Showing posts with label Lazuli Bunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lazuli Bunting. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2018

Around My Yard: Summer 2018

It has been a hot and dry summer here in Oregon, but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying all that nature has to offer.

I'm always amazed at everything I find just wandering around our five acres with my poodle everyday.  


This is Wilson my partner in crime.  
Rain or Shine, this poodle demands his two walks daily whether I'm ready or not!



Anna's Hummingbird
 These tiny little birds are so dainty, yet so colorful.


Black-headed Grosbeak
I have a whole family of these birds this year.


Spotted Towhee (Baby)
I normally don't see the young ones around, but this year I had several!



A pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks sitting in the tree. 
You can't miss their loud call.


Western Wood Pewee
I love flycatchers.  It's so interesting how they always go back and forth to their perch.


Bullocks Oriole
This is the first year I've seen these colorful birds in my tree.  


Evening Grosbeak
I have a pair that come back every year for a visit.


Wrentit
I heard this guys song before he was spotted.  I didn't see his friend, but he could be heard as well.


Belted Kingfisher
This loud mouth has been hanging around all year.  See his tongue!


Honeybee on my pretty flowers
 These are the good bees!


California Scrub Jay (baby)
I love all the baby birds.  Look how soft this one looks.  Don't you just want to touch it?


Eurasian Collared-Dove
This guy is perched at the top of our cherry tree.  It must me a good vantage point.




Hairy Woodpecker
I never get tired of seeing woodpeckers.


Lazuli Bunting
This is the first time this bright colored bird visited my feeder.  

I was pretty excited about that.



Lesser Goldfinch
They are such happy little birds.


Wilson, the gentle giant, getting to know my daughters little kittens.
Isn't that cute!

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Birding In May

I recently joined a birding group in my area. It has been an extremely fun and educational experience.  As I watch and learn from the experts who have been birding for many, many years, I am amazed at how many birds they can identify by their call or song.  It's like learning a second language! 
 
In 2011, "The Big Year" the movie was released.  It's a comedy (which was based on a true story) about three birders trying to see and identify the most birds in North America in a single year.  Birders who plan to be a competitor in this informal competition in North America, must plan to see and identify over 700 birds.  The competition begins on January 1 at 12:00 A.M. each year and ends on December 31st at 11:59 P.M. as defined in the American Birding Association Big Year rules.  When I watched the movie a few years ago, I never dreamed that bird-watching would be in my future!
 
Here's are some of the birds I photographed this month.
 
 
Osprey
 
Savanna Sparrow

 
Turkey Vulture

 
Wrentit
 
Cedar Waxwing
 
Great Blue Heron fishing at Fern Ridge Dam


 
Lazuli Bunting
 
Pelicans

Violet-green Swallow

Bewick's Wren


Northern Flicker


Song Sparrow

 
Eagle heading to nest with more building material as the two eaglets watch
 
 
Mallard Duck

 
 
There's often other nice creatures along the way,
 
Western Pond Turtle
 
 

and others you could do without.
 
 
Redspotted Garter Snake
 
 
 

Happy Birding!