Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: birds


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Name this bird

As you know I have a lot of birds in my backyard. Mostly because I feed them. They are not unlike Penny in their affection for me based on their feeder fullness quotient analysis.

This week this rather cheeky yet uncertain little guy showed up.

He hopped along the deck railing, back and forth, seeming unfazed by the bird traffic all around him.

He picked at the husks of seeds left behind by previous diners.

He stared at me.

And then, eventually, he flew off.

I’m thinking he’s a juvenile red breasted grosbeak. Maybe male, given the yellowish breast? I’m using the logic that red headed woodpeckers have brown heads when they’re juveniles.

But it could be a female too, they have a yellowish cast to their chest feathers.

What do you think?


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A visitor. Or is it two visitors?

This week I was washing dishes and caught this Coopers Hawk sitting on my deck railing.

I quietly slid away and walked silently to the living room to grab my camera. Amazingly enough Penny moved silently next to me.

I didn’t really expect the bird to still be there when I returned. They generally don’t wait for me.

But he (or she) was still there, seemingly unfazed. I watch it for a long time, even moving to a better window. It picked up one foot and tucked it into it’s chest feathers.

And then suddenly it flew. I expected that to be it.

But it only flew about 3 feet, to the corner of the deck where it could inspect the ground under some shrubs.

We used to have quite a few chipmunks. I haven’t seen one in awhile.

Then it flew away, and I figured that was it. But it showed up again about 10 minutes later, back on the deck railing, watching the back yard, inspecting the ground and the sky.

Turns out he or she was being harassed by bees.

When it left, being pursued by the bees, I was SURE I wouldn’t see it again.

Until about 30 minutes later when I walked through the master bedroom and guess who was on the bedroom deck railing? I didn’t have my camera with me, so these were taken with my phone.

Yep, our favorite (or perhaps least liked, depending on whether you’re a chipmunk) bird.

But…is this the same bird? Or a different one? Perhaps they’re a couple? Or parent and child?

Your call.


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Happening on my deck this week

This juvenile male oriole learned all about bathing this week. When I first noticed him he was standing on the edge while a little brown bird splashed around. He stared at the brown bird. I went to get my camera. By the time I got back he was in the bath too.

So you just shake your feathers?

He seemed a bit unsure, but it didn’t take long until he was fully immersed in the experience. Literally.

Like this, right?

Brown bird: I’m outta here!

That’s OK…more water for me!

Rub a dub, dub. One bird in a tub!

Look! I can draw a heart with my tail!

Oh what a wonderful feeling, oh what a wonderful day!

A little more tail action. I wonder if any girls are around.

Hey…did I hear mom or dad call me?

Time to go!

It’s supper time!


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Got a little damp

I wasn’t going to post today. I’ve got lots of stuff I need to do and posting wasn’t high on my to-do list. But moving the images from my camera to storage was. And I promised myself I wasn’t going to look at them. Because I don’t have time, you know.

But I did. It was raining one morning this week and I was shooting birds (not literally) through the window. This one made me laugh out loud. You never know what you’ve got until you look at them on a bigger screen.

So I’m sharing it with you. I hope you smile too.


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Kids today

Youngster: Dad! Hey Dad! I’m hungry!

Youngster: Huh. Dad’s not listening.

Youngster: DAD! I’m HUNGRY!

Youngster: Well what the heck. Dad?

Dad: Darn! Now there are TWO of them bugging me!

Dad: Geeze. Where’s these kids’ mother? I need reinforcement here.

Dad: These kids need to find their own supper. They’re plenty old enough. Dad out.

Youngster: Dad? Where’d you go, dad?

Youngster: Hey dad! I’m still HUNGRY!

Youngster: Guess I’ll get my own darn jelly. Can’t depend on anybody these days.


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By way of spreading joy

A week ago today I took three people to Kensington to feed the birds. They had never done that before but they’d heard about it and wanted to have the experience.

Hey, toss that peanut over here!

They had to drive almost 2 hours but they thought it was worth it. I do too. Though we arrived early in the morning, when the birds are most likely to be hungry, we weren’t inundated with begging feathered ones. But we had our fair share.

It rained all night and I’m not looking my best, but I sure am hungry!

Mostly it was the woodpeckers, in different varieties that were interested in us. Though an occasional red-winged blackbird stopped by.

I’m really interested in that peanut you have, could you toss it here?

And the bluejays were always nearby.

I’m faster than any darn woodpecker, just watch me!

In fact this visit turned into a ‘toss a peanut’ experience. The red-bellied and the red-headed woodpeckers and of course the bluejays are all very talented at plucking a tossed peanut out of the sky.

We spent much of our walk through the woods tossing peanuts into the air where they were eagerly snatched by a winged one.

Got it!

And of course we walked out onto the boardwalk to check on the blue heron rookery.

Ms. Red-winged was startled as we walked by.

The heron babies are now teenagers, testing their wings and making a great deal of noise whenever an adult ventures by. Just in case there might be breakfast arriving.

I can flap my wings faster than you. Oh will you two just settle down? I’m trying to nap here.

All in all, though we weren’t swarmed by birds I think everybody had a great time and I hope they come back for another adventure!

Thanks for the peanut! See ya next time!


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Because you can’t have too many birds

A week ago I had the chance to go to Kensington, one of my favorite places in the world. It was a beautiful, sunny day.

You brought breakfast, right lady?

The birds weren’t crazy hungry and we weren’t overrun by little ones, but we had our fair share of visitors demanding a treat.

I’m not touching your hand, but I’ll clean up anything you drop.

My sister and I had been there before, a few years ago and she was used to having birds fly down to her hand, but it was still magical. It always is.

Excellent seed quality, lady!

Her friend had never been there before so this was a new experience. He figured out that he could toss a peanut up in the air and the red bellied woodpeckers and the blue jays would both fly out from the trees and catch that peanut in the air.

Toss that peanut, Mr!

They were successful grabbing the nut about 99% of the time.

I can get that peanut faster than you two!

He also got an up close and personal viewing of several sandhill cranes. We didn’t feed them, but they were hopeful and followed us around on the trail.

What you lookin at?

The heron rookery was full of expectant parents. Though I’m sure there are eggs or maybe even youngsters up in those big nests we couldn’t see any yet.

Everybody is waiting.

Ms. Swan built her nest very near the boardwalk this year. I’m sure every photographer has a great image of mom waiting patiently on her nest. By this week there could be babies and the usual paparazzi shooting baby pictures.

Big stretch while on the job.

I doubt I’ll get out there again soon, but I sure enjoyed my spring walk with family through such a beautiful place. I hope you enjoyed these images too.

Singing oriole overhead.