Brown Thrasher

Brown thrashers are always on the edge watching, singing from the top of a tree, or back in a corner of the yard under a bush going through leaves. When I first started seeing them, they were so shy, taking off whenever I moved. After a couple of years of throwing peanuts to them, they are less weary of me, and I get to see them close and often. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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2016 Spring Yard-Birds

I never mean to wait this long to post. Here are a few of our year-round residents and spring visitors. Most of these are mid-May through mid-June. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Brown thrasher with peanut

© Chris Taylor

Rose-breasted grosbeak

© Chris Taylor

House finches

© Chris Taylor

Orioles

© Chris Taylor

Orchard oriole

© Chris Taylor

Orioles

© Chris Taylor

Gray catbird

© Chris Taylor

Male northern cardinal

© Chris Taylor

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Celebrating backyard birds

Sitting in the backyard is so much better than television! Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

And, don’t forget the mammals.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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Brown thrasher

They are just nifty! I love watching them root around and dart in and out of the bushes. We are very lucky to have them nesting in the yard every year. This morning when I was watering our small trees, one kept running in and out of the water. It is incredibly hot in Kansas right now.  Keep those bird baths full. If you do not have one, put some water out in a bowl. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

Juvenile, waiting for a bite to eat.

© Chris Taylor

 

 

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Brown thrasher

If you have ever seen a brown thrasher running along the ground sorting through the brush and throwing things this way and that, then you know where the name came from. They are not only excellent foragers, but they have a beautiful song. It’s wonderful to see them again this summer. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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Brown thrasher

So far, it looks like we have catbirds, cardinals, Carolina wrens, house sparrows, robins, and this lovely brown thrasher nesting in our yard. I’m sure there are many I have not seen yet. I don’t move shrubs or tree branches to get a better look. If I can’t see them from the outside, then I have no business messing with their homes.  I highly recommend taking a moment to listen to the brown thrasher song.

© Chris Taylor

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Brown thrasher

Brown thrashers are just pretty incredible. Not only do they have lovely singing voices, but those eyes are quite mesmerizing. This young one hasn’t yet developed the very bright yellow eyes, but she still has that intense gaze. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

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