DAILY PICS VOL. 213

Nice pics nanny and red!

I have Tufted Titmouse nesting in my maple tree out front. :-)

Wow, some beautiful pictures everyone! The bonuses; we get to see lots of baby birds too. Black crow?

Great blue heron

Re bluebirds--were wrens around?

Nanny, I'm so sorry about the Bluebirds. How awful. How would you think the box could have been opened?

Gorgeous birds on this and the last few threads. I'm still trying to catch up after major computer failure.

My goodness, if wasn't for Margaret note above, I was so oblivious of Nanna's blue Birds' incidence. Nanny, big hugs, I'm terribly sorry.

Methodical, those are the best photos of a Starling I have ever seen. Such clarity in the colors, amazing!

Sun came out a bit this afternoon, and was able to get something a bit more decent then the last few days.

Evening Grosbeak were around today. here's the female.

And the male.

Chickadee loves to have it's picture taken, when I'm outside. it will pose for me.

That female grosbeak is really pretty. don't think I've seen one in your pix before (that I've noticed).

I guess that's what a protection pin on the bluebird houses would be for. Keep the raccoons out, etc.

Another pose. He gives me a hard time, when I'm inside. He grabs a seeds, and fly off to the tree.

Thanks Marna. I have put some up before, but maybe not as close up. :)

Purple Finch

Or it could be me. Not as observant as I used to be!

Re: BB babies...I suspect a raccoon since the box was open...It was a very upsetting sight. I had been by before dark last night and it was not open. So it points out the importantance of installing nest boxes in a correct fashion and the responsibility one takes on in having a nesting box.

But thank you all for your kindness.

I had a White-crowned Sparrow today at the caged feeder....that was a totally pleasant surprise!!

This message was edited May 8, 2009 10:18 PM

I've never seen a Starling like that before Methodical, it gives me a new respect for them. They really are a beautiful bird if I can overlook their tactics, etc. Great pics, thanks for sharing! :)

I'm trying some new settings on my feeders because of all the nuisance Grackles I have here all day long. One of the Grackles attacked a male Red-bellied Woodpecker to get him off the feeder today. He was okay but I was not very happy.

I just read a report of a Grackle attacking,killing and eating a House Sparrow the other day on the Listserv.

I have noticed my grackles being very aggresive this year. They torment the crows to no end and one flew in and attacked a female robin that was eating a grape the other day.

I am just so amazzed at the number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks we are getting. Told DH they must have sent out a memo or something!! But if they stay I don't know if I can afford to feed them..... YIKES!!!!

Here is a pair from yesterday. They are still here this morning too!

Great pics guys!

Burn, Love the Purple Finch!

Nanny, Love the White-crowned Sparrow and Grosbeaks!

Nanny, those baby shots are priceless!! I do hope its not true about the Grackle. What a beautiful Grosbeak!!

Burn, great photos too. Love that Grosbeak!

Reddirt. cute Titmouse. Mine are just now fledging too.

Just love everyone's pictures. What a way to start a new day!

My Orioles again ignored the oranges I put out everywhere. Oh well, guess I'll just be happy giving them the sugar water.

California Towhee

This is another California Towhee.

A little one was poking its head out the window. It's an Oak Titmouse.

Another Oak Titmouse

Wow duc excellent shots! I especially love the second one of the California Towhee and the Oak Titmouse!

That baby is so cute peeking out!

Confrontation between female Rose -breasted Grosbeak & female Cardinal

This message was edited May 9, 2009 2:36 PM

LOL, I wouldn't want that beak coming at me!

Here is a pic of what I think is a Barn Swallow that finally took a sec to come down from its aerial acrobatics and let me take a picture! ;))

great pictures, as always!

This isn't mine, but thought you'd all like the shot of two chickadees going for each other. Amazing picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyfishy/3383987545/

Very cool cb and evie!!

Gorgeous day here today. It was fun to be able to enjoy it. So did the birds

American Goldfinch

Song Sparrow

Chickadee checking out, the bird house.

Purple Finch coming for lunch.

Very nice pics burn! Love the Goldfinch.

This Tree Swallow and his mate think that the lumber rack on my pick up is their private perch and they get highly upset with me if I take the pick up away.This is the pair that is building the nest in the low house.

A few weeks ago, these little Say's Phoebes weren't much more than beaks sticking out of their nest; but their mama has done a great job of collecting bugs to feed them. There were a total of 4 babies. Two of them left the nest on Friday and the other two left yesterday. This was the last shot I got of them still at their nest.

This message was edited May 10, 2009 1:20 AM

This afternoon, I had a bit of excitement with one of the baby Say's Phoebes. I had the front door opened (bringing in groceries) and one of the babies flew inside. I finally managed to get him isolated in the dining room and closed the door. Before I finally caught and returned him to the "great outdoors", I had to take a few pictures. I just love this one of him sitting on the curtain rod near my fake bird.

One more picture (a bit closer zoomed) on the curtain rod.

Burn, looks like the summer residents have arrived. Jane, I've had hummers and a pair of Wrens get into the house over the years. I used to have a very large Ficus tree (had it for 30 years) in our family room. Had the French doors open one morning and a pair of Wrens decided to move into it. I like to have never ran them back outside.

I have a hook right on the edge of my back yard with a field behind it. The insect catchers like the Scissor-tails, Mockingbirds and this Western Kingbird find it a good perching place to watch for bugs. Could never get a front on shot of this guy. Their breast is pale yellow. Very handsome birds and not real common around here anymore. Members of the flycatcher family, their heads resemble the Scissor-tails, and they hate hawks just as much.