Since it's August 1st, I thought I'd start a new thread for the month.We came from here The thread "Bird Photos, July 2017" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

I'll start August off with photos from early this morning ... cloudy and the lighting wasn't the best.

Had my first sighting this year of a Hummingbird a few minutes ago. It flew right up to me and hovered for a second or two ... don't know if it's because of the color of the shirt I have on (Mauve) or if it was prompting me to get the feeders back out! It flew to an oak tree where it perched for a few minutes ... I took lots of pictures but only two were not a total blur so I'm thankful that I got a couple ... it's very difficult (especially when your eyesight is as bad as mine) to find these little things in the greenery. I ran inside and filled two feeders with sugar water and hung them so hopefully this little jewel will be back.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird


Red-bellied Woodpeckers are everywhere; I'm thinking there's more than one family that visits the feeders. The adults go to the feeders and take food and stuff it into crevices in palm and oak trees.

Red-bellied WP, adult male ................. Juvenile



Grackle (first I've seen in a long while) and Blue Jay

plantladylin said:Had my first sighting this year of a Hummingbird a few minutes ago. It flew right up to me and hovered for a second or two ...

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

They seem to be looking at us in curious fashion, don't they? The ones that come around here do that too. They just hover and look at me for a few moments and then fly off. It's like being in the presence of fairies, isn't it?

If that is a picture of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, then I don't know what I have out here. I have very small ones that are a brown-grey color over their throats and breasts. I was sure they are Ruby-throated females, but maybe they're not. And the males, well, do they get more red on their throats during mating season, or as they age? The one's I've seen have a red outline of that area. It's quite striking, but just an outline. I've tried finding pictures online, but no luck.

Wish I knew....

Couple from the morning....Mockingbird Mom and young one and a male American Goldfinch

Joanna, MassAudubon: http://www.massaudubon.org/lea... says the Ruby-throated is the only hummingbird that commonly appears in your state but this site shows photos of a few that are seen in Mass. https://www.beautyofbirds.com/...

plantladylin said:Joanna, MassAudubon: http://www.massaudubon.org/lea... says the Ruby-throated is the only hummingbird that commonly appears in your state but this site shows photos of a few that are seen in Mass. https://www.beautyofbirds.com/...

I know! I read that too! But I swear to you that the ones I've seen only have a read outline of the throat area. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to catch a picture at some point.

Maybe the ones you're seeing are juveniles, and haven't developed their adult color yet.

ctcarol said:Maybe the ones you're seeing are juveniles, and haven't developed their adult color yet.

I looked for info on that but couldn't find anything.

Could it be the way the light hits it?

Sure!

It is hard to tell the juvenile males from the females.

I've seen lots of females the past few years; rarely see males for some reason. A few times I've seen what appeared to be juvenile males that had just a small red dot on the neck. The only photo of an adult male I've gotten is this one from 2015:

Blue Jay, a few minutes ago

Lin your photos are always a pleasure to see!

Thank you so much, Ronnie!

The Snowy Egret, which I learned is also a type of Heron, has been feasting on minnows and guppies. It does not appear to allow me to get closer than 20 ft. In contrast, the dark-haired Ms. Heron has been quite open with me about her issues.

In Re: Matter of Ms. Heron

Though seriously injured, Ms. Heron remained steadfast and resolute, thanking the public for their concern over her left foot injury. Several local miscreants have been detained for questioning in this matter.

pphanfx said:

In Re: Matter of Ms. Heron

Though seriously injured, Ms. Heron remained steadfast and resolute, thanking the public for their concern over her left foot injury. Several local miscreants have been detained for questioning in this matter.

LOL! Is that a Russian Blue?

Oh my goodness, those local miscreants sure make me want to adopt one!

This morning I spotted one of the juvenile Woodpeckers up in an oak tree preening it's feathers:


We had some awful thunderstorms again this afternoon and early evening and after they passed I was out walking around when I spotted another Turkey in the backyard. I sneaked up as close as I could and managed to get some unfocused shots before it spotted me and hurried off into the woods:

plantladylin said:Oh my goodness, those local miscreants sure make me want to adopt one!

Send them over here! I'll show 'em what's what!

@joannakat You nailed it. Never trust the Russians.

Without trying to depart too far from a bird-sighting thread, this cat was an impulse-buy from a pet store for just over $1000 by my friend's wife. I just happened to be over for dinner.

Its less-attractive and more rambunctious sibling was offered to me for $300 by the pet store the following day - I seriously considered but declined.

To remain somewhat on topic (serious bodily injury inflicted upon birds), we have a wonderful family of chickens here on my friend's home farm in Orange, CA. Organic fresh eggs and homemade mayonnaise were regularly enjoyed... WERE enjoyed.

A few times a month I visit these gorgeous hens, but recently, a person or animal raided the coup when it was unlocked, leaving only 2 alive, AND their prized female chihuahua is gone. We suspect some of the local gardeners in this community, large predatory birds, or coyotes - it had to have been something that can make off with several chickens and a dog... It has to be something (or a team) that can make it over a 10 foot fence leave the same way. 2 guard dogs on duty just happened to be caged at the time. Neighbors reported frantic barking while my friend and his wife were away. My friend refuses to watch the surveillance video, as it is a painful matter...