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Black capped Chickadees are always regulars at the feeders here.
The Anna's Hummingbird has been here every day. She just keeps posing for me.
Song sparrow has been a recent visitor.
I'm so happy to see the Red-breasted Nuthatches have been returning. I love watching these birds hop up and down the tree trunks or visit the suet feeders in the winter.I've also been spotting a Townsend's Warbler again at the bark butter feeder. There is a picture of one on my sidebar that was visiting our garden this time last year. Hopefully I'll be able to get a picture of one with my new camera soon.
Last year my 11 year old daughter and I participated for the first time in the bird count. Click here to read our counts. She was even more excited about it than I imagined. This is a good time to practice your birdwatching and learning about your local birds. You only have to count the birds you know, so don't be intimidated to try.
I really want to remember to participate this year! That little hummingbird is so wonderful and you keep getting better and better shots of her/him. I love to bird watch too but my feeders are down now because of the hawks. Hopefully by the Bird Count dates, I can put them back up.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos, especially of the nuthatch, which we don't often see in the garden here. You remind me that I must get more suet this week.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like a fun project Catherine. I have never tried it before.Yesterday I had 9 cardinals at one time trying to out do each other to the feeders.LOL.I know snow is near when all the birds start gorging themselves. I am fascinated about you having hummers all year long.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info/link! I will definitely participate!
ReplyDeleteI always find it so interesting that you and I have many of the same kinds of birds, though we live so far apart.
I really like participating in the Bird Count. It is always fun to see how many birds we have.
ReplyDeleteThere is a special on PBS about hummingbirds soon...I think this week. Nature “Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air” I am looking forward to it. In my area it is on Sunday evening.
I keep saying I'm going to do this each year but never do. Such a pity because I sure do watch the birds. I still can't believe you have hummers! Such a lovely reminder of summer for me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! That hummer is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering about this since I saw it posted on your blog last year. Thanks I will be checking into it!!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, I know you were always a great bird watcher because you have always posted them among you beautiful garden, and now you have a good meaning to continue your hobby, joining that club. It´s a very nice way to start 2010 for you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are gorgeous!!!
Muchos cariños,
Maria Cecilia
The people who have had feeders out for the greatest number of years have all the birds... I keep trying to get finches to cross the street and they just flock at my neighbor lady's house. It was good to learn about the counting day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning photo of the green hummingbird. Your camera takes such good pictures.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI just heard about this yesterday. I look forward to seeing who visits your garden. I may have to try myself...
Hi Catherine, Yes I remember last year...you and your daughter[s]tracking the birds. You posted some amazing photos. Looks like we're in for a similar treat this year! Wait. Was that a year ago? :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing that you have a little Anna visiting your feeder in January. I can only dream of such things.
ReplyDeleteYour bird photos have always impressed. Good luck with the bird count.
A very fun way to log what we do as gardeners on a daily basis. So very interesting to watch these little creatures and their adorable habits. Really good photos, too. I didn't realize you have hummingbirds through the winter. So pretty and clever those little hummers are.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
Meems @ HoeandShovel
Catherine, I can't believe you still have hummingbirds. Because they arrive here in the early spring and leave just before winter, I have never thought to put out a feeder, but you may have just inspired me to do so. Your header photo is stunning!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust think....when I get my camera I can finally take pictures of some birds!
ReplyDeleteThose little guys are ALL so cute.
ReplyDeleteThe hummingbirds have long gone south here...but we do have chickadees, juncos, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, European Starlings, and BlueJays here every day at the feeders. Some doves too, but we haven't seen them for a few weeks now.
Sounds like lots of fun Catherine. I don't see too many birds right now. Wish I saw the ones you are seeing.
ReplyDeleteThis will be our third year to count, and we will be practicing! Your photos are so wonderful, I never tire of the little sweet hummer. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
wow, what a beautiful gardening blog yours. Great photos, great thoughts! Have a wonderful 2010. I'm having some very funny experience with birds here in New Zealand, by the way...they have found the cat food I always put to the cats in my porch and now they come everyday to have their bites, can you believe it? It's really funny to watch them 'sneaking' into my porch very slowly to get cat food from the cat plates.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long you need to have established feeders in your yard in order to submit a reasonable count -- would anyone hazard a guess? Because I'm just now re-establishing my own feeders.
ReplyDeleteI remember you doing this last year. Thanks for the information. I love your photos today. I have a friend who found the Arnette Heidcamp "A Hummingbird in My House" book at half.com for less than $5 inluding shipping if you haven't found a copy yet. Hope you have had a good day.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteNice shots of the birds.
The humming bird picture is lovely. You are an expert bird photographer!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird photos. I need to look into doing the backyard count. I love the picture of the hummingbird!
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos! I love the birds and really miss my Maine birds. I envy your birds! I need more cover here to attract more varieties (will keep on planting), but I am always surprised now and then at what shows up - my favorite - an INDIGO BUNTING! I had never seen one of these before and to think he stopped by my lowly little plot of a garden last spring! I have participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count and it is a great thing! Now I also participate in Project Feeder Watch weekly during the season. If you are interested: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw. You would have much to contribute! Looking forward to that photo of the warbler!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots as usual, Catherine! I've heard you've been colder than usual this winter- stay warm :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of the bird count- I totally forgot last year!
Mary Anne - I'm really not sure, maybe that information could be found on the Bird count web site? That would be interesting to know. My feeders have been up for years so they are pretty well established, always some new surprise visitors though.
ReplyDeleteViolet Fern - Thanks for the links, those sound really interesting and fun to do as well. I'm going to look into it.
Your birds always so exotic to those we get in Southern England Catherine! A hummingbird looks just magical, would love to see one! We do get flocks of 50 or so bright green parakeets which are now quite settled in most parts of southern England come over the garden daily, so i suppose they are quite exotic. And lots of hawks, and the dreaded herons....we wont talk about them! Good luck with your counting! best wishes Betty xxx
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many birds out today as it's a white out with the snow here but, like Betty, we don't get many exotic ones anyway. Mind you, I think her green parakeets 'down south' are pretty exotic!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Catherine. I wish you and your family (Gracie too) all the best in the coming year. Bird counting sure sounds like fun and is certainly a worthwhile activity. We need to be good stewards of the land. Every bit helps.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very much like our RSPB bird count that takes place a couple of weeks earlier Catherine. I will be counting on this side of the pond :)
ReplyDeleteYour Anna's Hummer actually looks like he's scowling a bit - I can see there's food in the feeder, so that's not it. Maybe he's just back from defending his territory from another hummer and still in battle mode? I'm amazed at how ferocious those little guys can be.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! What an awesome picture of the Anna's Hummingbird! I have tons of birds at our feeders during the winter months. I should do the count but never seem to be able to for some reason or another. I may give it a try this year....
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary! A year sure flies by when blogging doesn’t it? Am glad you stuck out the bad times. We all have them so dont fret, Just keep on doing what you enjoy about blogging and don’t worry about the rest....
Great shots of your friendly visitors, those are some of my favorites but I have never captured them so clearly or at such close range. Kudos! I remember your post from last year, it was so sweet. I am maybe going to try this time around, although we don't have feeders so it may be a kind of scanty count! My daughter's class is studying birds starting pretty soon here so it would be a great way to get her going. Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the heads up, Catherine. I have not participated in this event before, but it sounds like great fun. I may just give it a go this year. I have been doing some shopping for a heated birdbath - trying to increase the varieties of birds that frequent our feeders.
ReplyDeleteyou have the best photos!!! great post today!
ReplyDeleteCatherine .. you have taken amazing shots of these birds !
ReplyDeleteHusband is more the bird watcher than I am .. but I love reading other people's accounts of their sightings and seeing pictures like these ? a huge pleasure indeed !!
Good luck with the count .. and I will be back to see more of these beautiful birds and garden adventures : )
Joy