Chirps and Cheeps

Gosh, do I LOVE summer!  It's been wonderful setting up my laptop on our back deck and "working" as I watch all my bird friends come up close for some sunflower seeds, thistle, bark butter, sugar water, or grape jelly.  I wish this season would last and last!

I set-up my tripod the other day to see if I couldn't get a few more hummer photos and sure enough, I was pleased with the results.  I also set the grape jelly down in the yard a little further away to see if any Gray Catbirds or Baltimore Orioles would find it.  Only 1 oriole discovered it - but I'll try again...  I'm anxious for a close-up of a Gray Catbird!

Unfortunately, I missed a few opportunities: a Great Crested Flycatcher stopped and perched on our clothesline nearby. I had my camera down in the yard focused on the grape jelly at the time!  Doh!  I also missed a female Pileated Woodpecker who was eying the bark butter. She wasn't brave enough to come close enough for her portrait, swooping from tree to tree as she kept her eye on the bark butter. A Red-tailed Hawk swiftly moved to the maple tree near where I was sitting, moved around a few times, then took off while my camera sat on its tripod further down in the yard.  Oh well! Hopefully, you'll enjoy the few photos I DID get!