Once again it's
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens and I'm going to show you what's been 'blooming' in my Virginia garden this month.
Normally the 15th of the month is reserved for actual blooms...a.k.a. 'flowers' that appear in the garden or on plants indoors. Well, since there are no blooms on plants in either location I have decided to share my avian-blooms (which I also did in 2008, aptly naming the post '
Garden Bloggers' Blooming Bird Day'). It was okay with Carol then so I'm hoping she'll approve this year, as well;-) Most of the photos are from the past few days, but some were taken within the past couple of weeks when there was a bit of snow.
I love watching these 'blooms' because they bring color, whimsy, and lots of delight to my garden. I get a kick out of seeing the birds 'break' standard stereotypes (ie): that many birds we think are not 'snow' birds--are; that many birds we think are not 'feeder' birds--are; that many birds we think are only seasonal--are here year-round; and that many birds we think would never share or 'get along'--really do. Nature never ceases to amaze me. How about you?!
Carolina Chickadee
Dark Eyed-Junco
Tufted Titmouse
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| Tufted Titmouse and Goldfinch (L) |
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| Tufted Titmouse and Bluebird |
American Robin
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| American Robin and Pine Siskins |
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| L-R: American Robin, Bluebird, House Finch and Goldfinch |
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| American Robin |
Pine Siskin
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| Pine Siskin and Bluebird |
White-breasted Nuthatch (these come to my feeders, as well)
House Finch
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| male House Finches |
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| female House Finches |
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| female House Finch with male in background |
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| male House Finch (L), Goldfinch and female House Finch (R) |
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| male House Finch (R) and Goldfinches |
Downy Woodpecker
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| male Downy Woodpecker |
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| female Downy Woodpecker |
I am not always able to correctly distinguish between the Downy and the Hairy Woodpeckers but I think this is a
Downy. The main difference is size, with the
Hairy being slightly larger, and the beak of the Hairy being slightly larger in relation to the size of its head. Sometimes they are tough to tell the difference between, especially at a distance!
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| male Downy Woodpecker and male Eastern Bluebirds |
Hairy or Downy?
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I'm guessing a female Hairy Downy Woodpecker here... |
Eastern Bluebird
Blue Jay
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| Blue jay and female Cardinal |
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker and female House Finch (L) |
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker in flight |
Pileated Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Cardinal
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| male Cardinal (R) and Carolina Chickadee (L) |
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| male Cardinal (R), Carolina Chickadee and Goldfinch (L) |
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| female Cardinal and Blue jay |
Goldfinch
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| American Goldfinch |
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| American Goldfinches and House Finch (R) |
Cooper's Hawk
(As much as I enjoy seeing the hawks, I have to admit that they are usually here to see what's for dinner...and it doesn't involve the feeders). Well, yes it does. But not the 'contents' of the feeders. It's what's 'on the feeders' that the hawks seek out. Am I in some way, guilty of creating a death-trap for tiny birds? Perhaps...but I don't feel it's a bad thing to 'feed the birds'. While I don't enjoy seeing a bird 'captured' I understand the dynamics of 'the circle of life' and feel that it's all just part of the larger picture which is LIFE itself. Feeding the birds in the winter is important to their survival. I also benefit by being able to enjoy their colors and antics.
Mourning Dove
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| Mourning Dove...Napping! |
Today I'm thankful that backyard birds visit me often and provide winter delights when other 'blooms' are sorely lacking.
Written by Jan @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.
