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Some of today's beautiful birds

17 years ago

The spring migrants are here in full force and our feeding stations are very, very busy. We're going through a bag of grapes and two oranges a day, not to mention all the bird seed. Here are some feeder visitors (trying not to repeat too much from my previous post). I then took a walk in our woods and discovered that photographing the birds there is much more difficult than at the feeders! They move more, and they're way up in trees, and there is more shade, and they're further away. This will be a fun challenge to get better photos of the woodland birds.

How many can you count? Each of our six feeding stations is this busy all day.

The male orchard oriole is always a delight to see

And pine siskins are just cuties

The chipping sparrows will stay all summer with their cheery calls

And the American goldfinches are year-round for us (I've had trouble getting a good shot of a male as they are so bright the photo becomes overexposed. This one turned out very nicely I think)

Out in the woods the yellow warblers were abundant, they also will stay all summer

A Northern waterthrush keeps a peaceful lookout

The Wilson's warbler wouldn't hold still for a nice portrait

but the female American redstart gave me many opportunities for photos

The blackpoll warbler was another uncooperative subject

but I had shots at another yellow warbler

Enjoy!

Ann

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Comments (7)

rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Great job, and wonderful variety both at the feeders and in the woods..tiny fast-moving warblers aren't the easiest targets to hit, and they do so love grazing for caterpillars in top stories of 50 ft trees!
matoad_gw
17 years ago
What a beautiful sight- you are fortunate to have the variety of visitors.. Who eats the grapes and where are the squirrels?
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terrene
17 years ago
Beautiful photos! I really enjoyed looking at them! You must have hours of enjoyment watching and photographing such a nice variety of birds (both at feeders and in woods).
tracey_nj6
17 years ago
Gorgeous!
prairie_love
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all.

matoad - the orioles adore the grapes, as do the catbirds. Some of the others pick at them, but it's mainly for orioles and catbirds. As for squirrels, we do have them, but they have to cross a fairly large expanse of lawn to get to the feeders and we have two dogs. During the winter they eat at the feeders a lot (and I don't mind) but during the summer they really stay mostly in the woods.

Yes, I do have hours of enjoyment. This time of year I am always late going to work because I'm so busy watching the birds!

Ann
ccorn_2009
17 years ago
Beautiful. What is in your feeder with all the finches on it. It doesn't look like thistle. What ever it is they sure like it.
prairie_love
Original Author
17 years ago
ccorn - it looks like that particular feeder has a mix from Wild Delight called "Total Cuisine". I pamper the birds and feed what my husband calls "foo-foo" mixes. I do have thistle also and the finches love it. They also love the "special finch blend" from WD which has hulled sunflower seeds.

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