Northern Flicker in South Dakota

I was up in South Dakota last week at my parent's place. My Dad and I spied these two unusual birds while looking out the kitchen window. These photos are taken through the window with my Canon Point n' Shoot camera. So, sorry that they're not very clear. We thought they were Woodpeckers, but when I got home and started researching, I believe they are Northern Flickers. Northern Flickers are related to the Woodpecker, I guess. We couldn't figure out why they were foraging on the ground, until I was reading about them today on the internet. Flickers like to eat bugs and beetles off the ground. The article said you may scare some up as you take a walk near a wooded area. They do stand upright on trees like Woodpeckers and make cavities and nest in trees like Woodpeckers. I am adding an interesting link about Northern Flickers...

http://buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/blog/?p=14

House Finches Flock to Feeders

Beautiful male House Finch

Male and female House Finch

We have been getting a lot of House Finches lately. We really enjoy them. The males have been pretty nervous. The females are layed-back, they stay at the feeder eating slowly and meticulously. I believe some of them are fledglings...not quite as wary.

Nature Hodgpodge

The Rose of Sharon bush is blooming beautifully. Last year I saw my first Humming Bird flying in and out of the blooms.

While taking a walk today, I brought my camera. This little butterfly or moth, would not hold still! It was so vibrantly pretty.

This was the clearest shot I could get. He kept his wings folded up tight and occasionally opened them.

What in the world is this bird?

Here is a bird my husband and I see quite often while walking. I looked it up on Whatbird.com believing it was a Mocking Bird. I'm not sure...if anyone can ID it for me...leave a comment, please.

Canadian Geese on the Lake

This is as close as I could get with my camera. We went to the lake to cool off with the family. I was ready to take pictures of the kids, which I was doing, when one of them yelled, "Grandma! There's some geese!" And I'm like, oh yeah...I'm a birder...! Grandkids get just as excited about birding as I do.

It's not a bird...but it still has wings : ) isn't this a beauty. With the help of a Blog I follow, I found out that this butterfly is called a Black Swallowtail. If you're needing butterfly information, check out the link on my sidebar. Thanks to Alan Tilmouth, Northumbria Nature Blog.

My daughter used my camera and got this photo. Another nice day at the beach in Kansas.

Thunderheads on the Plains

We were in Nebraska traveling back home. I said that cloud looks like it's right over our home...home being way southern Kansas. We called our kids, and sure enough, the weather service had just issued a tornado warning. I was just enjoying taking pictures of the beautiful cloud with the prairie in the background before that. Anyway, it rained and hailed, but thankfully no tornado formed. By the time we arrived home, late that night, there were stars in the sky.

House Finches Are Visiting

A beautiful male House Finch.

I am thinking this may be a female House Finch, but a fledgling.

Doesn't he look fierce : D

Now he looks goofy : D

A proud beautiful couple : )

A female House Finch.

A pair of House Finches made a nest in my Boston Fern last Summer. They ended up raising 2 chicks. We really enjoyed watching them and got quite attached.

Tufted Titmouse

I love these little guys. They are so cute, perky, and fast! I believe this one is a fledgling because he was so awkward and curious. He wasn't afraid to pose for the camera.

Sorry this picture was so fuzzy, but they move so fast...I was lucky to get this one. They land, grab a sunflower seed and take off to the trees or bushes to crack it open. Sometimes they'll stay and work on it at the feeder. One was doing that today, but not insight for the camera. I'll keep trying : )

This would have been a good picture were it not for the shadow : (
but, I thought it shows his coloring, especiallly the peachy color down his flanks.

Carolina Chickadees Enjoy Feeder

I believe this is an adult Chickadee with a fledgling.

Fledgling waiting to use the feeder. The feeder was being dominated by some House Sparrows at the time. He was just waiting patiently.

When he got into the feeder, he decided to take full advantage of it and relax, flex, and stretch. He was so tiny he fit right inside the trough.

After stretching, he ate a few seeds.

Here he's doing a little preening. He was quite at home : )

This scene was so cute. You know how birds get into the dust and ruffle their feathers to get sand into their feathers, well that's what he was doing in the feeder trough.

At the Beach on the Prairie

Franklin's Gull

I believe these are Franklin's Gull adolescents.

Franklin's Gulls in flight.

The beautiful prairie lake.

We took a cooler of sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and water to the lake to experience the great outdoors. It was a bit windy, but that didn't bother us because it was in the 90's. The wind off the lake made it feel like the 70's. The wind also made great waves for floating on the innertube : ) Since becoming a birder, I decided I'd better check out the birds around also. We had always called these birds I have pictured seagulls. But, on further investigation I believe they are Franklin's Gulls. Please feel free to correct me if you believe they are something else.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/franklins_gull/id

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/472/overview/Franklins_Gull.aspx

As Gentle as a Dove

The birds in our backyard are busy nesting, so we don't see as many visits to the feeder. The House Sparrows are doing very well with raising their broods. We are seeing the second group of fledglings come to the deck and the parents feed them from the feeder. We have a pesky squirrel or two that want to come and gorge, but they won't leave until they've eaten every seed. Their presence keeps the birds away, too. We are letting them know that they are NOT welcome. This week we have obsevered Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, House Sparrows, Tufted Tit-Mouse, and we are hearing the Great Horned Owl at night.

First Indigo Bunting Sighting

I have been recovering from surgery the last 10 days, so I haven't been birding. I was going toward the window with the camera ready...thinking that I was going to be taking pictures of some Chickadees. I get up to the window and there was this beautiful blue bird feeding at our feeder. I feel the Lord Jesus has given me a gift, because I have been hoping to see a blue colored bird when I started this birdwatching project!

Also, yesterday we spotted an Eastern Bluebird out in the backyard. Too far away for my camera to get a picture. I will try to find a picture to download so you can see what it looks like. Very beautiful bird, also, with pastel coloring...blue, orange, white tummy.

White Crowned Sparrow

We have some very pretty White Crowned Sparrows in our yard. I love their whistle song and like to sing along with them : )

Harris's Sparrow

There are several Harris's Sparrows that frequent the feeder. I think they are very pretty. When I listened to their song online, I was so surprised to hear that it is that pretty whistle tune I usually hear in the late afternoon/evening. I love it!

Robin Eggs Hatch

I have disappointing news...the eggs must have hatched yesterday or today, but they didn't survive. Two baby birds hatched. We had pretty bad weather here, so I'm thinking it was just too rainy and cold for them. Hopefully the Robins will try again. I've read that they can produce 3 broods a year. The other nest that I discovered in the Holly Berry Trees isn't even there anymore. I can only guess that the hard deluge of rain brought it down.