Winter Birds starting to arrive

It's early December, the air is getting colder, and the Winter Birds are starting to arrive.  Yesterday we had our first pairs of Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, as well as a female Downy Woodpecker.  These pictured below arrived within ten minutes of each other.  Earlier in the week we spotted White Throated Sparrows and Dark Eyed Juncos.  Shot with Nikon D7000 and 70-200MM Nikkor lens.

All images ©Kathy Lloyd Boehm.

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Cardinal in the Snow

Yesterday, our male Cardinal was playing hide and seek .. Today, he finally came down from the shrubs onto the snow.  I'd been trying for several winters now to get these shots.  He's so gorgeous, but very shy.  Though he usually comes to the feeder just before sunset, he's unpredictable.  Here are my most recent shot, taken with my Nikon D7000 and Nikkor 70-200mm lens.

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Winter birds visiting today

We're guessing that wintertime hawks have been in the 'hood for the past several weeks.  Eric spotted one a while back, but the lack of birds at our feeders is an even better sign that they are up in the skies, looking for prey.
This morning, we had quite a gathering of birds .. A flock of Starlings, single pairs of Chickadees, Cardinals and Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as Dark Eyed Juncos, White Throated Sparrows, and a solitary Mockingbird.  Here are a few photos .. (Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 70-200mm VRII lens)

The Starling and the Mockingbird landed on the suet at the same time, gave each other the eyeball in a brief Mexican standoff, then flew away.

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Red Breasted Nuthatch spotted

With the odd weather we've had the past few years in northern New Jersey, including our first hurricane in ages, its not surprising that our wildlife would be affected.  One of the benefits (we're told) is that Red Breasted Nuthatches have made a few appearances in our area.  I was lucky enough to capture one with my camera last Friday, November 30.  Here he (or she) is, along with a few other backyard visitors spotted recently in our yard.

My Red Breasted Nuthatch photo was featured today on author Jim Wright's blog from the Celery Farm, a local bird habitat.  Click here to see his posting and blog.  As a local birding expert, Jim also writes a weekly column on birding for The Bergen Record newspaper.

This was a "no-acorn" year, so the squirrels have been raiding the suet even more than usual.

The Sparrows can see me through the kitchen window, but its such a common sight that'd they are more curious about me than anything.

This little Sparrow is puffed up on a frozen branch, trying to keep warm during the day-long snowfall we had after Hurricane Sandy.

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The beautiful gardens of Filoli in Woodside, CA

Eric and I are recently back from a trip to the West coast.  We stayed overnight at an airport near SFO so we could meet up with my cousin whom I hadn't seen in 20+ years.  She's an administrator at the wonderful Filoli Home and Gardens in Woodside, CA, about 30 miles south of SFO.  What a treat!
One reviewer said, "Filoli is a place of grace and serenity where you can tend to your soul."  We agree .. This was one of our favorite places on earth .. Possibly even rivaling Monet's garden at Giverny.  A must see!  Here are some of the images, more than I generally post, but with a place this gorgeous, I just had to share more ..
(Click on any photo to enlarge).

To read more about Filoli, click here ..

Our Backyard Birds

We've got a wonderful flock of birds in our yard who provide endless hours of entertainment for us.  We watch them every day and get to know them as individuals.  We post regularly to our bird book and have counted 30 different types so far.  They're always in the good company of several chipmunks and many squirrels as well.  Here are a few recent images, all shot with my Nikon D300S and my 70-200mm VR II lens .. Click on any photo to enlarge.

 This Grackle took a refreshing bath and sat there for the longest time, cooling his tail in the water.

 Ah, that awkward teenage transition from juvenile to adult as they get their full feathers in.

 One of our bird feeders, this one outside the kitchen window.  The three little guys on the window sill are in what we call "the waiting room."  The Sparrows figured out that only 2-3 birds can be on the feeder at the same time.  They are patient, but territorial.

 A drowsy baby Sparrow in the sunshine on our backyard bench.

 Abstract Sparrow on umbrella.

 Male Goldfinch in flight.

 Nuthatch looking for something good in there.

Very young Chickadee still going through transitions with his feathers.  Adorable!

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Early summer birds in our yard

With our two bird feeders, four bird houses and bird bath, we support a large avian community, as well as many squirrels and chipmunks and the occasional raccoon and skunk.  Here are a few photos taken this morning.

This little house wren was busy adding sticks to his "Hippie House" to impress his mate.

Here he is, looking up at his newly adopted bird house.

This Titmouse and his/her mate were busy at the eaves of our garage, possibly nest-building.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
(Hearts on the wings of this Red Bellied Woodpecker, one of "our" backyard birds, with a bit of PhotoShop enhancement for the occasion.)

 

 

Late Spring bird photos

Its that time of year when we see the young birds around our yard, learning to fly and being fed by their parents.  Here's a young female Cardinal. (Click to enlarge any photo).

And a baby Sparrow being fed by a parent.

A few days ago, we had our second visit by a Northern Flicker, a male this time.  We had a female here last Memorial Day but hadn't seen one since then.  He has a bright red "Y" shaped marking on the back of his head.  As he flew off, I saw the flash of his yellow tail feathers which are characteristic of the Eastern version of this species. 

 

All photos taken with Nikon D300s and Nikkor 70-200mm VRII lens at 200mm and heavily cropped. 

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Birds at Manasquan Reservoir

A weekend getaway to the Jersey shore, long overdue and very welcome.  Here are a few new bird shots taken at the Manasquan Reservoir.

Nuthatch with sunflower seed lunch

Redwinged Blackbird with insect lunch

A juvenile Catbird with a lovely song

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Canada Goose in flight

Monday was a sunny day at James McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff and the Canada Geese were out in force.  This guy is about to come in for a landing in the pond.  The posture of this leg-banded bird reminds me of the Aflac duck, ungainly yet somehow graceful. 

Below is a different bird, landing.  The wingspan of a Canada Goose ranges from 51 to 70".  These water-loving birds are monogamous, can weigh 12-14 pounds when fully grown, and have a lifespan of 10 to 24 years.

 

 Both photos were shot with my Nikon D300s and Nikkor 70-200mm VRII 2.8 lens at 1/250s at f/6.3, ISO200.

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Northern Mockingbird is a beauty

Our first sighting of a Northern Mockingbird at our feeder was on January 8th of this year.  Since then, he (or she) has been returning intermittently, much to our delight.  This bird is so graceful and expressive, and I love those yellow eyes.  We've been told that they sing beautifully at night and we're looking forward to that.
(Click on image to enlarge, use back arrow to return)

 

The other day, I saw him pecking at the apple that I cut up and tossed out the back door.  Now that I know he's a fruit eater, he'll be getting lots more!

Both images captured with my Nikon D300s and my Nikkor 17-200 mm F/2.8 VRII lens.  Shot at ISO400 at f/3.5 for 1/320s.   

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