red:
There was a bee bothering him, and he reared back a bit and put his wings into gear:
It’s a good day if I can spend some time watching and photographing the hummers. And today will be equally fun — I’ll be at the Minnesota State Fair! Gotta go and put on my sensible walking shoes and grab my camera.
ADMIN NOTE: Sorry this video loads so slowly. I think it must be because of the music I added to the background. Next time I’ll try it without the music. Too bad, as I liked the addition of music!
Warning: In case you’re at work — there’s music, so turn the volume down!
Wouldn’t you love to be able to hear what he could hear?
I was going through some photos from the past couple of weeks, seeing what I could post today. I was struck by a number of bird pictures where the birds are looking straight at me. Well, they are not really. They are looking at the window trying to figure out where that red beam is coming from (assuming birds aren’t color blind) and if they are in danger.
If a bird seems pretty skittish, especially the hummingbirds, I will prefocus the camera on something that’s about the same distance away as the bird. I usually use the top of the hummingbird feeder to prefocus on. I press and hold the shutter half-way down to prefocus, adjust my aim so the bird is in the viewfinder, and take the picture. Obviously, I didn’t do that for these pictures!
First, a cute little Chickadee giving me “the eye” (and don’t you love the attitude in his stance?):
A Savannah Sparrow sharing a few words of wisdom with me:
A Goldfinch, thinking something pretty suspicious is going on:
Since this is SUPPOSED to be a quilting blog (I know sometimes the birds just want to take over…), I thought I’d start with my Grandmother’s Flower Garden. I started this some time ago, and it’s a great project to have on hand when you need some hand work. I finished another block this week (after this project spent a lengthy time ignored seasoning in the closet). It will have the charcoal gray “path” between all the blocks. Some day.
The birds continue to be interesting, and it’s fun to see who stops by. I finally have a little hummer visiting me!
And the blue jay has been a somewhat regular visitor. He has to work so hard to get a few seeds out of a feeder meant for much smaller birds. Doesn’t he look like an all-white bird from the front?
Check out the back view though:
In the wooded area behind us, there’s a tall, dead tree that’s a popular lookout point for birds. Here is a tree swallow taking a look-see (I’m zoomed full-out, so excuse the graininess):
The next time I looked, there was a mourning dove up there. I usually see them picking at the seeds on the ground, and it seemed a little strange to see this guy up so high:
Then I saw this Mystery Bird in the grass. Hmm, I thought he was quite attractive, notwithstanding that yellow cone of a beak. I looked him up in the big book of birds, and I think it’s a European Starling. A starling!!! Oh, well, I guess sometimes the villian in the movie is handsome too…
I have some catching up to do on my pictures! These are all photos taken out my front kitchen window. The little crab tree is a stopping place for all kinds of birds and bees. This bumblebee lumbered his way through the blossoms a few days ago:
I have seen more of the usual suspects: goldfinches, blackbirds, cow birds, and savannah sparrows. This was the first time, though, that I spotted a Blue Jay in my little tree:
And I never thought I would get such a close shot of a Blue Jay:
I hope he stops back again! I’ve never seen one so close before.
I had all but given up hope on the hummingbirds this spring, but I did see one briefly this afternoon. She didn’t stop and take a drink from the feeder, so tomorrow morning I’ll put fresh syrup in. We’ve had so much big-bird activity at the nearby seed feeder, I’m wondering if the bigger birds are keeping the hummers away?
Yes, I do love the birds. (Well, most of them anyway.) Some pictures from the past few days. First, a bird I haven’t seen yet this year, although I have supplied yummy, fresh syrup and gorgeous floral surroundings:
The chipping sparrows have been regular visitors at the feeder, and actually seem to like feeding on the leftovers on the ground even better. What good little Hoovers! Note: Looking at this post again, the chipping sparrow doesn’t have those stripes. Is this a song sparrow? I’m so hopeless…
And what is this bird??? I’ve been learning birds one at a time, as they come and visit and I snap a picture. Is this a grosbeak? Bigger than the goldfinches and sparrows. My best guesses from my bird book was a grosbeak or a blue bunting. Actually, a female blue grosbeak seems most likely. Help?
On a little field trip I took myself on, I saw this majestic fellow. I only wish I could have been closer:
Yup, a bald eagle. At least I can identifyf this guy!
Today’s puzzle is a different shot of the male Goldfinch checking out the crab apple blossoms. Click anywhere on the puzzle-cut photo below to begin the puzzle (a little more challenging cut this week — I know you can do it!!!):
Nope, your calendar isn’t fast; this blogger is just slow. I spent most of yesterday with a family member while she had a four-hour test done at a clinic. Got some knitting done and caught up on my magazine reading!
So, back to the birds out my kitchen window. I was just thinking this morning how sick I would be if anything happened to this crab tree — it’s a major source of entertainment for me. This House Finch was giving me the look. “Hey, Lady, shoot that red beam somewhere else!”
The Goldfinches have been abundant this spring. I don’t often catch them on a branch; they are usually at the feeder.
And another one:
The blooms are pink for such a short time. When they fully open, they are white. We’ve also had a Chipping Sparrow hang around. He is usually cleaning up the seed that falls to the ground, but this time he decided to go directly to the source (this is the picture I had you imagine last week when I couldn’t upload photos! Was it everything you imagined?):
You might be thinking, “Poor Sue, she only has one window in her house.” We DO have other windows, and sometimes something catches my eye and I grab my camera. I thought this was a duck feeding off the bottom of the pond behind us. I looked through the camera, and thought maybe this one-eyed duck was mooning me. Then he popped upright and I could see…
A pictureless post. We’ve been having some trouble with our desktop computer lately, and today it refused to upload pictures. WELL! If I had more time, I’d upload them unto another computer, but I’m meeting quilting friends for a trip to Quilt Cove for Quarter-Inch Club.
Using your imagination, picture my Stash Quilt (JudyL’s Out of the Bag quilt — 5th pattern down) totally finished. There’s nothing so beautiful as a newly bound quilt!
Also, picture an adorable photo of a chipping sparrow noshing at the finch feeder. It was late in the day, and the lighting was perfect!
And while you’re using your imagination, imagine me 5′ 8″, 130 pounds, perfect skin and … WHAT? You’re having trouble with this one??? You could imagine the quilt and the bird!!!
Photos later (except of me, of course). Have a great day. In case you hadn’t noticed, It’s Friday — all day! This breaking news compliments of…
Some more what’s-out-my-window bird photos taken from the comfort of my home. I definitely do need to wash the windows though!
The goldfinches have been hungry little boys and girls this week. They have been regulars at my two seed feeders. Isn’t this sweet? Mr. and Mrs. Finch are having their dinner together. Don’t you love the pattern the black-and-white feathers make when viewed from behind?
This is my first spring birding season with my new camera (Panasonic Lumix FZ35). I’m still learning how to use all the features on it. It does a great job of recording the detail of the bird’s feathers — as long as I’m close enough when I take the picture. I think it’s fun to see feather detail like this on birds that we never get to see up close.
There was a pretty little house finch that wanted to join the goldfinches for dinner. Only one problem. His beak is too darn big for the little slot for the thistle seed. (Say that ten times really fast!) He did clean up all the loose bits the goldfinches left behind though.
Finally, my First Robin of Spring 2010! What a handsome fellow:
–Sue (who needs to do some sewing and stay away from the windows for a while!)
