I spent the day working in the yard and taking bird pictures.

[texanwitch]

That redwing blackbird has taken over the little tree.

He takes on the mockingbirds, he is a tough little bird.

I have some good pictures to post later.

I hope he finds a girlfriend soon, he sings all day.

[Mugu]

1. Out at my feeder the Red-bellied Woodpecker is usually top dog

and everybody leaves while s/he is there. But, now that the Red-wings are back things have changed. The woodpecker will poke at them, but they just poke right back.

For the first time today I saw a Bufflehead couple out on the pond. If interested you can check them out http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/112/overview/Bufflehead.aspx">here. When they dive they stay under about 20-25 seconds. I'm hoping to get photos, but don't know if they'll let me.

I also saw my muskrat for the first time today. Spring is definitely here now.

[texanwitch]

2. Wanna mess with this bird.

Waiting for the next mockingbird.

[REP]

5. Wanna mess with THIS bird? He'll tear you up!

That's one badass hummingbird!!

Love your photos. Wish we had some of those here (or if we do, that I saw any of them!).

[texanwitch]

6. That is a bad ass looking bird.

Wouldn't want to meet him or her in a dark alley.

We have a few hummingbirds around here, need to put up the feeder.

[REP]

9. He's an immature male Anna's hummingbird, and he yells at me when the feeder is low

There are six Anna's who regularly visit my porch, and about 5 more who swing by (I have a feeder and a lot of fucshias). One of the females is very trusting if me, and has me chase of aggressive males when she's trying to eat. I have about a zillion photos of them.

[texanwitch]

11. On the farm we had lots of hummingbirds.

They feed off sugarwater and some vines that grew all over the fence.

The vines had pink flowers.

I only have a few show up, maybe more this year.

The few I have are regulars.

[lunatica]

3. Boating on the San Joaquin River you see them in the evenings

Thousands of them come flying in skimming the water while they undulate up over the tall reeds and cattails and the tules at the edges of the river and in the adjacent wetlands. You can see the flashes of crimson as they flap their wings. They disappear into the tall grasses where they spend the night. It's always just at sunset when the breeze is getting cooler. A beautiful reminder of the rhythms of time and nature and the most relaxing part of the day.

[texanwitch]

4. I wonder if this little guy is lost.

I have never seen a redwing hangout this long in spring.


Beautiful story.

[lunatica]

7. Do you have wetlands where you live? That's where they like to nest

Here's a site that gives all the details. They congregate when not in mating season. During mating season the males get territorial and attract more than one female. So it being Spring it's possible your guy is being a loner looking for females. From the description in the link it looks like your bird is a young adult. His red feathers aren't solid red yet.

http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=438

[texanwitch]

8. We have a bayou but not really wetlands.

I quess he likes it here.

Just wish he could find a girlfriend.

He just sings all day long, except when he is eating sunflower seeds.

[lunatica]

10. Maybe he's been kicked out by other older males during the mating season

He's immature still so he may or may not get girlfriends this Spring.

[texanwitch]

12. He sure is trying.

He starts singing early in the morning and only stops late in the afternoon.

I am getting attached to him now.