Yesterday, I was really not looking forward to the forecast of snow and a low of 30°F...it actually impacted my mood.  I was bummed.

This morning, however, I ended up.braving the cold and strolling the property with camera in hand.  By the time I got to the second acre, I spotted the pair of bluebirds at the staghorn sumac berries.  I started taking photos...that is when I noticed other species there as well--at least one that I did not recognize.   (It ended up being an Eastern kingbird--thanks to a quick Internet search.)

Aside from the birds (which was a huge highlight), I enjoyed being surrounded by a greening world, several trees leafing out, the serviceberry still blooming, birds singing, the sun streaming down...and...snow blowing around as it fell--not what I expected, well into May--but it made for an almost magical moment. 

Now, spring can resume.  (Another day or two with lows near freezing, but then it should warm up again.)

Quite a lot of photos from today...

Photographing Birds

With a warm, early spring, I have been doing a good bit outside (which I have yet to post about :-/ ).

Yesterday, we had some snow for the first time in many weeks--luckily the temps were above freezing.  Anyway, I had an opportunity to take some pictures of the birds coming in to my seed offerings.  This was a good day...several fairly exceptional shots--normally I get nothing special or only one.  I posted them on Facebook, but, I refuse to abandon my blog.

Surprise Guests

Our last day of school was Friday, but it wasn't until Monday morning that summer vacation really felt like it began.  I visited a nearby state park... and got a half decent shot of a blue heron.

Upon my return home, I backed into my driveway, grabbed the camera, and opened the car door.  Before shutting it, I spotted a cedar wax wing on a bare branch near our serviceberry tree.  Without shutting the door and with camera in hand, I slowly began taking pictures.  I rarely have a chance to be that close (this is likely the closest I've ever been).

At first, I did not realize this was a juvenile bird; it was not until its mother (or father?) brought it a berry for it to occur to me.

Despite the blue heron, this moment and these shots were the highlight of my day.  My goal to create habitat for native plants and the wildlife they support seems much closer to becoming a reality.  :)

Robin

Although robins are quite common, and I rarely get too excited about them except maybe in the spring (although they are very welcome), over the years, I've noticed in a couple of photographs I've taken of them, that they can seem quite stately. 

They are a welcome sight after our long winter.  I am happy that they are comfortable around human habitation, and, although still a little wary, they often give me a chance to take some nice photos of them.

Latest Visitor

A northern flicker has been showing up in our yard recently.  While sitting in my new favorite spot (along a path I cleared last weekend along the wooded slope), I spotted him again, this time flying into the neighbors tree to perch a while before going back to foraging on the ground.

I wish the shots were clearer, but I like the look of the lichen covered trees in the background, the foreground branches, and the fact that you can see both his red, patch, black patch, and yellow tail feathers.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

A red-bellied woodpecker showed up today! 

This year, I was "complaining" that I have not seen any chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, or woodpeckers.  I did see a downy woodpecker last week and a nuthatch recently...and now a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus).  Nice.  

Tree Sparrow

I am not good with identifying sparrows...in the past, I have probably referred to this as a chipping sparrow, now, I believe it is an American tree sparrow.  To be fair, my Peterson's Guide referred to it as a "winter chipping sparrow" under the description.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong. :)

They are welcome, regular visitors to our feeders and to our property.

Goldfinches!

With mild weather at the end of 2017, I didn't start feeding the birds until November. By the time the weather had finally changed (and became brutally cold by the end of December), I was feeding regularly--mostly black oil sunflower seeds, but I also added a fruit and nut mix, some peanuts, and a nyjer seed sock.

Although, I saw bluejays, juncos, mourning doves, a white-throated sparrow or two, and a very occasional pair of cardinals, many other bird species were missing.  I hadn't seen any chickadees (normally the first to show up) since the fall...not a single tufted titmouse, no goldfinch, and until this past week, no downy woodpeckers.

This morning, brought a flock of goldfinches to our recently snow-covered ground. 

(We had 62 degrees yesterday...20 something today.)

...Oh, and I finally saw a nuthatch early this afternoon. :)

I enjoyed the new subject matter...with no further ado, I present the goldfinch: