In the garden

The goal today was to head to the park, but I never got out of our garden... lots to see and lots of behavior to observe. First, right in front of our door, a nuthatch, maybe dazed from flying into a window, but obviously no trauma and in time it flew off.  Lots of bugs to find in tree bark.

Hermit thrush in back garden hanging onto the sunflower stalk

Total surprise, the non-breeding palm warbler

A yellow rump warbler in another section of garden hunting and finding loads of bugs

                            Lucky sparrow at dying sunflowers from which to pluck seeds.

Lunch

Little peewee sitting on railing watching for lunch. Bugs. It happens very fast.. watch, fly, snatch, dine.

Got it!  Crunchy bug.

The sparrows have it easier, crunch seeds on ground.

I'm heading out to lunch. Pomodoro.

Hummers

I headed out wanting to see one thing, a hummingbird. Most of the jewelweed has been ripped out by the park's department. Very few blossoms left for hummingbirds. Cruel!  At the one large patch there was this dominant hummer, possibly a young male as he has a dot of red feather on his throat. Other hummers darted in, but got chased away. This is obviously his turf. More perching than sucking. It warmed my heart to watch. I've gotten better pictures in the past, but had to document this determined visitor even if I could not get close.

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The inner eye

I've been busy with other projects and will be busy for the next few weeks. Instead of posting editorial (factual) images I'll be posting inner eye images as time permits. I have been seeing the predictable migrating birds.... common yellow throat warblers, worm eating warblers, redstarts, B/W warblers, etc. I've posted them on blogs in previous years.  These posts represent something very different, non-editorial. Images are also being posted on Facebook with greater regularity.

The cardinal family

Diced male wood duck

Baby crow

                                                         Painted magnolia warbler.
To be continued........

From end of August

Bath time. Can't you tell?

Robin  kids growing up.

But in some cases food still being delivered

Adult plumage, gorgeous starling

Watching behavior, Part 2

Still digging for worms.

Not in my mouth, thank you very much.

Growing up now.

Robins are usually fussy about sharing bath space. Not this hour.

A "sitzbath" for mama cardinal.

                                                And watching from another tree, the child.
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