May 18, 2020, Morning Birds and Bees and Squirrel in my Backyard, with new Camera

More pics of Birds!

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I've been having fun with my new camera.  I was up early and outside, on this gloomy overcast day.  It's supposed to rain but so far has held off.

Huge Bumble Bee on Lungwort Flower

I made a cup of coffee, put it in a thermal cup, and went outside to try get photos before the rain started.  The first thing I saw was this absolutely enormous bumble bee in the Lungwort.

Bumble Bee on Lungwort flower

Lungwort, aka Pulminaria, aka Hansel and Gretel flowers, grows like crazy in our flower bed. I've always loved them because the plants grow purple and pink flowers on the same plant, which is cool.  Recently I learned that they have historically been used as a medicinal plant to treat asthma, bronchitas, coughs, and sore throat.  People made a tea from the leaves, and also dried the leaves for future use. 

I'd like to try it myself but have to be careful as I am allergic to some natural remedies, including echinacea.  

It's a beautiful flower, and the bee seems to agree.

Mama squirrel. 

Next, this mama squirrel entered the yard, looking for food.  I am going to put some peanuts out for her later.  She's a big squirrel, and was very timid. 

White Crowned Sparrow with orange half

White Crowned Sparrow with Orange half.

Next, a flock of White Crowned Sparrows joined me.  I've always called them Skunk Birds because of the striped head and only learned the real name recently, lol.  I put out an orange in hopes of attracting a Baltimore Oriole, but the Sparrows seemed to love it.

White Crowned Sparrow

Here's a better view of the White Crown. Such cute little birds, and super active.  They like to hop all over the garden and lawn, and it was funny to watch them kick at the grass and dirt with their tiny little feet, in order to kick up bugs (I'm guessing).

White Crowned Sparrow eating a seed

They also really love the Black Oil sunflower seeds. 

Next, the Goldfinches came to visit.  They are camera shy birds and I had a hard time getting a good photo of them. 

Goldfinch eating

White Crowned Sparrow and Goldfinch on the feeder

This pretty male (above) kept hiding on the other side of the feeder. 

Underside of Goldfinch, lol

I had fun but it was so cold and damp I needed my winter coat, in late May!  It was supposed to warm up today but it hasn't; maybe tomorrow.

I hope you are all staying safe.  

New Camera, Backyard Birds; Rose Breasted Grossbeak and White Crowned Sparrow (aka Skunkbird)

I LOVE my new camera sooo much!  

Today was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, and I needed a distraction from trying to replace everything that the thief stole.  So I went out into the back yard with my camera to try to take some bird photos.

 In the last few days, a migrating flock of White Crowned Sparrows have found our yard...and our feeder!  They are super fast little birds that like to run up and down the garden and through the lawn, and they also run right up tree trunks. Pretty cool little birds, but I confess I've always called them "Skunk Birds" due to the stripe...and only bothered to look up the proper name in the last couple of years, lol.  I always forget and refer to them as Skunk birds, which is a shame because White Crowned Sparrow is such a regal name, lol.

 My Dad was out fixing the boat trailer, painting the truck and doing yardwork.  Here he is (above), taking a rest.

 

 This pretty Rose Breasted Grossbeak was way up high in the maple tree! 

The zoom on this camera is amazing!

 This little guy was staring right at me. So cute!

 This Grackle was also far away.  Such pretty colors.

 I don't know what this last bird is, but he was singing his little heart out from the top of the apple tree next door.  Such a cute bird.

Last but not least, more spring flowers are coming up.  Hyacinths and these purple and pink flowers that my Dad calls Hansel and Gretel flowers. 

The buds are on the trees and the grass is getting green and the migrating birds and geese are back so spring is finally here...really here.  And best yet, it didn't snow this week (it snowed for 3 days last week!).