Winter Catchup

It's amazing how life gets in the way of blogging! I hope you enjoy this edition of catching up on a winter of pics from the porch and deck.

 The Pine Siskins have been abundant at the office this winter, and the last few days have been crowding the feeders to beat the band!

There is a small crack in the feeder below the perch, so this guy is going after the easier eating, and dropping some in the mix.

 His red pretty much overwhelms the camera.

 Female Cardinal in the Lady Banks Rose at the yard. I like that color combo. Let's name a color 'Lady Cardinal'. I think she even put on a little mascara before leaving the nest this morning.

All the boys hangin' out at the feeders. Seven guys at once, and a female there in the lower left.

Evidence that we have had an abundance of Gadwalls visiting the pond this winter. This is before the last good rain that filled the pond back up.

 They are quiet little ducks that cruise the pond mostly surface feeding.

 If there is a disturbance, one of them starts a regular quacking, and they start queuing up to leave.

 Sometimes the light's just right for an artistic shot.

 Then when there is not much more left on the surface, they start dunking, and that is fun to watch.

 They're not going under, just bobbing for whatever is just below the surface.

One Saturday a large hawk flew into the big dead pecan across the pond, and I knew it was not our Red-shouldered. The shots are blurry, but good enough to show we had our first Red-tailed hawk visit the area.

The ducks were definitely quacking, but making no move to leave.

 Standing at the porch rail and I look down to discover one of my bushes blooming! Had to grab a shot of blooms in January!

 At the office our Warbler keeps hanging around. This shot gives an indication that it may be the Orange-crowned Warbler, as you see a hint of his orange crown.

We'll close with this shot from my office deck. Proof that the birds that hang out at my feeders also hang out together in the trees. I count three Lesser Goldfinches, two male House Finches and two Female House Finches. Amazing creations!