Birds seen now! Easter 2015

The birds seen in our 2.9 woods yard are beginning to change.  Spring is bringing returning summer residents and migrants on their way to another place for nesting.  We are enjoying Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  It is good to have them chattering and buzzing around the yard.  Last year we had very few visiting our feeders.  The Hermit Thrush has not left yet.  The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and the White-eyed Vireo are here.  We have Mourning Dove, one Lincoln Sparrow and several White-throated Sparrows.  The Chipping Sparrows have moved on. The Field Sparrow has not visited the ground feeder for several days. We have our resident Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wrens, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and the Downy Woodpecker visits most days.  Unfortunately, we have several Brown-headed Cowbirds hanging in the yard also. They will be looking for another bird's nest to place their eggs.  Ugh!!  The Roadrunner and the Pileated Woodpecker are seen quite often.  Eastern Bluebirds come to bathe and the Cedar wax-wings are ravishing our remaining Yaupon berries.  This morning I heard the Chuck-Will's-Widow calling. The Black and White Warbler arrived and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet still flits through the trees. Blessings!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Lincoln Sparrow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Carolina Wren

Black and White Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Cedar Wax-wing

White-eye Vireo

Hermit Thrush

Carolina Chickadee

Ruby-throat Hummingbird

Carolina Chickadee

Soon to be Exciting!

 The thought occurred to me recently that we will soon be delighted with cute entertaining new birds in our yard. Great News!  I am imagining colorful warblers bathing in our water.  Winter is over and the beauty of spring is showing. The Redbud , Pear, Plum and soon the Dogwood Trees will color the landscape.  The Pine and Oak pollen are overwhelming at the moment.  The butterflies are flitting around the flowers in the yard. Mosquitoes are buzzing our ears as we sit on the porch. Oh Yea! The fun has begun!...    I am in Austin this week. I look forward to doing some birding in central Texas. A Vermilion Flycatcher resides on my daughter and son-in-laws property.  I plan to capture his beauty this week. I always look forward to photographing the animals on their property as this changes on a fairly regular basis.  This week there is a Rambouillet Sheep visiting.  These are also called French Merino Sheep.  He is a big ram and looks very mature.  I will share photos of him. The three Zebra are still residents. Zoe, Zip, and Zeb are there names.  I have seen the Ladder-backed Woodpecker and the Golden-fronted Woodpecker. These guys are not woodpeckers we see at home. I am blessed to have family living in this part of Texas and love birding here when I visit.  Blessings!

Sparrows I Have Photographed

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrows

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Field Sparrows

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Sparrows have remained a work in progress for me.  I have begun to enjoy the species more as I have added new ones to memory.  These birds seem so very similar to me in the past. It has taken a few years to train my eye to notice their differences more easily. I am thankful today that I am improved in identifying them.  Here, in Southeast Texas, we see many Chipping Sparrows in the winter.  We see White-throated, Lincoln, White-crowned, Fox, Field and Song also.  When I visit the Austin area and Pedernales State Park, Lark, Rufous-crowned, Vesper, Clay-colored, and Savannah Sparrows have been seen. The Swamp Sparrow was seen at Brazos Bend State Park.  There are always Sparrows as well as other birds seen during migration which are not residents of the area.  I hope you enjoy my photos.  Blessings!