H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 609 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

A Piece of Blue Sky

“Once in a while a piece of blue sky drops to my backyard”. This analogy is based on the Indigo Bunting showing up in my backyard for a short delightful visit!. It’s always a treat just looking at this lovely bird, it is a double treat being able to photograph it.

If you have never seen one personally , let me describe it for you: This bird when facing direct sunlight its plumage becomes as brilliant as a neon light! It’s like watching a cartoon animation moving around mixed with reality. However, when flying and depending on the natural light angle, will appear to be black!

Photo Gallery

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, Indigo Bunting, nature, photography, photos of birds

It’s Only Summer

Life goes on in Northwest Georgia… It is Summer and we get high temperatures daily, the humidity of this season is a classic of Georgia. We just have to pretend that it’s just “peachy”. Got my electric bill with a 100% increase charges for usage!

Changing subject, the Eastern Bluebirds that nested and roosted in my backyard have been gone for a couple of weeks already. There are still a bunch of juveniles going around from the following species:

Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
European Starling
Common Grackle
House Finch

Last week I saw a Hummingbird getting nectar from my dwarf Crape Myrtle that is actually in full bloom! I couldn’t ID the hummer because it left very quickly, I think it’s not a Ruby-throated. I have my special feeder with fresh nectar waiting for them!

Photo Gallery

Savannah Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird (F)

House Finch (M)

Blue Jay

Brown-headed Cowbird (F)

Northern cardinal (F)

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, Blue Jay, Brown-Headed Cowbird, House Finch, nature, Northern Cardinal, photography, photos of birds, Savannah Sparrow

Look Outside my Window!

We have started what it seems to be a hot and humid Summer. High temperatures will deter some birds from being active at open air areas. That means, having less opportunities for me to photograph them.

My little friends the Carolina Chickadees are always present in my backyard. I like them a lot, they are a pacific species, very family oriented but a fierce and feisty contender if any other bird gets near their nest during breeding season. To make an analogy, it’s comparable to when anyone get’s a wasp angry and this will not let go without attacking continuously and furiously! They are likable little birds, well know by most everyone.

Carolina Chickadee

Blue Jays are large birds that I see once in a while in my backyard. They are shy birds from what I’ve seen. They have a gorgeous plumage no doubt, they usually travel in groups mixed with Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Blue Jays are neat in appearance and behavior when eating, they appear to be organized and intelligent, if they want to eat from a feeder they’ll do it but not before they check all area surrounding it. Including trying dry runs to test the safety of the new place.

Blue Jay

This is a female Northern Cardinal, pretty lady of the famous male. She has the same shape as her male but different in their plumage color. They’re both beautiful birds, very popular and the favorites of many people.

I’ve been blessed by having several families of cardinal living in my backyard for almost a decade. I love them a lot too!