Yard babies

Posted on May 31, 2011 by admin

It’s wonderful to see so many young ones out and about right now. I think we will be seeing some baby robins very soon. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Rain, sleet, and snow

Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin

While it hasn’t started snowing yet, the rain and sleet have arrived. I went out to the yard to take a few pictures and noticed little bits of green poking out. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Lovely cardinal

Posted on August 27, 2010 by admin

She is magnificent. Click on picture to enlarge.

More winter

Posted on March 20, 2010 by admin

The yard is buzzing with activity this morning. I think everyone is a little thrown by this storm. I filled the feeder yesterday afternoon and since taking these pictures it is nearly empty. I am happy that this latest round of snow probably won’t be around for long. I”m sure the birds are too. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Yardbirds

Posted on March 13, 2010 by admin

It’s always fun to spend a little time out in the yard watching everyone coming and going. The amount of activity in such a small area is just amazing. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Make a brush pile

Posted on February 27, 2010 by admin

If you really want to do the birds that visit your yard a favor, don’t throw away those fallen branches. Make a brush pile in some corner of the yard. The birds will be thankful for the cover from predators and the shelter in harsh weather. Click on picture to enlarge.

On alert

Posted on February 22, 2010 by admin

I was outside scraping ice off the car this morning when I saw a cooper’s hawk fly in after the smaller birds feeding in our backyard. I watched her land and sit on some brush over where the smaller birds were hiding. I went over to where she was and she didn’t move an inch. I looked up at the hawk. She looked down at me. “You don’t even care that I’m here,” I said out loud.

She looked down at me again as if to say, “Yeah, that’s right. I’m hungry.” A red-winged blackbird flew out of the brush and the hawk dived after her. They were moving so fast, I literally had to jump out of the way as the blackbird flew directly at me with the hawk on her tail. The blackbird then flew right at the house and I was sure she was going to crash, but she pulled up fast and then flew back down around a tree. She circled the trees in the yard several times with the hawk right on her tail. She then made a swift turn and went toward my neighbor’s yard. It looked like she got away.

When the smaller birds came back out of the brush to start eating again, everyone seemed to be on high alert. Crests were up. These life and death dramas play out around us every day and I always find myself wondering how many notice. I so wished I had my camera with me when all this took place, but it’s really the moment that matters.

Snow. Really. Again?

Posted on February 21, 2010 by admin

Another winter wonderland this morning. I rushed out to throw some seed out for the birds and check on the feeder. While I have to admit I am getting a bit tired of this, there is something magical about the snow coming down and how quiet our neighborhood is on a Sunday morning. I could hear a fox in the distance and a red-tailed hawk shouting out, but I didn’t see them. I did, however, see many of the regulars. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Here she is!

Posted on February 17, 2010 by admin

Polly is simply amazing. We’ve discovered that many searches for “white-headed cardinal” end here. So, without further ado… Click on pictures to enlarge.

Everyone knows it’s “windy”