WBW Backyard Birds

I have alot fewer birds around the feeder these days but I still have quite a few Spotted Towhees,

they don't often stay still enough to get a good picture but this one posted quite nicely for just long enough for me to snap. I am wondering if this is still a juvenile, it doesn't look completely feathered out.

I see Flickers often but not hanging from a seed feeder, they usually go for the suet but at the time the Pileated had taken over that spot.

This male was finished feeding at the suet and seemed to be watching and waiting at the top of the post. Notice this one is banded, I don't have much information but I went to this website and put in the information I had, http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/

I could tell he was getting ready to take off and was hoping I could capture a good action shot...

Nope, this was the only action I caught, one big blur!

He was waiting for this female to come in, she landed in a nearby tree right before the male took off and then took her turn. I hope this lovely couple gives me a baby next year!!

They always seem to take the step by step approach to arriving at the suet.

I'll hear/see on at the top of a distant tree cackling away, then it will move to the top of a closer tree, then I might see the other one land on the tree the first one left and they change trees every couple of minutes getting closer to the suet post. It's a joy to watch!!

Kristi

WBW



Spotted Towhee



A cute little juvenile Spotted Towhee, finally starting to show it's adult colors

and notice the eyes are beginning to get that intense orange color too.

And lots of watering hole pictures,

I'm happy to provide a spot for them they seem to really enjoy!



Black Capped Chickadee




Red-Breasted Nuthatch





Red-Breasted Nuthatch

 


Red Breasted Nuthatch just about to take off!

 

Northern Flicker

 

Northern Flicker



White Crowned Sparrow




Male Anna's Hummingbird

This little jewel spent a good half an hour atop my Butterfly Bush,

 right where I could set my camera up and click away, that was very kind of him.

Kristi

WBW - Red Tailed Hawk

Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk



Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk





Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk



I've also been lucky enough to get a juvenile Flicker being fed by it's mother.

It was a very quick moment and I barely got this photo through the window,

an action shot for sure!

 The funny thing is he was having a nice meal at the Suet feeder

and she made him stop so she could feed him.

Male Juvenile Flicker and Mama.

AND my Female Downy Woodpecker (below) is getting lots of screen time,

I'm happy to say I see her more than once a day now,

 I only wish she'd bring some friends, but maybe I'm asking for too much.

Maybe one day!

Female Downy Woodpecker

She goes from the bird feeder to the suet feeder and back again

 and once in awhile stops on this old branch I have attached to the top of my chain link

 which is smack dab in front of my camera! Isn't she generous!

What a cutie!

Juvenile Nuthatch

Another action shot,
a Juvenile Nuthatch finished taking a drink and he's ready for lift off!


Thanks for visiting me on the new
Wild Bird Wednesday.

Kristi

WBW - Hawks and Flickers

I'm starting my post with what I believe is a Red Tailed Hawk.

There were actually 3 of them but this was the only one that got close enough to photograph.

Even with my 500mm he was way up there and it was a challenge to get him in to focus,

I swear I quit breathing I was so intent on catching him on "film"

I had to stop for a minute to concentrate on breathing or I would hve fallen over.

They were making alot of noise and in this last one he's in the middle of one of those calls,

I was lucky I clicked at just the right moment.

Earlier the same day I was out watering flowers and I heard the distinct voice of a Flicker.

I dropped the hose and high tailed it in the house to get my camera!

I've seen and heard the flickers around but this is my first picture.

I wish this dead tree in my neighbors yard was just a little bit closer.

At first they were to the left in the branches and I couldn't see them,

then they moved to this dead tree.

They were making lots of cooing and kissing noises, obviously talking about going steady!

The picture below was the only one I caught of them dancing around,

the one on the bottom was swaying back and forth

the one on the top spreading it's tail feathers and I caught both behaviors!!!!

Kristi