Post your yard and pond visitors

[Tara]

Dashing through the snow (actually, this spotted towhee is digging in the snow for scattered seeds).

View attachment 117267

My son saw your photo and reckons the towee "looks like an angry little beast" also thinks it's the "coolest looking bird ever".

 

[Stephen T.]

We really enjoy the spotted towhees, finding them to be a nice bright spot with interesting habits. To find seeds and other stuff on the ground, with leaves, misc. ground cover or snow, they stand in place and kick back with both feet at the same time, moving a lot of material! It's a little puzzling to me, how they kick back violently with both feet, jump somewhat, come down in the same place and do it again... fast!

They do tend to have an intense look! It almost looks like he has a cigar in his mouth and is talking around it. "Listen sonny... this is my territory, now scram!".

There are 2 pair that tend to hang around here a good part of the year and we're hoping to see them again fairly soon.

 

[SmithRiverPond]

This guy came in late August and left a couple weeks later. I believe he is a Western Pond Turtle. While here, "Ted" did a fine job eating algae. The pond was very clear when he left.

 

[RobAmy]

Pretty in Red

Northern Cardinal by A & R Photography, on Flickr

 

[BobDE]

A friend gave me this gourd and it has birds every year. This year after the birds were finished, Mr Tree Frog took it over!

 

[addy1]

What a cool picture! @BobDE

 

[j.w]

I love his smiling this is my place face!

 

[Stephen T.]

That's almost TOO CUTE! Nice shot.

 

[BobDE]

This gourd is right behind my BBQ grill on the deck. He likes to watch me cook. I wonder if he felt like he might get a plate? LOL

 

[GBBUDD]

This little guy really gets into his work

spectacular colors

gives new meaning to the lyrics , got her tail in the air

 

[Gemma]

Love that little messy bee @GBBUDD

 

[RobAmy]

Bluejay posing by A & R Photography, on Flickr

 

[Stephen T.]

Blue jays are sure attractive birds, nicely captured! We don't see them out here. I'm a real fan of all the corvids (ravens, crows, magpies, jays).

Here in central Oregon, around our yard, we have Steller's jays, western scrub jays, black billed magpies and ravens. Oddly, there are no crows in this area! Scrub jays are by far our most common visitors, there's a group that must have a lookout watching our yard, as they are almost always there very shortly after I fill the feeders. We refer to them as "The Blues Brothers". I like them better than the Steller's jays, they seem less aggressive to other birds around the yard and aren't as vocal, not that they are quiet, just not as non-musical.

 

[Gemma]

I love Blue jays, but I dislike that they go after the babies in the birdhouses of other birds, I find dead newly hatched babies everywhere and I get it it's Nature's way but I still don't like it!

Anyone knows what kind of turtle this big fella is?

 

[addy1]

Enjoying a free snack, nice quiet yard, lots of food