H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 586 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

More Visitors…

After five days of rain we had a wonderful perfect day, that allowed me to work very hard sprucing my lawns and backyard.I also had a wonderful day to have a few more visitors that dropped by to partake the meals with the local avians. All birds are actually enjoying a voracious appetite and I see those seeds just disappear a lot quicker than usual. It’s my opinion as a merely bird caterer.

Among the visitors I saw and photographed was a Red-bellied Woodpecker, for the first time in my backyard. I was delighted to see this gorgeous bird. I also was honored to have see a Brown Thrasher visiting, which is the official bird of the State of Georgia. There were others but that will be subject for another post. As you can see my backyard is getting a reputation because it’s a good place to get some selected seeds and such a friendly Owner/ Maitre d’.

My Carolina Chickadees are kept so busy getting their winter food supplies in storage that have no time for simple idleness.

Not with the same intensity as the chickadees you can see the Tufted Titmice going back and forth to the feeders.

The process of leaves turning all Autumn colors has already begun. It’s very evident in certain areas of my backyard and our neighborhood’s trees.

Photo Gallery

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, Brown Thrasher, Carolina Chickadee, nature, photography, photos of birds, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse

Close Friends

NEOTROPICAL FLAMINGO

Tags: birds, Close Friends, nature, Neotropical Flamingo, photography, photos of birds

Visitors, Here and There!

This post consists of a series of commentaries about the bird depicted in the Photo Gallery.

: # 1

: # 2

: # 3

: # 4

: # 5

: # 6

: # 7

: # 8

: # 9

: # 10

: # 11

: # 12

Tufted Titmouse – This bird is kind of shy, he loves to eat separated from the others, usually hides from sight.
Brown-headed Cowbird (M) – Contrary to bird # 1, this one loves company and usually misbehaves, his eating manners need improvement.
Gray Catbird – I have my suspicions this bird is just a spy, he goes around watching whatever is going on in the backyard but rarely gets involved.
Northern Cardinal (M) – Isn’t he turning out to be handsome with his new molted plumage? You know him already, he lost one foot but he thrives live a hero!
Carolina Chickadee – Another little bird that takes great effort to pick his food an enough for his family, one seed at the time!
Mourning Dove – Here’s a bird that has all the patience in the world, she waits for her food calmly and then when she’s at the feeders, slowly but surely…eats the whole darn thing!
American Goldfinch – Elegant plumage, nice figure, eats selected seeds and also goes for gourmet fruits in the fruit section of the creek. Oy!
European Starling – What a clown! He hardly walk, he marches!, he picks the thinest branches of a tree to perch and then falls and creates a ruckus trying to find a branch that will support him. He goes to the seeds and picks only the peanuts and throw the rest all over.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – This bird is a delicate gracious little nymph that dances in the air. Such a beauty!
Eastern Towhee – Very pleasant bird, terrific plumage pattern and very independent. Pacific bird that I’ve never seen any confront any other bird in all the years that I have them in my backyard.
Northern Cardinal (F) – This little lady is going to be such a beauty when adult. I have at least ten families of cardinals to contend with…I’m happy with all of them!
Song Sparrow – This bird is the little “mouse” as I call him because he’s all over the deck floor, flower pots and the hedges surrounding the deck. He’s a fine bird, most likely stay throughout the Winter with me!

Tags: American Goldfinch, birds, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Towhee, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, nature, Northern Cardinal, photography, photos of birds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Tufted Titmouse

Look Outside my Window!

Now that I have you looking outside my window, I ask you, _what’s the first thing that calls your attention? Of course! It’s that beautiful American Goldfinch with his bright plumage going in direction of one of the feeders. They are still coming to my backyard to get some meals. These birds usually breed at the end of Summer and once they have the family already fledged and strong, they are ready to depart for migration.

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If you look further back to the right near the bushes before the creek stream, there’s a Gray Catbird watching us from a branch of a Sumac plant. These birds only appear in my backyard occasionally so you have been lucky to spot this one. This catbird is shy and not so gregarious toward the other birds. It has a body shape very similar to the mockingbird, slightly smaller and with different plumage colors.

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Sitting on top of a bird feeder’s ornamental hanger… over there on the left! You shoold be able to see two young birds: One is a female Northern Cardinal and the other is a male Brown-headed Cowbird. Seeing them there now it comes to my mind… One of the things I like in my backyard is that I care for all birds, no distinctions of one to the other. My birds behavior could well teach a lesson to the human society about this subject. Colors, religions, ancestry etc. all the prejudice which divides our world’s cultures. We still do not learn from the past history!

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Note: I introduce you to this little fellow, it is a Cottontail rabbit, it was hopping around foraging for whatever they might like to eat. I think it is a good looking rabbit. I hope you like it too!