Dave, they are all amazing photo's in my opinion! Love those Bluebirds ... and yep, I see the little Hummer amidst the Gloriosa!

Um, I don't see a thing to complain about with those photos Dave. They look fantastic to me. I would be plum thrilled to get half those good of shots. Heck, I'm working with only a 5x optical zoom here; imagine how frustrated I am?

I just shot this through the kitchen window, it's only maybe a total of 10' or thereabouts, maybe a tad less. My little hummie gets lost. I found yours now you try to find mine.

Ann, I think that is a fabulous photo ... and through the window? I had no trouble spotting that pretty hummer at all!

Thank you Lin. You're always sweet. But imagine if it were any farther away --- it would be no dice.

Super Ann. Spotted it right away.

Ann, I truly like that photo of the little Hummer with the flowers and the nice greenery background of trees and are those Cycas/Sago just behind the flowers? I just think that's a really pretty picture.

I spotted a little Wren at a birdbath this morning and took a couple of pictures through the glass doors. I've not seen birds visit this rusty little birdbath in a long time so it surprised me to see this little one taking a bath.


This photo is from yesterday; Red-bellied WP clinging to the Cypress tree.


And, before the storms hit a little while ago I got some shots of a Hummingbird:

Great shots Lin! That's a cute little birdbath. I LIKE it!

Yes, Sagos. They gotta go! I do not like them. They don't "fit" with up here AND the darn things are dangerous. I'd rather tangle with a long neglected, overgrown, giant rosebush than take on the pointed everything of a sago. They are vicious!

I have a side yard that I call my backyard. But nothing ever happens back there, besides my laundry, and it is where Itty Bitty goes to potty.

But in the front yard I am always missing the birds. It seems I go outside to go somewhere, take Itty Bitty for a walk, or work in the garden, or make cement cloth planters. I don't spend much time outside in the daylight hours with my camera handy.

But yesterday, I captured the first picture I have ever taken of birds, since moving into this apartment. It isn't good quality, and I don't know what bird it is. But I may still have to print it out as it is the first bird from this yard. I'll have to get a birdbath for fall, or next spring, when I hope to take more time to rest with my camera in reach.

Two birds on sunflowers.


The sunflowers got a lot of attention during the evening.

I'm thinking those might be goldfinches Ckat but can't be sure as I can't see more parts of them. Pretty anyway!

If your first bird pictures are a preview of what's to come, I'm taking a front row seat.
Looks like goldfinches to me too.

Those goldfinches were made for the sunflowers.

That's some kind of definition she has in those photos isn't it? Impressive.

ckat, beautiful photos of the goldfinches!

I might have different angles. I tried to limit the keepers to those where I could actually tell it was a bird. I'm not familiar with yellow birds, but from what I could hear at the time, there were several birds. I looked at whatbird.com and would guess lesser goldfinch. That would be a first for this bird for me also. The closest I've ever gotten to a goldfinch was in a moving car, and I wasn't driving, so the driver drove right past it sitting on a post. I protested loudly, but it was no use. We were following another car, so might have ended up lost if we stopped. I've never been able to take anything but really blurry shots from moving cars. Never saw one goldfinch in my area in Denver.

These were the ones my planned composition worked, though I wasn't close enough for more details. Because I've been eyeing that scene since the roommate put the trellis up and sunflowers started growing - volunteers. So, sitting in the chairs on the pavers he put down, is almost like being behind a blind, bit of a disappointment not to be just a few feet closer. And along one side of the yard is all bamboo over on the neighbor's side of the wall. I've kicked myself for being too tired and achey to steady that 300mm. I got lucky that the trellis is holding up well and has a post to brace against right where I wouldn't be seen coming from around the juniper bush. Just couldn't tell the wind to stop making the sunflowers sway after watching them grow ever so slowly - second time blooming this summer. But the first bloom died so quickly. A birdbath would get them probably ten feet closer. Close enough for a remote trigger for the birdbath or the sunflowers. Hoping to try that out while recuperating from surgery next week. Peering like a stalker through the holes in the trellis at the sunflowers. If the sunflowers last.

Good luck with your surgery Ckat.

Ditto that Ckat.

And lovely photos once again. They're perfect! I think you would enjoy having a birdbath so you could see the birds closer.

Beautiful photos.... so glad you took them & shared!

Ann: I have trouble keeping Sago's alive and yet they are supposed to be one of the easiest things to grow according to many folks I've talked to. I dislike them too because of the sharp spines ... not quite as bad as the points on Yucca or Agave but almost. I'm just not fond of spiny, thorny type plants.

Ckat, Wow those are really wonderful shots of that beautiful bird!! It definitely looks like the Lesser Goldfinch:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...

http://identify.whatbird.com/o...

Sparrow on a roof, older one on pole...