"I am at home among trees." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
It was time for breakfast, and I was ready for my toast and cocoa, but one glance out the kitchen window told me we had a surprise guest. No need to set an extra place at the table though because this guest was huge, way too large to take a chair at the table...and he …
Unlike many backyard birders, I don't often see multiple hummingbirds when I look out the kitchen window. This month has been different, and today was a really lucky day. Enjoy the happy hummers and a couple of misfits at the end of today's post.And now for today's surprises... That's it for today's backyard birding post. …
For the past month, these Woody Woodpecker look-alikes have been regularly visiting the trees in our backyard. They're not nesting here, but every day, morning, noon, and night, they fly in, help themselves to the woodpecker blocks and suet cakes, and provide us with entertainment. Just look at this pair. I'm no woodpecker expert, but …
When the pileated woodpeckers visit the backyard buffet, they are mostly ignored by the other birds. Despite their size and fearsome-looking beak, they don't seem to be feared, but they are certainly not included in the community activities. They operate solo! The pileated pictured here is a male who is interested in food, but isn't …
Rain, rain, go away Come again some other day. Little Johnny wants to play. Running through my head repeatedly, that rhyme, remembered from my childhood, couldn't be more true to the way I feel about April...and now May! Little Johnny and Little Sally would like the rain to stop and the temperature to warm up …
You can see from the pictures above that "someone" flipped open the hopper feeder, helped him or herself to all the birdseed inside, and left behind a puzzled and confused squirrel. The first time this happened, I was surprised, but now it happens almost daily. I'm actually surprised when it doesn't happen. If I looked …
I was excited when I glanced through the kitchen window at the backyard buffet and discovered an Eastern bluebird posing for multiple photo opps. The sky was overcast, as it usually is in February. A sunny blue sky would have been appreciated, but it wasn't essential because this colorful visitor arrived with his own special …
It wasn't a fabulous day for photography, so I decided to take some shots through the kitchen window. This stump and several others are what remains of a large oak tree we had to cut down last year. I decided to take advantage of them to create tables, just for the wildlife. The little birds …
Despite the chill in the air, the little ruby-throated hummers were active at our feeders over the past few days. This one doesn't seem to mind temperatures in the high 50s under overcast skies nearly as much as I do. He's wearing his summer colors, while I am wearing my winter socks and warm sweater. …
If I were as hardy (or crazy) as my friend, Lisa, I would be in the park taking a trail walk with my dog, getting soaking wet like she did this morning. Instead I am sharing more backyard birds because it has drizzled all day, and the high temperature is only about 48 degrees. Did someone mention …
Continue reading "Rainy days, bluebirds, and those amazing birds from Baltimore!"
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 