After the Storm

The regulars are swarming the feeders!

The not-so-regulars are making an appearance as well.  When did the starlings come back?  There were at least a dozen fighting over food yesterday.

I am fond of Starlings, as blasphemous as that seems to real birders.  No one can deny that they are fun to watch, anyway!

Some White-throated Sparrows made an appearance, but I didn't get a decent photo.  I REALLY need to wash the windows around here!

This one's a cutie.

This guy and his cohorts are the bane of my back yard.  It's probably against the law to kill them, but if anyone is skilled with a slingshot, come on by!

I'm back!!!!

I'm BACK! After three weeks of no camera and no computer, my eye injury is healing and I can put a contact lens in my good eye. I swear I'll never complain about my backyard birds again! Not that this guy is a regular. He's a non breeding starling, and very scary looking - but check out the valentine shaped spots on this bird!


Here is a better look at the heart shaped spots. Isn't that incredible?


Until today, I thought there was only a single Carolina Wren at my feeders. Today I saw two, and I assume it is a pair. They may be living on the ground in the vegetation behind the birdbath.


Here is a burning question: Are there still Carolina Wrens in Carolina?


What the hell are you looking at!

You can't imagine how wonderful it felt to be looking through a camera lens again! Welcome back everybody, and let's roll!

Blue Jays, Juncos, Sparrows, and Starlings - Again!

It is too cold to go outside, I'm drowning in paperwork, and I've come down with the flu - but I can still take photos of the backyard through the windows. I am as sick of seeing the same few species in all my posts as you are, but what choice do I have? I think of it as photography practice. In any case, this is a handsome fellow, right? Blue jays are gorgeous and very intelligent birds. I particularly like the bright cobalt blue color on their backs and tails.


Blue jays are extremely alert and have excellent hearing. This one heard the camera shutter from inside the house, and kept taking off before I could frame a shot. Here I think he was evaluating the potential for danger from the sound. You can see the intelligence in his eyes.


Check out the dramatic eyeliner effect! He (or she) evidently likes the Egyptian look!


Magnificent color scheme, in my opinion. Very alert even when eating.


I can always find a sparrow to pose for me! This is a female house sparrow.


Another female house sparrow.


Dark-eyed Junco with feathers fluffed up against the cold.


Dark-eyed Junco in the feeder instead of below it.


A closeup of the Junco chowing down. It requires a lot of food just to stay alive in this frigid weather.


The smart suet-eating European Starling was back again today.


It looks like the same one that was there yesterday.


The starlings (there are four or five of them in the yard lately) also puff up to stay warm. They are a bit less cute than the juncos, however.


How gorgeous are those patterned wings, though?

European Starling Eating Suet!

European Starlings have short wings for such large birds. When flying, they are said to resemble four pointed stars; hence the name.


This is the first time I've seen a Starling at the suet feeder.


European Starlings are imported and therefore invasive, but I like them anyway. They have lovely iridescent coloring, for one thing.


European Starlings are brash and bold, but what is wrong with being brash and bold?


Evidently, starlings are athletic, too.


The House Sparrow is another European import.


Dark eyed Junco; an obligatory winter shot.


And of course, a magnificent male cardinal at the feeder.