H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 550 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Portraits of Birds

INCA TERN — LAROSTERN INCA

Tags: birds, Inca Tern, nature, photography, photos of birds

Close Friends

American Goldfinch (Male)

Tags: American Goldfinch, birds, Close Friends, nature, photography, photos of birds

Once a year, my backyard is visited by Dark-eyed Juncos. I’m always happy to see them, even if it’s a short visit. They are fun to watch, they are very cautious and never challenge other birds, even if the junco is hungry, it waits for the best opportunity to approach a feeder.

If you’re not familiar with this species, please take a read at the following information that I found at © Wikipedia.

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is the best-known species of the juncos, a genus of small grayish American sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. It is a very variable species, much like the related fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Adults generally have gray heads, necks, and breasts, gray or brown backs and wings, and a white belly, but show a confusing amount of variation in plumage details. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight and while hopping on the ground. The bill is usually pale pinkish.

Photo Gallery

Tags: birds, Dark-Eyed Junco, nature, photography, photos of birds

Look Outside my Window!

After having some wonderful, bright and warm days we have been hit again with cold weather! I’m not kidding! This is getting boring already! Good thing that I worked outside all day Saturday and got a lot accomplished. Then soon after I finished, a cold wind started to blow and an hour later we were back to winter and had to wear long sleeve shirts again.

Welcome my dear friends, I have my window wide open, ready to look outside, it’s bright but in the cool side, regardless, we’ll be able to see the birds, just like that Northern Mockingbird next to the feeder on the right. He loves to be the first one to eat a couple of peanuts and then he’ll fly to a high point and watch from there.

The Field Sparrow is fighting the wind to stay perched without being blown off. The wind gusts can do that, blow the birds by surprise and hit any objects from the surrounding area. I’ve seen that happened several times!

Mourning Doves are very consistent about showing up to the feeders, they never miss a day! I guess they can’t control their appetite and always show up for meals.

For this uninvited guest… the darned squirrel! I’m getting a bit annoyed because, not only eats a lot of seeds, also leaves a great mess all over the deck! This happens because it seats for long time peeling and eating the seeds, even when I shoo it away, five minutes later it is back to do the same! Grrr!