Purple Finch

The Purple Finch is one of my occasional backyard birds. They are suppose to be a winter bird for me, even though it seems I see them other times too. It is a treat to see these colorful birds. My field guide says they are wine and rose in color, I like to call it raspberry.  The female is a dull brown with streaked whitish underparts. They feed mostly on seeds and fruits. They seem to favor the Black oil Sunflower seeds.


This shot shows the difference in size compared to the smaller American Goldfinch.

Male and female

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 please visit the Friday Ark

AND

You can see more cute critters over at Misty Dawn's Camera Critters thanks Misty dawn for hosting this fun critter meme.

Wet Bluebirds

These are from my archives but I thought I would post some of my bluebirds. I think these shots of the bluebirds bathing are too cute. Splish Splash my bluebirds are taking a bath.

Please visit 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday for more watery shots and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday 

and Michelle's Nature Notes

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting Watery Wednesday and thank you for stopping by to see my wet bluebirds.

Moving Day for the Bluebirds

To my delight every spring the Eastern Bluebirds will check out every birdhouse I have in my yard. For some reason they must go in each box and check them out until they find one they are happy with. Watching them trying to choose reminds me of Goldilocks and the three bears. I consider myself very lucky that they are choosing one of my birdhouses for their nest. It is a treat to see the bluebirds all thru spring and summer with their babies. The juveniles are so cute with their spotted chest begging for food from the adults. They eat insects, berries and they love mealy worms. In past years my bluebirds have had three broods. I have seen them move from house to house  for their second and third nest.

To see more wonderful mosaics you can visit Mary's Mosaic Monday  Thanks to Mary for hosting this fun meme.

Thanks for stopping by my blog to see my Bluebird mosaic.

Carolina Chickadee

The Carolina Chickadee is one of my common backyard feeder birds. They are cute little birds and at times can be fussy. I am close to the overlap area but I am still not sure if I have seen the Black Capped Chickadee. At times I think I might have heard a different sound coming from these sweet looking birds. My Carolina Chickadee has duller plumage, a shorter tail and a neat lower edge on their bib. they are best told by their song according to my field guide.

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Thanks Misty Dawn for hosting this fun critter meme.

Visit the  Friday Ark to see more birds and other critters.

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Watery Wednesday Great Falls

On Sunday, hubby and I took a walk along the C&O canal and to see the Great Falls on the Potomac. The Great Falls is a National Park and there are overlooks on both  the Maryland and the Virginia sides of the Potomac River.We also found a loop trail along the river where you can watch the heron rookery. I was surprised the herons are already busy at their nest. Their must have been a hundred or more different kinds of ducks on the Potomac. There were right in the middle of the river and it was too hard to id any of them.

Ducks on the Potomac and a view of the Virginia side of the Great Falls and the Potomac River

A far away shot of the Heron Rookery on the shores of the Potomac

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To see more please visit 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting this fun meme and thanks for stopping by my watery post.

Baltimore Oriole

 I posted this Oriole  for my Bird Photography weekly and Camera Critters  entry. Below is a post about all the different state birds. This post is just about the Maryland state bird which is the Baltimore Oriole. It is a beautiful and colorful bird. We only get to see the Orioles here in Maryland during the summer months. I have heard they like oranges, grape jelly and sometimes you see them trying to drink the nectar from the hummingbird feeders.

I found this Oriole eating the blueberry suet hanging  on my deck.

Here are a few Orioles I've seen in different parts of Maryland

To see more wonderful and cute critters visit Misty Dawn's Camera Critters  Thanks Misty Dawn for hosting the fun critter meme.

And to see more wonderful birds and animals you should really visit the Friday Ark

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope you enjoyed my Oriole.

State Birds

I thought it would be fun to see how many of the state birds I have seen in my own state of Maryland. The Maryland State bird is the Baltimore Oriole.  I have been lucky to see it visit my blueberry suet feeder last summer.

                             Baltimore Oriole .......Maryland State bird

Some of the state birds, I have photos of are included in my mosaic.

I have been lucky to see most of the state birds in my mosaic right here in Maryland. Except for the Mountain Bluebird I saw in Idaho and the Western Meadowlark I saw in Montana.

The most popular state bird..the Northern Cardinal

I was surprised to see multiple states have the same bird listed as their state bird. The Northern Cardinal being the most popular coming in with a total seven states. The next popular bird in 6 states is the Western Meadowlark.  The Northern Mockingbird is next with 5 states, the Amercian Robin and American Goldfinch both have 3 states each. The Black Capped Chickadee and the Mountain Bluebird are the state birds for two states each.

Georgia State bird..

 click photo to see larger image of two Brown Thrashers. I just read today they they might want to change their state bird to a Cornish Chicken. I think I like the Brown Thrasher more than a chicken. What's up with these chickens anyway.

List of USA State Birds

Alabama...Northern Flicker....my yard

Alaska.....Willow Ptarmian.. never seen this bird.. I have to look the bird up in my field guide.

Arizona....Cactus Wren... saw this one at the Grand Canyon

Arkansas.... Northern Mockingbird....my yard

California....California Quail... would be a new one for me

Colorado....Lark Bunting....would be a new one for me

Connecticut....American Robin....my yard

Delaware....Blue Hen Chicken....not seen yet..weird why a chicken?

Florida......Northern Mockingbird....my yard

Georgia...Brown Thrasher....my yard

Hawaii....Hawaiian Goose...sorry I wasn't into birding during my Hawaii trips

Idaho...Mountain Bluebird...seen in Idaho and one of my favorite birds

Illinois....Northern Cardinal...my yard

Indiana....Northern Cardinal...my yard

Iowa....American Goldfinch....my yard

Kansas....Western Meadowlark...seen in Montana

Louisiana....Brown Pelican... seen from a Maryland beach

Maine....Black Capped Chickadee...not seen yet

Maryland....Baltimore Oriole...my yard

Massachusetts....Black Capped Chickadee.. not seen yet

Michigan...American Robin...my yard

Minnesota....Common Loon..seen in Ocean City Md

Missouri....Eastern Bluebird...seen in my yard

Montana...Western Meadowlark...seen in Montana

Nebraska...Western Meadowlark...seen in Montana

Nevada....Mountain Bluebird...seen in Idaho

New Hampshire...Purple Finch... my yard

New Jersey...American Goldfinch...my yard

New mexico...Roadrunner..not seen.. but hopefully someday

New York...Eastern Bluebird..my yard

North Carolina...Northern Cardinal...my yard

North Dakota....Western Meadowlark...seen during Montana visit

Ohio...Northern Cardinal...my yard

Oklahoma...Scissor tailed Flycatcher...not seen yet

Oregon...Western Meadowlark...seen Montana trip

Pennsylvania...Ruffed Grouse..Seen in Shenandoah Nat'l Park

Rhode Island...Red Chicken...another state chicken?

South Carolina...Carolina Wren...my yard

South Dakota...Ring-necked Pheasant..seen walking down my street

Tennessee...Northern Mockingbird...my yard

Texas...Northern Mockingbird...my yard

Utah....California Gull..not seen, is this a common bird for Utah?

Vermont.....Hermit Thrush...seen in woods near my house

Virginia...Northern Cardinal...my yard

Washington...American Goldfinch...my yard

West Virginia...Northern Cardinal...my yard

Wisconsin....American Robin...my yard

Wyoming...Western Meadowlark...seen in Montana

and

District of Columbia...Wood Thrush.. not a state but added in..seen in the woods next to house.

I think I counted ten birds out of all the state birds I have not seen yet. Hopefully, someday I will be able to add them all to my list. The Black Capped Chickadee is seen in western Maryland so it is possible for me to see this bird in my home state. I do see the Carolina Chickadee in my yard.

This is my entry for Outdoor Wednesday and for Nature Notes

Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks to Susan of Outdoor Wednesday and Michelle of Nature Notes for hosting these fun memes.