Tuesday, May 31, 2016

If at first you don't succeed...

This determined Scrub Jay was not satisfied with eating seeds off the ground. He squawked and complained about his predicament for a while and then finally managed to get up onto the feeder and keep his balance so he could get the good stuff.

I'll tell you, he was a sight to watch! At one point he was hanging onto the pole at the right and trying to reach over to get the seed that way. Finally, he shimmied onto the rim (although he didn't seem too comfortable or happy about it!) and went to town.


The moral of the story is: If you see something you want, Don't Give Up!!!


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

There's always room for one more!

Once in a while we get a few new finch visitors to the feeders...
These Lesser Goldfinches popped by to say hello and were gone again in the blink of an eye...





Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

They Came Back!

Last month I posted about the Hooded Oriole I saw at the hummingbird feeder. Well, I'm happy to report that he and his female counterpart have paid us another visit. And another, and another...

We've seen them every day for the past week and they were even gracious enough to hold still and let me take a few photos this time.
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 It's amazing how much bolder the male's coloring is!
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Here's hoping they become yearly summer visitors!

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

"Hey, guys! Look what I found!"

This Mockingbird was determined to pick up something he found on the patio...


I think it is a dried up worm or something from when it rained...


Whatever it is, he sure thought it was something great...


 And here he looks all puffy...


How is that even the same bird? Birds are amazing, aren't they?!

Friday, May 6, 2016

Colusa Treasures

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All right, these are the last of the photos from my recent trip to the refuges. These were taken at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge...

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Long-billed Dowitchers

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Cinnamon Teal

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Black-crowned Night Heron
All I want to do is turn right around and go back again!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Fishing for a mate...

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These Great and Snowy Egrets are in their "highbreeding" plumage. The Great Egrets have green around their eyes...

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And the Snowy Egrets have bright orange...

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*Photos taken at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Wild Life

I wish I could see this kind of wildlife from my backdoor. Until that day comes, I'll happily travel to the Sacramento NWR and take as many photos as I can...

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American Avocet

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Northern Shoveler

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Least Sandpiper

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Least Sandpipers

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Killdeer

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Shorebirds Make Me Happy

More photos from our trip to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge:

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Black-bellied Plovers

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Western Sandpipers

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Ring-billed Gull

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American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants

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Great Egret

Monday, May 2, 2016

Whooo's There?

I like taking pictures of trees just as much as birds. This tree had a big nest at the top and I zoomed in to get a closer shot and didn't think any more of it until I got home.

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Later, when I was going through all the photos from our trip, I noticed the Great Horned Owl in the nest!

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You really never know what you're going to see at the refuge--even if you don't realize it until after you get home!

Sunday, May 1, 2016