Spring is Full of Surprises

We put the hummingbird feeder out about a week ago

and the hummingbirds did find it to our delight.

Then we had another visitor to the hummingbird feeder…

The oriole loves this.

And chippy has discovered a new safe place.

I had never seen this bird before and I discovered

it is called a Canada warbler.

Some of the Birds in Our Yard

a young fluffy catbird

the beautiful cardinal

the magical hummingbird

Catching up

Autumn fills the air as nature prepares for winter...

Chippy found an overturned cup of sunflower seeds

and filled his cheeks and disappeared to store them.

 

 

 

A very young finch is finding food in our wildflowers.

 

 

I am seeing birds I haven't seen before in our garden.

I am not sure who this one is!

 

The hummingbird is still here finding nectar in 

unusual flowers.

 

 

 The chickadees are here there and everywhere!

 

A great blue heron fishes in an inlet...

and a favorite thing to do for us is to see the egrets

fly in early evening back to the safety of the island.

They are so majestic and graceful and fill us with

wonder!

The Magical Hummingbird

Always so happy to see the little hummingbird visiting

our garden flowers.

A sense of magic in the air!

The Hummingbirds are Back

So happy to see that the hummingbirds have 

returned to our yard!

Autumn Feathered Friends

The bees are busy in the garden gathering pollen

from the tansy...

I was so happy to see the hummingbird was still

here, I know that soon she will be flying south

and I will miss her.

Am delighted to see the juvenile night heron is

also still here...

Another favorite that feels so magical to me
is watching the egrets fly just before sunset
to the island where
all the shore birds spend the night.

We still have some warmish days

before the cold weather settles in and these

feathered friends will fly to warmer climates til next year.

My photos, drawings and memories will carry me
through til they return next spring.

Surprises

What a delightful surprise to spot the hummingbird

who blended in so well with the leaves in the tall

wild cherry tree.

Another surprise, glancing out the window at the

moment this catbird stopped to rest!

Loved noticing the shadow of the butterfly on the 

dandelion...

About to step into the porch when this chipmunk caught

my eye...one never knows where they will appear!

 

On our evening walk last night we heard strange

calls coming from the birds in the ocean...

an unusual laughing sound not like the usual

call of the seagull.

They were Laughing Gulls so appropriately named.

It sure did sound like laughter!

Towards the end of our walk

an Black-crowned Night Heron flew 

overhead  away from the

ocean.

So magical every time we see them.

To our great surprise, D noticed it 

had landed in a little inlet on our

way home.

To be able to observe nature is

so very uplifting and inspiring.

Rescued

I happened to step out into the garden yesterday
afternoon and spotted the hummingbird leaning into
the honeysuckle vine.
I haven't seen her in many days and
thought perhaps the hummingbirds flew south already.
Was so happy to see her!


While quietly observing her through my camera
lens, I heard a strange kind of tapping sound
nearby.
I investigated and paused near a platform holding
flower pots. Suddenly this appeared through the
drainage hole in an upsidedown very heavy terra cotta
flower pot.

Chippy could only get so far up
and slipped back down.
Just didn't have the leverage to
pull himself up through the hole
and I don't think he could squeeze
through going out... must have been
easier to go in!

I slid the very hard to move pot over to the edge
of the table so there was an opening at the
bottom and zoom...the chipmunk was out of
there in a flash!

So glad I happened to be outside to hear the
trapped chipmunk!

Hummingbird

Every time I see the hummingbird in our yard
I can feel a sense of magic in the air...

Missing

As I stood still in the garden thinking of my
beloved Mom
(I miss her so dearly)
the beautiful hummingbird appeared.



A special gift from one of my sisters...
a solar hummingbird...
it sat in the sun all day and charged
so tonight it shone with revolving colors,
shades of red, green and blue.

Birds and Blossoms

On Saturday the sun actually appeared out of the
fog and grayness of the past week.
With it opened the apple blossoms and brought
the beautiful birds to our yard.


a yellow warbler...

the tiny hummingbird

the vibrant Redstart...

We're back to clouds and mist today
but I will go out and look for them again!

Hummingbird

The Hummingbird has been back for several weeks.
Haven't seen much of her as the weather is on the
chilly side and many of her favorite flowers are
slow to open.
Whenever I am able to catch a glimpse
of her I am so thrilled!

A Lovely Day for Birds

The weather is improving...more comfortable
temperatures and lower humidity..think we
all appreciate this, including the birds.

This robin is hiding in the wisteria vines,
a wonderful shady spot and out of sight.

The hummingbird made many visits to the
lilies and honeysuckle today... I am always
so happy to see her!

Magical Hummingbird

Early Friday evening I was thinking
that I needed to see the hummingbird...
had been a while since we saw each other!
I went to the spot where I had seen them
last September...heard the humming sound
and there it was!

Friday's Furry and Feathered Friends

Was delighted to see the male ruby-throated hummingbird
visiting the honeysuckle that winds through the lilac bush.

Chipmunks are all over the yard and always
seem to be posing for the camera!

While I worked on a project on the porch,
Ellie May napped in the sunlight and all I had
to do was glance up at her to feel the contentment!

Hope your day was filled with some interesting
furry and feathered friends!

Yesterday's Discovery

Beside my studio is a tall lilac bush with honeysuckle
climbing through it.
The hummingbirds love honeysuckle and sometimes
I am lucky enough to see a hummingbird visiting the
flowers. I am always on the lookout.
I have noticed another little bird in the same bush.
She moves very quickly and I have been able to identify
her as a redstart.

Well, yesterday when I had the hummingbird in my mind,
I caught a glimpse of the redstart.
She always has been in constant motion but that
afternoon she seemed to pause in the middle of the tree.
Very difficult to see inside but I was able to peek into
a tiny opening in the leaves and there she was.

To my surprise, she was sitting on a beautiful nest.




Shortly thereafter, the hummingbird
came by and paused at the top of a
birch tree nearby.

I love these moments!
Hope you enjoyed seeing them, too!

Magical Moments

The first hummingbird appeared in our garden this afternoon...
it was a magical moment...
the male ruby throated hummingbird
flew by just as I was in deep though about someone dear...
Had been concerned about the hummingbirds and hoping
that they had a safe journey North.
Then I saw the her, another hummingbird drinking
from the blue comfrey flowers.




The mourning doves have built another nest
on the other side of our house in another arbor.



The Chickadee gathering strands of rope
to line a nest...


When I took a walk later in the day saw the terns fishing!


Also saw a young cedar waxwing.

Saturday was a such beautiful day for birds...