8 photos of four species, all taken within the last week or so.
I was attempting to photograph hummingbirds at my zinnias when I spotted this faraway Osprey with a fish. It was easily 250 yards away and with the naked eye I couldn’t make a positive ID. Hell, I couldn’t even see the fish so I took a few shots to see if I could ID the bird later. It isn’t every day that I see an Osprey in my neighborhood so I’m including the shot just to document the sighting. The pretty large fish in profile is a bonus.
Since it wasn’t in my yard I suppose calling it a yard bird is a bit of a stretch, but I was in my yard when I photographed it so that’s close enough for me.
My blog, my definition of “yard bird”.
The Lesser Goldfinches have discovered my Amaranth and they love those tiny seeds.
This one was searching for small insects in my zinnia patch. Considerate of it to pose next to one of my more attractive zinnias since many of the flowers are now past their prime. I’ve gotta get out there and do some more deadheading.
It spent most of its time foraging for tiny insects on the green foliage but there were also bugs on the flowers.
I’m finally getting good numbers of Black-chinned Hummingbirds in my garden but the morning light there is very difficult for photography. They especially like my zinnias where the light is usually patchy and filtered at best.
I have a nearby nectar feeder that attracts both sexes of hummer but for some reason, only the females feed at my zinnias. The males feed at the feeder and leave, never visiting my zinnias that I know of.
And like most hummers, the females have chips on their shoulders. These two had a confrontation that I was able to document with…
about a half dozen photos but I could never see the eye of the foreground bird and the bird in the background was always soft. After this shot they zipped out of frame up top.
But it wasn’t the only confrontation they had. They seem to prefer to lie in wait for each other on my tomato cages.
I planted three varieties of sunflowers in my garden against my back fence and the seed packets said all three were only supposed to grow to a maximum of 6′ tall. But most of them are now over 10′ tall and this one is the tallest of the bunch at about 11′. And it’s still growing vertically with the first terminal flowers only now beginning to appear.
That’s where this male American Goldfinch chose to briefly perch – atop my tallest sunflower. I got this one shot with a head angle I like and light in his eye. Light was contrasty but I still like the photo.
This year I’ve spent more time photographing yard birds than I ever have in the past. I’m enjoying it and I’m just now realizing what I’ve been missing.
Ron
Thank goodness for backyard birding. It adds a spark to the days I can’t get out birding
Agreed.
How I love your yard birds – so very different to ours.
Thank you, EC. Compared to many of yours, I’ll bet most of mine are pretty pedestrian. But then I guess “pedestrian” is in the eye of the beholder.
To you perhaps but not to me. Not pedestrian at all.
The two hummers over zinnias are neat, very theatrical/operatic!
The sequence of the two photos is great – in photo #1, the sharp one is waiting in the wings, prepping for her entrance onstage. Then in #2, on cue, she steps into the spotlight, Nike in all her glory!
Thanks, Carolyn. I’d have never thought of “operatic” but you’re right.
I’m betting that Osprey was over SOMEONE’S yard, so it still counts as a Yard Bird. 😉 Love the plethora of visitors you’re getting. That purple Zinnia is really something! 😍 There are several hummingbirds hanging out in my neighbor’s Coral Tree. I haven’t seen them up close enough for any potential ID, but have sure heard them scolding me any time I go out front. Who knew such small birds had such loud voices?
Marty, I wish I could hear waxwings as well as I can her hummers. There’s something about waxwing calls that make it impossible for me to hear them. Doesn’t make much sense but for me that’s the way it is.
For me, and many other birders I know, Cedar Waxwings became one of the first songs lost as hearing began to decrease slowly and very subtly. I wasn’t even aware of my hearing loss until students asked me about what was singing and I wasn’t hearing it. Other high-pitched songs, such as Grasshopper Sparrows, were also lost unless very close. Fortunately, I found an excellent audiologist who knew what hearing aids were best for me and how to adjust them specifically for my hearing loss. I now have all of those lost songs back again.
Interesting, Dan. I have pretty good hearing in most ways but those darn Waxwings are sure out of my range.
And you were right. WordPress had flagged that one comment of yours because of the way your name was spelled. I dug it out and approved it.
Looks like letters got added to the end of my name somehow. If you don’t see my comment let me know and I’ll resend it correctly.
Dan, your first comment, and my response, are both there.
I was actually referring to my second comment in response to the comment you made to Marty about hearing waxwings.
I don’t recall ever seeing — let alone hearing — a Cedar Waxwing. Definitely a bird I would love to see in the wild. Until then, I’ll have to get my fill from your blog.
Fun series. I have to wonder about the Osprey. That’s a large fish. I’m sure it will eventually be eaten but right now it may be partly for show. This time of year they are preparing to leave for their wintering grounds. So males (mostly) display to their mates with fish and sticks. It can look like early nesting activity but it’s a way to strengthen the bond before they migrate. The pair will spend the winter in totally separate locations and this behavior is usually seen in the weeks before leaving. If not, it still looks like a good meal.
s
Could be, Dan. And that might explain why the Osprey was flying with the fish toward the pond, instead of away from it. Maybe its mate was near the pond.
Ron
Backyard birds can be very exciting. I recently published a coffee table book titled “Celebrating Backyard Birds.” I photographed and commented on about 40 variety of birds in my Georgia backyard. It is not a guidebook. It tells the stories of the birds in words and photos.
Your book sounds like an ambitious undertaking, Bob.
Great photos and collection. I haven’t had an osprey in my yard, even one headed to the Ogden rehab! Haley might have, she works more with the officers dropping the injured off. It’s nice to be out of that loop!
Glad you are enjoying your time. With the crazy congested traffic on the roads now, going places is not as enjoyable.
Thanks, Aprill. I saw your post about the traffic you ran into on your way up one of the Cottonwood canyons. I won’t be going there anytime soon, if at all.
At least on that trip I had great company to make the time more enjoyable.
Super series!
Exciting action packed post today. Thank you for including the Osprey photo – showed that one to my husband and received the appropriate ‘Wow!’ Your garden is SO inspiring!
Kathleen, I almost didn’t include that Osprey shot, for obvious reasons. I’m glad I changed my mind.
En garde! Hummingbird Olympics! And I really like the little finch with the zinnia, the two facing opposite directions. Sweet. Thanks, Ron.
Thank you, Ellen.
Fun post. There was an English rock group back in the early 60’s called the Yardbirds. Obviously never became a household name like the Beatles. I bought a pot and a beautiful multi stalk zinnia and put them out there and not a hummer nor butterfly nor anybody else has gone to it at least as far as I know. We have a couple hummers all over the place, but possibly both male. Like those two Lesser Goldfinch photos.
Thanks, Everett. I remember the Yardbirds well.
Wow– you’ve captured a lot of drama without leaving your yard !
Drama in combat (hummingbirds), dramatic lighting and contrast
( brightly-lit goldfinch against deep shadow ),and an osprey
in flight carrying what appears to be a VERY LARGE fish. Also,
I enjoyed the pops of color that the amaranth and zinnias contributed.
Thanks, Kris. The strange thing about the Osprey is that it was flying, with the fish, toward the pond near my house rather than away from it. So I have to wonder where it caught the fish.
Fun! Tend to forget what just “hanging out” close by 😉 Nice to be able to take a break from roaming the countryside. 🙂
The Osprey is a great bonus! Hummers do tend to be aggressive little buggers – we rarely get any. Gold Finches are always fun. Jealous of the Amaranth – what few made it from last year are struggling where they are at. It was worth a try anyway. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. In recent years I’ve become addicted to having Amaranth in my garden.
And to think, the original Amaranth seeds I got from a friend over 20 years ago sat in my shed for a decade before I planted any of them. They’ve been volunteering ever since.
That Osprey is quite a catch. Sighted from the yard (rather than in the yard) is I think within the general concept of yard bird.
I enjoy yard bird birding. Like to setup game cameras at my yard fountains just to take inventory of who is visiting.
In my home office I routinely stop to watch the Lesser Goldfinch feeding on tiny insects in the rosebushes just outside my window. It makes for a real moment of peace and grounding.
Michael, if I could see my garden through my ‘office’ window I’d never get anything done. Including processing photos and posting to my blog… 🙂