More yardbirds

Saturday, September 14, 2013

I am linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin   I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

I have some more recent shots of my yardbirds, these are the usual year round birds that I see in our yard.

It is funny to watch these big birds trying to pick up tiny little seeds I spread out on my deck railing.

American Crows, they seem to come in groups to my yard and deck.

A male House Finch, I've been seeing a group of male and female Houses Finches lately.

There are times when I can see ten or more Mourning Doves around my deck. They are shy birds and tend to fly off if they see me looking at them.

This could be a juvenile male Northern Cardinal or an adult after molting? The colors seem orangy-red.

Looks like the female Cardinal enjoys the berries too. All these shots were taken from my dining room window. So the quality is not the best. Sorry!

I was saving my favorite bird of the week, the Chestnut-sided Warbler. The Chestnut-sided Warbler has a yellowish-green on its back, nape and crown. They have an white eye-ring, underparts are dull white and two broad yellowish wingbars.

The Chestnut-sided was waiting for me to come home from work and it was seen on both Thursday & Friday evenings. These pokeberries are growing just on the other side of our deck, the warblers love these berries. I hope you enjoyed my birds and post!

 Ok, here is my new list for the week of my favorite blogs to visit and if you missed any... look back at all my previous Saturday posts they go as far back as my post title York Rookery on 6/22/13.

Pam @ Whims n Whispers is from Florida. Florida is one of my favorite places, so I really enjoy seeing her wonderful photos of the birds and lovely Florida scenery.

Elaine @ Artic View lives in Alaska.  One thing I love seeing.. is her wonderful photos of the birds that migrate to Alaska.

Reena @ Missing Moments  Lovely photography, if you check out her blog now she is traveling around New Zealand.

Sallie @ A full time life  travels from Florida to Oregon and shares photos from both of her home states.

Grace @ Grammie's Rambling shares her lovely birds and life from her home state of Maine.

I hope you are able to find some time to visit some of my favorite blogs above, they are all wonderful women and bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.

 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.

September 12th already?

I am linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday

September 12, 2013

These are photos from the first week of September, taken in our yard or around the reservoir. I am sharing some of my birds for NF Winged and some sky shots for Skywatch Friday. I hope you all can join in and share your sky captures and the birds, butterflies or other winged photos.

The Eastern Wood PeWee is still seen hanging around, a cute bird.

The Gray Catbird has been caught eating the berries, I was expecting to see warblers eating these berries.

I did manage to catch this fall version of a Chestnut-sided Warbler in our weeping cherry tree. Not a great photo, but it is another record of my warbler yardbird.

A sunset from my backyard, I like the tree silhouettes and the pretty pinkish color on the horizon.

Hubby's shot of the sunset over the reservoir.

Hubby's reflection shot..capturing the pink clouds and sunset on the reservoir.


  Happy Skywatching everyone!

Thanks for visiting my post and  blog and I always appreciate your comments.

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and to see more of the winged critters check out NF Winged

Thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday! Thanks to Monica the host of NF Winged.   I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

Backyard Birds

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

September 9, 2013

This weekend in between running errands and taking our weekend walk, I did find time to check out my backyard birds. I am hoping to see some warblers pass thru like they did last year. I have plenty of pokeberries and berries on the Devils Walking stick. So, I am ready! Come on Warblers!

Above is a Gray Catbird and in the background is a blurry Tufted Titmouse.

This is a little better shot of the Tufted Titmouse.

A fluffy looking Carolina Chickadee enjoying his seed.

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird has taken over the duty of protecting the feeders.

The hummer enjoying the hibiscus flower and plant.

I love my hummers and I will miss them when they head south, for now I am taking lots of  hummer photos.

I love my hummingbirds.

A beautiful male American Goldfinch still showing off his pretty color.

I was happy to see the Black-throated Blue Warbler on my deck, I know this is an awful shot. But, it is my record of seeing this warbler in my yard.

I will end this post with a cute Chipping Sparrow. I hope you enjoyed my backyard birds.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments. I always appreciate your visits.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

Weekend walk, Sept 08

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

September 8, 2013

I am sharing some scenes from our weekend walk and from around our yard and neighborhood. Yesterday, hubby and I tried our luck on finding some migrating warblers. We took our weekend walk at a park in Milford Mill in Baltimore County.  It is known to be a hotspot for seeing the warblers during the Spring and Fall migrations.

Just one of the warblers we saw, I believe this is a juvie fall version of the Chestnut-sided Warbler. It was hard trying to take any warbler photos the leaves kept getting in the way.

These flowers are beautiful sight seen along the park trail.

Back in our yard, a Fritillary was on the butterfly bush, the Devil's Stick berries are waiting for the warblers to chow down and the hummingbirds are still around guarding the feeders.

I am not sure why but this has been the second tractor parade down my street, there was one last month and yesterday I was able to catch more of the parade. On a neighboring street I watched a peacock hen parade down the street.

As always, I hope you enjoy my post and thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week!

Shenandoah National Park

I am linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin   I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

Last Sunday hubby and I went on a daytrip to Shenandoah National Park, we enjoy riding on the Skyline Drive and hiking on the trails. 

A Downy Woodpecker seen on the Limberlost Trail.

The Limberlost Trail is my favorite trail. I knew the Hooded Warblers were nearby and I took my time looking for the warblers and other birds along the trail. I could hear the Hooded Warblers nearby along with a few American Redstarts.

Pictured above I was trying to follow my Hooded Warbler around the branches I started hearing noises that sounded like acorns or branches falling. So I followed the sounds to the top of the tree and noticed a tree swaying back and forth. Then I saw two black spots one big and a smaller black spot at the top of the tree. I zoomed in with my camera and I see two bears, one I think is the momma bear and the smaller definitely a baby bear.

The tree was swaying was actually from momma bear reaching for some kind of berries to eat. I think she had a feast up there in the treetop.

She was resting her head on the branch with the legs dangling off.  I wonder what the birds were thinking?

Momma looks comfy laying on the branches, she decided to take a nap in the tree. I hope she didn't fall out.

I did finally get to see the Hooded Warbler out in the open with a caterpillar in its mouth. But I think the excitement of seeing the bear I couldn't focus on the warbler. Seeing a bear up in the tree gives new meaning to the term "warbler neck". We stood on the trail and watched momma bear for some time, probably the longest bear sighting we ever had. We actually left before the bear, I did not want to be there when the bear came down the tree.

The American Redstart is beautiful, with its halloween colors black with the bright orange. I guess the birds do not mind sharing their trees and berries with the bears.

This week I am sharing some of my favorite memes. I have met some wonderful bloggers by joining in on the blogging parties and memes. Also, by linking your blog up you may increase your blog visitors and readers. So today, I am sharing the links for some of my favorite memes.


Sunday link up to: Mosaic Monday Mary at Little Red House has been hosting this fun meme you can join by creating mosaics and linking up. For my mosaics making I use the free site PicMonkey it is my favorite and easy to use.

Monday link up to: Our World Tuesday meet fellow bloggers from around the world sharing what is happening in their world.

Tuesday link up to : Wild Bird Wednesday Stewart is the Host of Wild Bird Wednesday. Fellow bloggers from around the world share their birds and photos.

Wednesday link up to : Nature Notes is one of my favorites..I love anything to do with nature. The birds, butterflies, flowers..a world of beautiful things.

Thursday link up to : Skywatch Friday is another one of my favorites. I love to skywatch, the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. The cloud formations are beautiful. So many skies to share, a new one everyday.
Thursday link up to:NF Winged if you enjoy birds and other winged things  and like to share them with fellow bloggers.

 Saturday link up to: Camera Critters  and I'd-rather-b-birdin I am a bird and animal lover,  it is wonderful to see everyone's critters.

Saturday link #2 is Scenic Weekends I link up my travel blog Travel with Eileen it is fun to virtually travel the world.

There are many more blog memes and parties, these just happen to be some of my favorites. I hope someday you can join in on our fun. See you there!

Thanks for stopping by and for the nice comments! I wish everyone a happy weekend.

 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.