Avians, Take Me Away

So relaxed at this point that I almost forgot to write up a post!  ALMOST.


I got to spend more time than usual outside today with all of the neighborhood birds.  Sitting in the yard, watching and listening to them always lifts my spirits and relaxes me.


I had two relaxation sessions today, which is highly unusual.  I'm very glad to have had it though!  I'd been pretty tense, and I can feel a definite difference in my neck and shoulders.

It certainly helped that I got to see quite a few of my Blue Jay friends!  This one started out on the telephone wire, but he didn't stay there!

Most of the birds used the top of the fence to roost; I thought this was much more individualistic, which means high approval marks!  You can also see in the bottom right hand corner my re-blooming lilac, which is close to re-blooming!

Another appearance by the beautiful Blue Jay, beak filled with peanut.  Yes, I try to keep the one feeder with peanuts in it to tempt them and the woodpeckers to the yard. 

I liked how I managed to catch one bird coming in to land, one leaving, and two just hanging out.  

Imagine that!  Another shot of a Blue Jay.  There were several times 2-3 of them were chasing each other away from the feeder; I'd not seen them do that  here before.  I guess they're feeling comfortable and at home?

This little one was just a couple of feet from me, and showed no fear at all!  All of this seed was in a feeder that the squirrels have learned to tip and dump the seed.  One of these days I will learn not to refill that feeder completely . . . 

Mr. Cardinal stopped by to pose - right profile . . . 

 . . . and left profile.

I think this is a cow bird; I'm pretty sure when I see one of the males, but I'm not too sure about the females.

Caught another one coming . . . 

  . . . and another one going.

I had to be VERY patient to get this pic.  This little guy, I believe is a chickadee.  He normally doesn't spend long enough at any one feeder for me to get a shot!


Oh, and on top of it all, Bella (the hummingbird) showed up tonight, too.  I was outside, and she flew up to the feeder, and I got to talk to her for a few seconds before she flew off again.  She zoomed by again later, but didn't stop.


And if that wasn't enough to make my day, I bought 4 more (different) rolls of Duck Tape tonight!  Oh, the creative juices are flowing!!

I tawt I taw a . . .

Hummingbird.  I did!  I did!  Finally.  May 23, 2012 at 7:05 p.m. I saw a hummingbird at one of the feeders outside my kitchen window.  Unfortunately, I did not have the camera handy, and she didn't stay long.  But that means I'll need to be outside before 7:00 the next couple of days, with camera in hand, to try to catch sight of another visit!

So, yes, I'm revisiting hummingbird pictures from last year.  The ones near the honeysuckle and trumpet vine were taken in mid-August; the ones at the butterfly bush were taken in mid-July.

I think the evening I shot these pics was the first time I saw a hummingbird perched.  I'd only seen them continue to fly while feeding.  I remember thinking I was seeing things when she landed on the vine.

Loved catching the consecutive shots of Bella going to the nectar in the flower. Those teeny feet are amazing!  Until I saw her resting on the vine, I really didn't give a thought to hummingbirds having feet.  Pretty ridiculous, I know.  

This was my first shot of a hummingbird for 2011.  It was also my first shot of a hummingbird where there wasn't at least a screen between us.  I was so excited I'm surprised I didn't go absolutely bonkers.

I kept snapping away, and held my breath!  I was so afraid she'd fly away before I got a few more shots.

Fortunately for me, Bella stuck around for a few shots that I was very happy with.  That several minute interlude was enough to have me on-line and looking for ways to attract hummingbirds!  I was soon putting out fresh nectar daily, and figuring out when she'd be coming for a meal.  Then I planned to be outside before she normally showed up (with the camera, of course).  

Once Bella did arrive, I'd talk to her while she was feeding.  She hasn't developed a lot of trust in me yet, but I've got another summer to work on that, and hopefully a couple of summers after this one.

Such a tiny little thing, and those wings make a racket!  The first time I heard one, I thought I was being attacked by bees.  Fortunately I know better now, and don't freak out when I hear one (even if it turns out to be a bee!).

I will be posting some pictures I get this summer of my Bella and any of her family and friends that she brings with her.  I am fascinated by hummingbirds, and would love to chronicle their time in my yard.  That's the plan at least.  I will try to restrain myself and not share every picture of them I take!  I do hope though that I keep improving on the pics and get a bigger variety of shots.  There's that trust factor to take into consideration though.  I can't wait to get working on that!!  I also hope that some of the other plants I've gotten in the ground will help attract more hummingbirds in addition to the feeders.  I think I now have 4 or 5 butterfly bushes, as well as a couple of other red flowering plants that are supposed to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  We'll see how well they work!