We came from here: The thread "Backyard Birds-April 2015" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum Sharing photos and stories about birds.

Claudia, I hope you don't mind that I used your cute picture for this month's thread.

That is fine....Thank you for doing the new thread!

Christine, thanks for the new thread!

Claudia, that is the cutest photo!

Okay bird people, you don't have to try to ID this guy because the pictures aren't great. Trees are dense! But I wanted to show you that I'm noticing behavior. I thought this guy was pecking at the limb which seemed normal enough. When he flew off, I noticed he had something reddish-orange in his beak and I thought he had an insect or something. But looking at the pictures I think he was pecking a seedpod open against the limb and the insides were that reddish-orange color. I just thought it was neat to see bird behavior going on in the yard.

Most likely a Blue Jay. They are good at using "tools" & the behavior you witnessed.

We were just noticing that we haven't seen very many Blue Jays this year. They can be very noisy and they can mimic other birds like the mocking bird does. Last year there was a Blue Jay that would come down to feed doing his best hawk impression. It worked very well at moving the birds out of the way so he could feed.

Love that picture Christine!

Melanie, It looks like a Blue Jay to me too and they do indeed take seeds, nuts and use their bill as a hammer to get the seeds open!

I have some photos to share but I've got a dermatology appointment this morning so I'll post my photos later today!

Coincidence? I put my hummingbird feeders up around the first of May. Generally, the hummers show up around May 3rd or 4th. Saw the first male yesterday so they're right on target. I also saw the first red-breasted grosbeak and orange oriole yesterday as well. Do they all travel together? ;) The latter two won't hang around much once the oaks finish leafing out. Is it the red hummer feeders? Just curious.

Lots of migrating birds do travel at about the same time. Sometimes in groups. Here where I am in Indiana the hummers, orioles usually are here by the 24th of April. This year they arrived on the 30th & May 1. I think the storms in the south may have delayed them. Hummingbirds are able to spot feeders up to 2 miles away I think it is. I believe it was Saturday night that was supposed to be a big migration night. I have a friend who follows all that kind of stuff!

A few photos from my backyard last week; a couple of these were taken through the window.

Blue Jay ............................................... Brown Thrasher ....................................... Mourning Dove


Pigeon ...................................................................................... Red-winged Blackbirds


Red-bellied Woodpeckers


Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Grackle



These were taken when we were in Sebastian, Florida last week; we went out on my brother in laws boat and cruised the Indian River and Sebastian River.

Cormorants ........................................... Pelican and Cormorants .................... a pair of Vultures in an oak tree

Wonderful photos Lin, I love the blackbird singing his little heart out.

This light faze Red-tailed Hawk has been hanging around the area.


Tree swallow checking out the nest box. White-crowned sparrow.


Gold finch.............................. The big bad Red-tailed Hawk again.

mcash70 said:Wonderful photos Lin, I love the blackbird singing his little heart out.

That is a great shot! The Grackles are finally showing up in the yard so will not be putting suet out for much longer. I am having to replace it every day now. But the weather is warming up and bugs are coming out now.

Margaret, I always love your photos! That Red-tailed Hawk is a big one and it looks like he has a great view from the top of that tree as well as from the power pole. Tree Swallows are such pretty birds, although I've read that they winter here in Florida I've never seen one.

Brown Thrasher ................................... Tufted Titmouse ..................................... Northern Mockingbird

These are from yesterday evening. We went up to the Tennis Club in our subdivision to check and see if the Osprey nest was still there (this nest has been right next to a tennis court for a few years) and indeed it's still there and occupied. There was an adult and baby in the nest; you can make out the little head peeking up in the second picture. Even though the nest is up on a very high platform I didn't want to get too close because the adult gets agitated when humans are nearby .... it did start calling and watching me intently and then I saw the little one peeking out so I didn't want to hang around disturbing them.




From my backyard yesterday afternoon.
Boat-tailed Grackle, female ............................................................................ male's


Brown Thrasher and ................................................... Red-winged Blackbird, female

Yeah, I learned those Osprey don't like when you get too near their nests. No pictures this morning but as I was leaving I saw a Cardinal checking itself out in Mom's Ford Escape side mirror. Before it could start freaking out, I walked over and scared it off. It flew over to the trash bin full of yard waste waiting to be picked up. So all was good in bird world.

From my backyard a few minutes ago.

Snowy Egret ........................................... Red-winged Blackbird ....................... Red-bellied Woodpecker

I would love seeing a Snowy Egret in my backyard!