Backyard Birds: May 2020

Photos of our backyard birds taken during May

(birds that aren't posted elsewhere):

First of all, my favorite bird pic this month is this gorgeous Northern Cardinal male...

There are tons of Mourning Doves in our backyard. They visit throughout the daylight hours, often as couples. I sometimes feel sorry for the females because the males constantly chase them down and pounce on them. It certainly doesn't appear to be a courtship behavior although it may be. I haven't really researched enough about the behavior of these birds. I love to hear their soft gentle calls during the day.

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Sweet Mourning Dove couple

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Female Northern Cardinal

The bluebird parents have been doing a little bit of house cleaning lately. Maybe they're preparing for their next family :)

Male Eastern Bluebird

I was excited to see several Tufted Titmouse fledglings at the feeders. There's probably 5 or 6 of these babies. It's so much fun to watch them developing their flying skills. They meander around the feeders while trying to decide how and where to land. They often land in some precarious positions on the pole or hangers. I love their bushy little eyebrows and tiny tufts on top of their heads. They're so stinking cute!

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I've seen several Carolina Chickadee fledglings but haven't had the opportunity to photograph them yet. There are babies everywhere right now!

Sunday Morning Bird Prayer

It's a beautiful Sunday morning and this little Titmouse birdie is saying its prayers- "Thank you Lord for allowing me to live yet another day- for allowing me to escape the clutches of the mean and sneaky cat that roams around this yard. Thank you for the tasty tidbits provided by the sweet lady who lives here. She spoils us and looks after us. She gets a little fanatic with her camera out here sometimes, but we try to overlook her eccentricities. Thank you Lord for being our divine Creator and providing us our daily needs. Amen". Have a blessed day, everyone!

Backyard Group of Titmice

What a beautiful day it's going to be here in southern Mississippi- temperatures in the 70's (yes, in February!) and partly cloudy.  Right now the sun is shining and there's a comfortable breeze.  I love it!  So far it's been a very mild winter for us.  

I've wanted to get out and visit some of the wildlife areas in our state but I've been mostly confined to my home for a couple of weeks.  An MRI confirmed that I have two tears in the meniscus of my right knee so surgery is planned near the end of this month.  I'll be glad when the surgery is over and I'm back on my feet again.  It's no fun being immobile!

Today I'm posting photos of the titmice that frequent our backyard feeders.  I often see a group of 3 to 4 of them together in the tree near the feeders.  I love to hear their bird calls.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for visiting!

Titmice Pair

I usually hear the titmice before I see them.  Their unique, squeaky little voices give them away.  I just love to hear and see them at the feeders.  It's not easy to capture good photos of them because they'll appear for only long enough to grab a seed or nut then poof!- gone, just like that.

Most often they'll sit on a nearby branch in the tree where they'll crack open the sunflower seed or break the nut into smaller pieces to eat.  But occasionally, one will stay on the ledge of the bird feeder and eat.  I'll watch that little head bob up and down as the tit cracks open the seed.  Just precious!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I'm off this weekend, but not really off.  There's the usual work around home to catch up with- laundry, general house cleaning, yard work.  I'd get it done much quicker if I wasn't distracted by all the birds and butterflies in my back yard ;)

Thirsty Titmouse

 A thirsty little Tufted Titmouse

getting his (or her) drink on...

One of my favorite small birdies...so darn sweet!  Oh, those eyes!

Have a great Wednesday Everyone!

Be sure to visit Stewart, host of Wild Bird Wednesday

for more interesting photos and stories of our feathered friends.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Friday was a beautiful, sunny day- much different than the chilly, wet day before.  It was the kind of day that draws me outdoors with my coffee in one hand and my camera in the other.   The birds seemed pleased with the sunshine as well- they flocked around the feeders, foraged through leaves and pine straw on the ground and sang gaily from the tree tops.  I couldn't resist watching them...

A large crowd of Chipping Sparrows and a few Goldfinches 

hung out together in puddles of bird seed...

while others were happy at the feeders.

After their appetite was temporarily satisfied, some took a few moments to bathe in 

the gentle sunlight...as I was doing.

This little one needed a short nap...

A few Pine Siskins decided to visit...

(this is the first time I've ever seen Pine Siskins)

At the edge of the woods, a Carolina Wren and Northern Cardinal

picked through their favorite seeds.

A Carolina Chickadee hopped along the concrete bench 

under a favorite tree.

A Tufted Titmouse is slowly hopping toward the feeder

This is the first Downy Woodpecker I've seen since we moved here.

(I THINK this is a Downy- please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Yet another first- a Purple Finch!  There were actually several of them

in my back yard yesterday- my first time ever seeing this species of finch.  They're gorgeous!

I wish you all a Happy Weekend!  

Thank you, as always, for visiting my blog and leaving comments!!!

Linked with Eileen at Saturday's Critters