Up Close & Personal With an Evening Grosbeak

Today is our '27th' wedding anniversary so we're going to run away for a couple
of days. But before we go I thought I'd leave you with these great pictures that
Bob took of an Evening Grosbeak that came up on the deck and had a conversation
with him.
I was gone and this little guy came up on the deck. Bob talked
to him for a minute and he even waited while Bob went and got the old camera. He
said this guy was only about a foot or less away from him.

WOW! How come this never happens to me!!!

They continued talking.
Still listening . . .

These are some I had taken in the last couple of days. More Evening Grosbeaks -
getting as many as they can on the feeder for a bite.

The happy little couple.

She poses for me.

A little kiss? Must be their anniversary too - that or they're still dating.

More show up for a bite.

And even more . . . how cute is the one on top peeking down?

See ya when we get back!!!

Gray Jays Entertain Us . . .

We really do have some characters around our place. But I think most amusing are the Gray Jays. They fly in and let us know that they 'have arrived' landing here and there. Sitting in front of Sedum Vera Jamison

Then if I don't jump up immediately and go get them something to munch on they come over and peek down at me from the roof. They know they'll get something now because I can't resist them being that cute!
Then it's time to pick up as much as they can all at once.

Critters . . . That Let Us Share The Yard

The chipmunks sit under the bird feeders and get seed then go sit on the woodpile and eat. This particular time they were under a feeder that is over gravel - how they can get seed out of the rocks is beyond me but as you can see by the puffy cheeks they don't go hungry.

I know most of the birds that come here but have never figured out which one this is. I call him my little chocolate guy. He hangs out in the bird bath and on the deck entertaining us. He is just hilarious to watch after a bath because he does the funniest contortions. And in between each one he stops and sings a bit.


One day I caught him laying in my Sedum Purple Form. What could I say when he looked so comfortable.
Sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do . . .The deer are under the mistaken impression that we have put in a big salad bar just for them. Seems they like all of the same flowers in the yard that I like. It's been a big war for years but we've finally found something that works where we can enjoy watching them but not have to worry about everything disappearing.
BUSTED!!!
This particular day there were about 5 of them and each had his own favorite. This one is going for a Bergenia that still hasn't recovered completely.

Nibbling on some Vinca (Periwinkle).
And this one is at the top of my bloomin' stairs that are filled with Wooley Thyme.


I know these last 2 pictures aren't very good because they were moving but the little fawn is so precious I just had to put them on

The Birds Are Finally Coming . . .

I haven't posted in a couple of days because I thought I was going to be without a computer but as it turns out it won't be quite yet. If it does happen unexpectedly and I don't leave comments or thank you's know that I will as soon as I get back online.

I've finally got some birds showing up. And who came first but my 'lil chocolate guy. He seems a little lighter this early in the season so I can see his markings a bit better. I think he's a Wren of some sort. Last summer he was so dark I just couldn't tell for sure.

I was inside and heard this song and went to the window and there he was just a singin' a way like he always does. I think he has the prettiest song of all the birds we get up here. And he's so free with it like he knows how much I enjoy listening to him.


Here you can see him singing a little tune . . .

Then came a Robin and stood on the birdbath thinking about if he wanted to take a bath bad enough in this cold weather with the snow barely melted.

So he stuck his toe in to check it out . . .

Then put a little more in . . .

And finally decided to take the dive. Poor Mr. Squirrel behind him was kinda cute until all the birds decided he was great to clean their beaks on.

Took A Drive Pictures . . .

I made a quick trip into town yesterday because a friend of mine was having a birthday. I worked out in the yard as long as I could, to take advantage of the beautiful day we had, before leaving. A lot of the time the mountains are overcast and there are no pictures to take but yesterday Mt. St. Helens was showing pretty good.

In the same place where I took the picture of Mt. St. Helens I also have a nice view of Mt. Rainier which was looking pretty good too

After I got into my car at my friends house I saw birds sitting on her weeping cherry tree. They looked like some I don't get at my place so I decided to snap a few pictures. I was sitting in the car and it was running so that doesn't make for the best picture with the vibration and all and I was farther away than I like to be when taking pictures of birds. But o'well I just can't control myself sometimes - I have to at least snap and see if they turn out or not! Here's a little hummingbird at one of her window feeders.

Not sure what this one is but it looked pretty sitting there with an arch over him!

Same with this one. This one is a male House Finch.

A beautiful Heather lined driveway down the street from where she lives. Also some trees and shrubs. I'd like to go back later when other things are blooming.

I saw a little bit of Aubretia blooming and it reminded me of a place with the biggest show that I love to check out every year so I headed over to the Post Office where it is blooming across the street. I think maybe I'm a bit early because as a rule you can't see any green in the purple when this is in full bloom. It really pops out at ya doesn't it? Aubretia looks fantastic when it's blooming but isn't very attractive the rest of the year.

The Stellar's Jay and the Suet

We've had to chain the suet to any place we put it now. It kept disappearing when we would hang it before. We tried nailing it and it still would be gone the next day. We're thinking maybe a racoon comes at night and runs off with it. In these pics Mr. Bob chained it to the lattice. Let the little buggers get it now.

This Stellar's Jay was bound and determined to get some suet but it was kind of hard for him to hold on to anything for very long at a time.
Click any of the pictures for a larger view.
There by cracky I think I've almost got settled in long enough to get a nice big bite.\
Sitting on top of it works - gotta hurry though cause the blood's rushing to my head.

Holding head up, blood circulating.

This way isn't working at all . . .

OK be quick!

Let me think about this a bit while I rest - there's gotta be a better way!

Some Birds Doing Their Thing . . .

Black-Headed Grosbeak




Blury but it shows his yellow underneath as he flies away

Finch - seems to be a baby as he's round and a bit fuzzy.

I came to a stop sign and this hawk of some sort was sitting on a stump across the road - I wish he would have stayed put because he was so close. But he flew farther away so these are a little blury


Rufous Sided Towhee taking a bath.




Hummingbird


This shot was a happy accident.

Violet Green Swallow - every year they have babies in this house.