Birdwatching Break Time

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Hello WA Friends,

There have been a LOT of heavy things going on in the world lately. The noise and stress can become quite overwhelming.

So if you're anything like me and are in need of a little diversion from your day's work and WA research, I invite you virtually to spend a moment to see some delightful birds on their spring/summer migration.

After a very long, cold winter, May has brought many colorful diners and nesters to my rural locale. This is perhaps one of the nicest times of year, in my opinion.

Leaves are popping out, everything is greening up and flowers and blossoms take center stage. In fact, groves of old lilacs are now blooming. They make heavenly arrangements on the nightstand.

One of the prettiest parts of spring in the north are the birds that are returning from overwintering in places as far away as Central America.

Let's take a look and see what's happening at my feeders this month. Please note that ALL of the pictures you see are taken by me. I used Canva to arrange some images.

Rose-Breasted Grobeak

Above, you'll see this beautiful male who has a sweet song. I see them for usually a couple of weeks before they find adequate food elsewhere. But while here, I like to indulge them with all the sunflower and safflower seeds that they can eat.


Baltimore Orioles

These colorful birds love to sing in the trees to announce their presence. However, it's fun to watch them eat the grape jelly and oranges I supply them with.


Wood Duck

This male wood duck is so perfectly painted, that he almost looks artificial. Normally, I catch them in the ponds but this handsome fellow decided he was going to chase his mate high up in the trees.

Last summer a pair had about 10 babies which was fun to see. But they can hear you coming from a mile away and do not appreciate having their photos taken!



Blue-winged Teals

As a birder, I was thrilled to see my first pair of Blue-winged Teals in my ponds. Hopefully they'll fix a nest nearby.



Here's another peek at a few other species hanging around. The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large bird that looks like Woody Woodpecker. They make giant holes in trees and have a piercing clucking call that can be heard from far away.


These visitors are also some of my favorites. Have you ever heard of a Sora bird? These unusual, shy, 'chicken-like' birds move across ponds making some very unusual sounds!



My neighbor has a forest in the back of one pond where Great Blue Herons nest each year. It is quite spectacular to see these giant beauties nesting and raising their young.

Lastly, I'll leave you with perhaps my favorite migratory bird of all...the hummingbird. How such a tiny bird can travel such incredible distances is always amazing to me.

Last year, there were a pair of males that constantly fought and chased each other away from the feeder. At one point, they actually got locked in what looked like a death-spiral. Fortunately, they survived, but must have had some headache!

All of these birds embody unique characteristics, just like us WA-ers. And like them, we continue to forge ahead as needed to get to our goals.

Stay focused, continue your mission and always stop to see the surrounding beauty!

Thanks for taking a moment out of your busy day to drop by. I wish you a wonderful weekend,

-Susan

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Recent Comments

63

Some absolutely fabulous photos here Susan!

I have always been a huge fan of bird watching (until I got married that was)! Only joking here!

Back when I lived at the ranch in the countryside of England growing up, we had an abundance of bird species to watch, but my favourites were always the barn owls who set up shop in... well in one of the old barns, I could sit and watch them for hours and it still amazes me how they can move their necks as they do!

Nowadays living in a city, we do see a lot of pigeons obviously, but also some blackbirds and magpies on occasion in the garden!

Have a wonderful weekend yourself my friend! :-)🐦🦆🦢🦉

Thanks so much for your kind words, Nick! I appreciate it. Nice to hear you enjoy birding as well...it has become like a treasure hunt for me to spot new species...I could ramble on. I adore owls as well...they are fascinating! And difficult to spot. Have only seen a few in person, but occasionally hear Great Horned Owls from time to time. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Have a great weekend my friend :-) 🐧🦉🦆🦢

You are always most welcome Susan!

Birds of prey were always my thing, the owls, ospreys, buzzards peregrine falcons, eagles.... I could go on as well!!

I don't believe I have ever had the privilege of seeing a Great Horned Owl in person though... maybe they don't reside in Europe... I'll have to research that!!

Many thanks and enjoy your day!

Birds are amazing...and those of prey even more so, agreed! I have not seen a GHO in person, but have had several hooting from the forest in previous years...I live on a marsh so they 'talk' to each other at night sometimes. Twice, I was lucky enough to have a Screech owl at a nest box. It was exciting. I wonder if GHOs can be found in Europe...

Have a super day :-)

Just did a bit of research here Susan and it seems that the GHO or Tiger Owl only live in the Americas!!

Not to say that one can't be found in Europe... but it would be a very rare sighting!
:-)🐦🦆🦢

That's very interesting to learn, Nick! Thanks for letting me know. Would be nice to see one up close someday :-) 🦉BTW, congrats on your new A-status. 👍

Very welcome my friend! I would love to see one up close and personal one day as well!

Not too sure what a new A status means though but I appreciate any congrats I can get!!

These are beautiful pictures. I have many of the same birds in my yard. I try taking pictures but I find it hard to catch them. I'm proud of the few pictures that I do get, but they don't even come close to the exquisite detail in your pictures.

Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂

I'm glad to hear that...it is fun to watch these birds and I agree, taking photos are a challenge. It took me many hours/days to capture but it's a fave past time of mine. Thank you so much for commenting and dropping by :-). Much appreciated.

I enjoy reading and looking through the photos.
You did a good job taking them.
Thank you for posting.

Thank you so much for commenting and dropping by, Muslimah. I really appreciate that. Hope you are keeping well :-)

Oh my goodness Susan!
What beautiful photos!
I also love watching the birds at this time of the year
It does provide a calm, feeling as I freely unlocked my inner thoughts

Must admit, I too enjoy taking a pic or two of the local birds. Here is one that shuffles around in the morning.

Lol
That's a massive bird, Stephen
Where did you find that?

In my bird pond…lol.

Lol
These seem like a different type of 'birds', Stephen!🤔

Hi Simone...so glad you enjoyed them! Yes, it's a real treat this time of year to see what's flying by. It really helps me to de-stress, as well :-)

Very nice, Stephen 😜

But I thought birds of a feather, flock together lol. 🤔

That looks like an alien Big Bird, Stevoi! 😫

Peace of mind, Susan
Such tranquility :)

Lol
Not those 'birds'

It is, Simone...and much needed these days.

Just joking ;-) lol...

I know ;)

Absolutely ;)
My favourite past time

That was one of my Mums favorite sayings, to which my dad use to say..
“ idiots seldom differ” lol.
We had a household of “ sayings” , probably why I use so many theses days.

The seed doesn’t fall far from the tree..I got a million of em..lol.
Thanks for putting up with me Susan..
Stephen

I was wearing my beer glasses while viewing the blue big birdie.
I had a very interesting offer today from a rather large company, am now doing my due diligence and amazingly enough, so far it pans out.
If I get this I will come over for a 🍖 bbq and a few quiet ones , amongst several noisy ones, lol.

I will send some beer glasses to you, everything looks better..haha, Nga looked sideways at me. She can’t hit me re health lol. 😝

Love it, Stevoi, and I hope that offer pans out! You would really deserve that since you are doing so well, my friend!

Jeffoi😎🍺

That's very nice, indeed, Stevoi!

Now THAT's a Bird Pond, Stevoi! 🤣🤣

Excellent to know :-)

Now that's a good response! Maybe we're long lost cousins, Stephen...it was the same in my house too. I use so many of these "sayings" that my son constantly teases me over where they came from. Glad I'm not the only one from that tree. 😜

Awesome :)

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