H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 879 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Big Day in Texas – Video

On April 20th of 2011 in Texas the The Cornell Lab’sTeam Sapsucker set the North American record for the most bird species seen or heard in 24 hours. 284 species!

Tags: birding, birds, Video

Now most trees are getting new leaves, plants are flowering, pollen is covering everything that is outdoors, my deck, car, deck furniture, patio, windows etc. Everything has a cover of yellow-green powder on them.

Allergies are in vogue, I get gritty like eyes. Other people are walking around with puffy red eyes and sneezing once a minute! Good thing that we’re getting spotted rains that help clean up the air a bit.

Since Spring is in full effect, I can see that my lawn is turning green (Bermuda Grass) and as soon as gets all green will be time for me to start my mowing routine and weed whacking! I know that the azaleas are starting to show buds, same with the Jasmine flowers. My Purple dwarf Myrtle is getting leaves now, I planted it last year. Alas! You name it, all the plants are back from their hibernation.

Here are some varied photographs for you.

Please click on the photo to see enlargement

Female Northern Cardinal sitting like a chicken

Downy Woodpecker on maple tree

Young Mourning Dove sitting peacefully

Mourning Dove embarrassed with two Field Sparrows watching her eat!

Northern Mockingbird perched on a tree I don't know the name.

Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101

Tags: birds, nature, photography, photos of birds

Unexpected Visitors

Once in a while my backyard is visited by unexpected individuals. In the past month until now I have seen and photographed a few, for example, last month I saw a group of four Bobcats, still young, larger than a regular dog. I follow them and they were just passing through. I had a camera but with a short lens, I snapped about five shots and when they saw me they went into the brush.

I spoke to the Wild Animal Protection Agency and the ranger told me that we shouldn’t worry about them, it’s exactly what I thought. They’re just passing through and bother no one so they travel following the creek avoiding people. He was all excited about how lucky I was to see four Bobcats together, he said he had seen 2 Bobcats in 20 years!

All other visitors you’ll be able to figure them out when you see the photos. Don’t forget to click on photos to see enlarged image.