Blog: Your Backyard Birds: What Birds Have You Seen?

Just today while sitting and weeding my tomato patch, I had an interesting visit by a group of goldfinches. Not only are they striking to look at but obviously not real scared of people..? Less that 15 feet from where I was sitting, they were working over my Black-eyed Susan and Bee balm. For the last 3 years,I have blamed the insects for trimming the petals of my susan's. Today I had to apologize to all of the insects in my garden. I sat watching and..huh..the little guys were snipping off the petals to get at the seeds! Needless to say it was both an enlightening and relaxing way to spend a summer afternoon. Also thanks to them, my flowers are going to be popping up all over the area.

Since the spring I have had a mockingbird singing to me nearly every morning. I even talk to him. Does anyone know why they fly a short distance ( a foot or so) off their perch and back down again as they sing?

Two green heron's landed in a nearby tree yesterday and luckily I had my camera, but what I was not prepared for was the third green heron that practically landed within a few feet of me while I was trying to get a picture of the other two heron's in a nearby tree. As for the goldfinch, I see them all the time atop my zinnia blossoms eating away at the seed heads. What fun to watch - I agree.

White fly catcher. My mother really enjoyed birding. Most interesting - my mother passed away in May this year and since her passing, when I go over to her place in the country, often I get the opportunity to watch the WHITE FLY CATCHER feasting on insects. It is very awesome.
My mother would have truly enjoyed this flycatcher, in its rare form.

After not seeing any robins for over two weeks, I saw several in my yard today. I assumed that they were eating and getting ready to leave Central Virginia until next spring, so not sure if these are birds that will winter here or not. Pleasant fall-like day, if still a little warm.

While walking this morning near Fortunes Rocks Beach in Biddeford, Maine, we saw a Tundra Swan. She was swimming in a fresh water pond and would put her head in the water (tail straight up in the air) to feed. Such a beautiful bird. I wonder how she ended up in Maine?

Thursday, June 16th, 2011
We live in a wooded area, right off a main drag. We have our beloved Bluebirds, yearly, Bluejays, Chicadee, Mocking Birds, Cat birds, Cow birds, Cardinals, Titmouse, Jenny Wrens, House Wrens, Flickers, Indigo Bunting, Red headed Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Goldfinches,Robins, Flycatchers, Humming Birds in summer, Baltimore Orioles, summer, Wild Turkeys, Crows, Falcons, Saw-Wet owl, and local to all , is our course, our greatest assest, An American Bald Eagle who nests yearly in a cell tower near the Delaware River. I am so blessed to have so many birds and natural wildlife near me to observe.

I have two hummingbirds at my feeder. Am I harming them for having the feeder out and not letting them migrate to warmer weather. I live in Ione, CA. near Angels Camp????

I was in my yard the other day and saw a medim sized, darkly colored bird in a nearby shrub. The reason I noticed it was the unusual series of calls it was making. The calls were as follows: Clicks, frog croaks, cricket sounds, duck quacks, goose honks, followed by a beautiful bird song. I know this sounds unbelievable, but it is absolutely true. I stood there and listened for several minutes while it went through the series of sounds many times. I laughed outloud when it did the goose and duck. I would love to know what kind of bird this is, does anyone know? I live in the Cameron Park, CA area if that helps.