Hummers, Buntings, and Beep-Beep!

We have been blessed with a lot of activity in the yard and at the office. Enjoy this week's offering of hummers, buntings and the neighborhood road runner.

Sometimes I can't help myself, I just have to flip up the flash and try to overcome the darkness. This female Painted Bunting shows up some of her color.

Back at the office deck feeder, the female paused long enough for this pose.

 A young female at the office deck water saucer.

The male Painted Buntings are continuing to show at office and off the porch.

 All these shots were caught at the office. Get back to work!

It's hard to concentrate when this guy is visiting the feeders.

 We were blessed with 4-1/4" of rain this week, a rare occasion, especially in July! This day the rain was letting up, and a couple of Yellow-crowned Night Herons were hanging close to where the new flow of run-off was coming into the pond.

Couldn't get that guy on the left to come forward, so this is as good as it gets.

 The Lesser Goldfinches continue to come around for the thistle seed.

Nice catch, even if accidental!

It can get downright crowded around here!

A little confused, but not for long!

This one posed and offered another level of detail.

Ha! She thought she heard something coming!

 We'll wrap up this week's offering with some pics of our new neighborhood attraction. We are told that there is a pair of Great Roadrunners hanging around. Here is one of them.

I've spotted this one a number of times in the morning on my way to work. This day he went high into the oak tree, and I followed to get a closer shot.

 This late afternoon after the rains, this one was feasting on the bug offering from the rain.

 I followed him across the road into a field, then realized the pair of 

cotton tails were there munching.

I expect more roadrunner adventures to come.

Hawks, Hummers, and Humidity

I guess July is the month for 'H's, as we captured some rare close-ups of our Red-shouldered hawk this week. The hummers continue to provide us with a lot of activity, and the more rare humidity is insuring that we have some blossoms for their attention. Enjoy this week's offering.

The Chickadee was flitting around the water saucer at the office deck, with enough sunlight to get an action shot.

A nice soft morning on the office deck before the work day gets started, and a young Chickadee visits the water.

 And the young Titmouse as well.

The Red-winged Blackbird is a regular, but difficult to catch standing still.

 Late afternoon in the yard, the Cardinal coming to the bird bath for a drink.

Joined by a Sparrow. Do you notice the sprinkler is going?

A fuzzy shot of a Hairy Woodpecker, one rarely seen at our place.

One of my favorite colors, the periwinkle blue of the plumbago. Isn't that a back disorder?

 This Swallowtail's wings are getting a little ragged.

 These daisies surprised us by coming back from last year.

The Swallowtail was visiting every variety.

 This female was exhibiting quite a pattern in her throat feathers.

 Female Black-chinned Hummingbird.

 Not really concerned that this Zinnia is not quite ready!

A little pollen on the beak there.

Caught this shot at the office deck feeders.

The female Painted Bunting has been showing herself a lot.

Here she is by the church in my yard.

  A young one all puffed up.

At this feeder pretty much every evening before sunset.

This fellow came to see me on one of those early mornings at the office deck.

 The Painted Buntings are nesting in the tall grass by the pond, and come to the feeders in the yard. This day, he came up close to the Lady Banks Rose.

 Here he is in the Lady Banks.

And at my little cheap feeder from Tuesday Morning. Glorious!

 We'll finish off with a series of hawk shots from my Saturday encounter. Started off on the other side of the pond, high in the dead pecan tree, surrounded by his best buds, the Blue Jays.

 Then the Chickadee joined in the fun. They were waiting for him to fly so they could peck at him from above.

 He eventually flew across the pond, landing in a tree to the right of my porch, and offered up some pretty good views. Thought I was done.

 Then he surprised me by flying up to the live oak closest to my porch on the near edge of the pond.

 The shadows were moving, so I had to wait for these views. He's letting everybody know where he is right here.

 The answer is yes, I was some kind of excited.

After flying down to the water, he came back up and offered me a few views from this side. It was a good Saturday on the porch, but then, they ALL are!