ABC Wednesday - G is Grosbeak

We recently vacationed for a few days with both "our families!"  This would be our daughter and son-in-law and their children and our son and daughter-in-law and their children.  All-in-all, there were twelve of us... and did we have GREAT fun!

We stayed in a wonderful (modern) "log cabin" in the woods.  There were birds all around, with bird feeders hanging from the main floor deck.  We saw our "usual" black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, (flocks of?) ruby throated hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, etc.

Imagine my surprise, when the first birds I spotted and photographed were the birds below!!  "What?" I wondered.

Guess what!  These are immature male Rose Breasted Grosbeaks!!  (The first clue that they were Grosbeaks was their bills.  Take a Gander!)

This is also an immature male Rose Breasted Grosbeak ... further along in his development.  I also was able to take this photo.

The following photo was borrowed from an internet search.  The photographer was identified as Gary Tyson.

If you want to see other ABC Wednesday posts, click on the logo below:

"Keep an eye out!"  You may also spot an elusive immature Rose Breasted Grosbeak!

Watchfully yours,

SG

It Was a Slightly Misty, February Evening...

It was a slightly misty, February evening.
One of those murky times you might know,
When things in the woods seem to happen...
Warning: Watch the activity out in the snow!

There was a light that was brightly burning.
Was it a beacon or navigational key?
What shall we do - shall we decide to be turning,
or shall we keep forging? What might we see?

Aha! It is Leaf Woman! She's definitely not a mirage.
She complacently stood, not glancing our way...
We'd walked past the neighbor's, around their garage.
But look! Does it seem she's got something to say?


There was a slight movement, my heart- yes, it leapt
The birds in the bushes were watching...
We sneaked 'round the bush, as closer we crept.
We saw food - to the birds - she was offering.

Now, this is the odd one. What can I say here?
I followed my footprints, while trudging back home,
Thinking of Leaf Woman and her satisfied birds,
When I spotted a fellow, in my yard, all alone.

"Glad to meet you," said he, as he stood there quite still.
"I came out with Leaf Woman to help feed your birds.
I brought my own feeder and an extra bird-perch.
Do you mind if I stay?" (and I? I searched for the words!)

To be quite honest, he seemed harmless enough.

Drawing closer, I looked at his head.
Good-looking food for my birds, I did think.
"Of course you may say, and thank you," I said.

And you? What's your theory? What would you do?
Would you invite them to stay for awhile?
If they offered to feed the birds in YOUR yard?
Would you let them... and offer a smile?

Shady? Maybe. ;-)
Happy Monday.
(Poetry and photos written and taken by Shady Gardener, Yardisgreen.blogspot.com)

Winter's Colorful Blossoms . . .

. . . don't always include flora.

Here in the frigid U.S. mid-west (1 degree F today), having a robin Winter-over is not a common occurrence. It is, however, with "egg on the face" (shamefacedly) I must admit that I missed a Great Photograph today!! I glanced at Barbie's tree this afternoon and noticed its inhabitants. Before I could grab the camera, point and shoot - the other 4 (four!) robins had flown away!


Yep! You heard it - there were a total of Five (5!) robins in the tree today. Now, this is something completely unheard of! I've personally never seen one (1) robin winter-over... but Five (5)??

Perhaps I'll have another chance. If so, you'll be among the first to know about it!! :-)

The rest of today's photos include:
Click on each photo to enlarge slightly.

Purple Finches (male on left, female to the right)

Carolina Wren (yea!)

Cardinal (male)

Cardinal (female)

Purple Finch (male)

At the backyard birdfeeder

And one more glimpse out front.

Yes, it was a happy day! Robin(s) and the return of the Carolina Wren! :-)

Birds of a Feather?

May or May Not . . .

(Why is this robin still here???)

... on Barbie's tree ...

It seems, like me, he has a sweet tooth!
(At least he has something to eat!)

Nervous Nellie...

. . . Flock together . . .

Three goldfinches (losing their summer golden color),
one male, purple finch, and one cardinal

Barbie's tree with a junco (upper center), the robin (lower left),
and a northern flicker (on trunk), and red-bellied woodpecker on suet.

The arrival of the bluejay (to the right) sent the junco and robbin scurrying. The flicker is now on the left and the red-bellied woodpecker is now on the trunk.

Last, but never least, the arrival of a second bluejay and a downy woodpecker (on the suet)
rounds out the activity observed within a one-minute's time span!

All taken within about five minutes' time January 7th.

Clean Windows and a Short Spell Outdoors

Add up to some pretty nice photos! However, I must explain this first photograph. I've recently spotted (three times today) a Carolina Wren. The first time was in November.

However, this was the only time I could catch the little fellow in action... not a great shot, but it was the best I could do... and it's Proof! ;-)

Tufted Titmouse out the back window.

Tufted Titmouse out the kitchen window on the new heated birdbath.

Blue Jay on the same birdbath.

Blue Jay out that same back window.

It was sooooo cold this morning!! Way below Zero degrees F.
But I got this while in the yard...
a few Eastern Goldfinches on a thistle feeder.

Photogenic, aren't they?

Getting ready for Christmas? I may not be posting and/or visiting much in these next few weeks.

Birds and Blooms?

Please accept my apology for this and other blurry photos. They're all taken at various times and various circumstances through the kitchen window.

The Baltimore Orioles have returned!

Below, the male.
They like my hummingbird feeders,
because I removed the feeder ports.

The next day, the female . . . who stopped someone short!
:-)

Little golden Goldfinch friends.

Last night (5:40 P.M.) as the sun was setting,
the female Baltimore Oriole returned.

As did one of the many, many hummers we've enjoyed!

The sun's glow (?)

Nothing shady here, yet.

Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for the post honoring Grandparent's Day. Sid the Science Kid is very involved and would like people to view his upcoming sessions in honor of Grandparents everywhere! :-)

Looking for a Sunset Bird in Winter

I owe everyone an apology. I was so excited when I saw the bird's coloring that I made a terrible ID error! The last photo is NOT a Towhee. It is an "Oregon Junco" that is probably an intergrade with the "Slate-colored" Junco.

Looking for a Sunset Bird in Winter
by Robert Frost

The west was getting out of gold,
The breath of air had died of cold,
When shoeing home across the white,
I thought I saw a bird alight.


In summer when I passed the place
I had to stop and lift my face;
A bird with an angelic gift
Was singing in it, sweet and swift.

No bird was singing in it now.
A single leaf was on a bough,
And that was all there was to see
In going twice around the tree.

From my advantage on a hill
I judged that such a crystal chill
Was only adding frost to snow
As gilt to gold that wouldn't show.

A brush had left a crooked stroke
Of what was either cloud or smoke
From north to south across the blue;
A piercing little star was through.



I know that not all these photos apply to the poem (which I thought was lovely),
but I wanted to share more of "my birds." ;-)

The photos below show a visiting female Towhee!

Happy days!