You've Gotta be Kidding!

This was the photo I meant to post last night! Eye to eye, for sure!

Not to be Forgotten

The juncos may not be very exciting, but I just love them - they are beautiful, and I'm always glad to see them when they arrive in my yard in the winter. (This one was not in my yard - they aren't here yet - but we always see them at SNP.)

Brisk Day in the Mountains

We got up at 5:30 this morning and headed for SNP. Weather forecasts called for wind here, and partly cloudy there; but about halfway, we ran into rain. It stopped by the time we got to Limberlost, but was cool, damp, very windy - and dark! We covered our favorite part of the trail without seeing or hearing anything except juncos, towhees, and a catbird. On the way back, we encountered some very welcome little travelers. The first was some sort of warbler with a lot of yellow on his face - not one I remember seeing before, and he flew right in front of me - for a nanosecond - then off into the brush, not to be seen again!

Then we saw ruby-crowned kinglets, hovering, flitting, and feasting. They are so tiny and beautiful - we didn't see a single "ruby crown!"

The warblers are so confusing, especially in the fall. I think this is an immature magnolia warbler - it has the white eyering, 2 white wingbars, and the white band on the tail. It was beautiful.

It was also a little more cooperative with the photographer!

Another guess - All I can figure is that this is female black-throated blue warbler. It has the white line over the eye and white under the eye, and the little white spot on the wing. It was definitely the right colors.

" Chip-chip-chip-chip-chip"

Right after we got home, this guy came to the feeder...it's the first red-breasted nuthatch I've seen around here!

He looks like he's smiling. I wasn't! I can't even believe I was on my belly, eye to eye with him. Well, he was about as big around as my thumb, and maybe 18" long. And, of course, I'm very brave. NOT!

Goodnight Moon

I must have read Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon" a million times - to my children, my grandchildren, and sometimes, I must admit, I just read it to myself. Tonight when I saw this gorgeous harvest moon, I just had to try to capture at least a bit of its beauty. I thought I wouldn't get the color, but this is exactly the way it looked. I clicked away - as if I were not getting the same thing over and over. When I started back inside, without thinking , I murmered, "Goodnight, moon." That must be a deep wrinkle in my brain.

Nothing New, but Always New!

There were no surprises today from the back porch, but it doesn't matter to me - I love the "regulars" and until the last couple of years, they were enough for me. As a matter of fact, I usually begin my backyard birdwatching and feeding talks with "I'm not really a birder. I am a backyard birdwatcher." And I never tire of it. The birding bug has bit my husband and me, though, so we're off whenever we can get away.

Reflected beauty.

Waiting -

I just love his color.

This is not Ollie. He's one of the 5 that were in one of the big snags looking. Ollie came and had his fill, then this one.

How funny is this?! There was something on the outside of the tube, and he was trying to pick it off.

A more flattering pose, for sure!

OK, I'm outta here!


Dancing.

Finale.

This one was actually made with my new toy - an Olympus 550UZ, that I got to take on bird walks. I love my "big stuff" but it's a bit too much for me on a long walk, with binoculars as well.

This is his "penguin act."

Fall Feeder Fun

Mrs. C. loves the Cole's Nutberry Suet Bend so much that she overcame her reluctance to come to the feeder while I was standing in the doorway.

And the "redbelly" never pays me much attention, as long as I stand still.

I am relieved - so far this year I haven't seen any housefinches with bad eyes. I did see evidence of eye disease last year and the year before.

Mixing it up!

Fall colors!

There were a male and female goldfinch eating at the niger feeder on the porch rail, and this little one was on the rail, practically dancing. When I came to the door, they all flew into the "bird tree" and Mama fed the baby there.

The wings never stopped waving.


The male never joined in....just mom and baby.

They cooperated well with me - totally enchanting!

One more - I couldn't stop!

Blackburnian warbler - I wish this one had been in my "bird tree"...it was much further back, and I had taken my teleconverter off to get the extra light, so I almost missed! This was shot at 500mm, f2.8; and it took every bit of that to just get an ID shot.

If only I had been a littl closer!

A last look before it was gone.

Mystery Bird

My very knowledgable and patient friend (along with her, also very knowledgable and patient, friends) are so good to help me with mysteries....the thinking is that this little one is either a warbling vireo, or a Philadelphia vireo. It was in my "bird tree" - was tiny, quiet, and very busy, feasting on the bugs on the leaves....stayed pretty well hidden, then flew on off.

Last Days of Summer

Ollie was MIA for 3 days, and I was in a panic. Actually, he might have been around - I was just not here very much, and Camille was coming for mealworms but I didn't see him. Anyway, he showed up again, looking much better. They were a little rough looking there for a while, but they're coming around.

The Carolina wrens love mealworms too! And their singing is so beautiful - and LOUD!

Celebrate our differences!

The chains are to keep raccoon friend from throwing the feeders down.

Another mealworm fan. But he really likes these "suet nuts" from Cole's. We sell only Cole's seeds and feed - the birds love it and our customers love having so many "guests" at their feeders!
I guess he's had enough sugar water to sit still and pose. He's still guzzling it - so funny.

She looks like she's about to execute a swan-dive.
Life by the golf course.

The one was alone here for a few days; now more of them are passing through and staying for a bit. This is late for them - I hope they head on out soon, as much as I will miss their antics and beauty. This is the fattest hummingbird I've ever seen. Hope she will be able to fly!! LOL

The young ones especially love the Canyon Trading feeders. There are lots of resting places.

Young male - nice necklace.