I'm still recovering from the end of the year holidays. Hope that everyone enjoyed/survived. I still have to take down the decorations, but will get to that this week... if I have time. We haven't had any snow in a few days. No storms are on the horizon. My kids had a terrific school vacation capped off by sledding on the really big hill in town. Nothing and no one got broken. I'll miss them when they are at school today, but will also enjoy the quiet.
Instead of writing about something, I've decided to share some photos from warmer weather.
I love this photo. I think that this squirrel needs a waistcoat and a pocket watch. I feed birds (15 feeders worth) so I have a lot of squirrels hanging around.
We enjoy watching the life cycles of the birds. In Spring it's always a treat to see the juvenile birds come to the feeders.
This is a juvenile Cardinal that we named Grumpy because he looks grumpy. This is a male. You can see the red starting to cover him. Also note that when he's an adult he'll have a much more flashy orange beak.
This is a juvenile Red-Bellied Woodpecker. She doesn't quite have the hang of the feeder yet.
Here she is 3 months later showing off some adult plumage.
And here she is with her Dad. Looks like they are not getting along at the moment.
This is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak juvenile male. He only hopes that he looks as great as Dad. (see below)
Rose Breasted Grosbeak males are spectacular during mating season.
I'll share more birdie pictures in the future. Oh, and lots of flower pictures especially when I can't think of anything in particular to write about. :)
Here are some cardinals for Ter:
Female cardinal
Male grabbing a seed
Male in Winter Showing Off
Juvenile male getting his colors on
Qwill's Qwestion: What do you think this is? Or do you have a favorite or not so favorite wild bird or backyard critter?
And here's the answer: it's a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe. The first time that I saw it, I thought it was a baby hummingbird. Well at least until I noticed the antennae! Here's another picture to give you an idea of just how small it is.
Thanks to everyone who guessed and to those who knew what it is!
Is it a humming bird moth? I love your bird pictures.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Moonlily22
Thanks, Lisa. I've got hundreds of bird photos so it's likely more will show up on the blog at some point. :)
ReplyDelete(I'm not going to say what it is until all the comments are in.)
looks like some kind of moth.. but dammned if I know.
ReplyDeletePost Cardnial pictures :) My Mom and Gram LOVED Cardinals they said it is good luck when you see one.
I'll add some cardinal pictures in a bit just for you! :)
ReplyDeleteHumming birds were always my favorite.
ReplyDeleteAs for the pic, I'd say some kind of moth. Probably a clearwing.
Beautiful pictures, my grandmother kept a ton of feeders at the front of the house with a pair of binoculars sitting in the front window. That was the big past time at the farm, bird watching, lol.
I've never seen anything like that, but I'm on the west coast, so maybe we don't have *that* here.
ReplyDeleteLove your pics Qwill, as always :)
My fav backyard critter is the Scrub Jay. Such a beautiful blue color, and annoying screech. You always know when they're around. LOL
--Leslie
I love birdwatching, Redheaded Mama. My kids don't like it quite so much because they are required to be still if they are watching with me. We're only a few feet from the birds!
ReplyDeletestarbucks.heaven, Scrub Jays and Blue Jays are part of the crow family hence the lovely screech both of them have. They are beautiful birds though.
ReplyDeleteI'll let everyone know what the "it" is later! :)
OMG--I've seen those in my backyard and could never distinguish if it was really a hummingbird or not. It must be this moth you speak of because the one's in my backyard look just like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd my dad's in love with you--he's a bird watcher, too :)
DC :)
Very beautiful pictures Qwill. You are so talented!!
ReplyDeleteI would say it's a moth of some sort but no idea what kind. But very good pictures of it no matter what it is.
Yes, it's a moth, Dakota. And that's very sweet of your Dad! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eva. It's a moth! It's tiny and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures as always, Qwill. My dad would have loved you for all the cardinal pictures (St. Louis die-hard to the end, he was).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Crazy Lady. Cardinals are beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra pictures Qwill.
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Ter!
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