House finch

House finches are so common we hardly look at them.  They were busy in the cedar tree.

 

Canada Warbler

This Canada Warbler was hopping quickly in the trees.

It was hard to identify her since they're only seen rarely in North Carolina.  Maybe blown off course by bad weather?

 

Name that tune...

The birds on the wires looked like a sheet of music.

 

Pheobe

This little pheobe waited patiently for me to get the right focus.

(See here)

 

Stay cool

Even the birds are feeling the heat.

 

Gray Catbird

Catbirds have the most annoying call (like a dying cat or distressed baby) and the most beautiful song (like a mockingbird).  This one was singing his heart out.

See here to hear what I mean.

 

Ignore him and he'll go away.

The Bluebird was studiously ignoring the feisty Titmouse.

 

Gnatcatchers

We had just said, "If I were a bug eating bird, I'd live here,"  when we heard them.  High pitched calls back and forth.  They were a family of blue grey gnatcatchers.

 

King of the feeder

The flicker sat above the birdfeeder for a long time.  While he was there, no one else dared visit.

 

Puzzle

This pine warbler couldn't seem to figure out how to get to the suet underneath the feeder.

Finally success.

 

Angry bird?

The yellow eyebrows on this white throated sparrow makes him seem particularly angry.

 

Warbler

This Pine Warbler almost glowed with his yellow feathers.

 

Chickadee

Chickadees are hard to photograph.  They're so quick that they're gone before you can focus.  I caught this one sliding down to the seed feeder.

 

It's good to be king

This Eastern Kingbird (see here) looked like a ruler.  He swept down to eat flying insects and then flew back up to his throne.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Downy

 Mrs. Downy Woodpecker waited patiently for her husband to finish munching at the suet feeder

Hmmmmm

We're starting to see hummingbirds back at the feeders.  This little lady kept one eye on me while she was checking out the feeder.

 

Great Crested Flycatcher

A Great Crested Flycatcher has been visiting the backyard lately.

It's been going in and out of our nesting box.  

Unfortunately, something climbed up an unclimbable pole and opened up the sides of the nesting box.  While fixing it, we found 4 little brown striped eggs.  (see here)  Hopefully the parents will come back and take care of them.

 

Summer

We could hear the summer tanager before we saw him.  

 

Mom needs a nap

Mama duck was sleeping, but the kids all had their eyes open.

Daddy duck was close by.

 

Towhee

Towhees always look like they're spoiling for a fight.  They are a bird with an attitude.