Summer Backyard Birds

My backyard bird posts usually generate a lot of interest, so here are some pictures of the birds frequenting my feeders this summer. Many are return visitors - like the woodpeckers, the towhees, and the cardinals. Others have new plumage - like the goldfinches. Still others are seasonal travelers - like the Indigo bunting and the hummingbirds.

The heat is affecting the birds, too. They tend to remain still and in the shade during the hottest parts of the day, so capturing them with a camera is tough due to the low light in the late afternoons. Also, the frequency of feeder visits is lower these days because they're nesting. But I have a few good photos to share. So enjoy!


A hairy woodpecker enjoys peanut nuggets.











A good shot of why this gal's called a 'red-bellied' woodpecker. You can tell she is a female because her red headpiece doesn't come all the way to her forehead.













An indigo bunting made a rare appearance for only one day.











The birds love to splash and bathe in our birdbaths.
This is a towhee.










and here he is, lounging in the tub.












The female of a pair of ruby throated hummingbirds living in our yard.









The male would have a bright red throat where hers is white.










Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch out for a drink at the local pub.










Don't you wonder what that cardinal might be thinking?










Can you see the tiny yellow beak?
It's a baby Carolina Wren whose parents built a nest in one of my hanging fuschia plants.