Showing posts with label sparrow eating hawthorn berries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sparrow eating hawthorn berries. Show all posts

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Fine Feathered Friends

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” 
~ Robert Lynd

Whether on the wing or at rest, birds are lovely to watch and fun to photograph. Since I've been doing just that the past several weeks, I'd like to share a few of those images below.

cardinal with spindleberries
A while back, when I posted some pictures of spindle berries, my fine bloggie pal Suldog asked me if they were edible. I have to admit to not knowing that for sure at the time, though I suspected they were not, as the "berry" part is really more like a seed. I looked it up when responding to him and learned that they are edible for birds but rather poisonous for humans. Being one of the feathered variety, this Cardinal was checking them out a few days later.




geese in a row
Canada geese - relaxing, preening and doing a fair bit of pooping atop the dam of our local pond.




mockingbird on tree
One of my favourite feathered friends is the Northern Mockingbird. He he is perched at the top of a dead tree by the pond. I'm also quite fond of that tree, and have posted images of it frequently.




mockingbird
Here's a closer look at this sweetie. It's not the best exposure or even his best side but I'm always happy to see and share him.





Ms Mallard
Ms. Mallard is showing off her lovely colours in the late day sunshine.





downy landing
This little Downy Woodpecker was flitting about while I was out walking. It's not a great shot but after several attempts, I finally managed to capture it flying between the branches of this pine tree.




hawk through windshield
Much to my surprise, I snapped the photo of this hawk through the car windshield while Frank was driving.




ducks landing
Two ducks and a gull - the subjects of this photo are in shadow, but I still loved the colours in the trees and the reflection in the creek.




young gull
Over that same creek, you can see gulls flying around at most any time of day. This is a young one, who hasn't acquired his bright, white plumage yet.




sparrow cutie2
This sweet, little sparrow almost faded into the similar colouring of the foliage. If you look closely, you can see a bit of red on his beak from nibbling hawthorn berries.




young heron4 takeoff
Last, but never least, the Great Blue Heron, after he had had enough of my incessant picture snapping. Sorry bud!

More photos in a few days.