Winter Fading Mix

Where has February gone? I see my blog posts seem to start out with the next verse of an old song, but life happens when you fully intend to download some good pictures. So be blessed with our offering of February's visitors and discoveries!

 The only time we get to see American Goldfinches is in the winter, when they don't have their 'full glory' on! This guy seems to have a little halo where he'll have a black cap this summer.

 The female American Goldfinches even have more yellow to show than their female cousins, the Lesser Goldfinch.

 These guys always brighten up the office deck when they show up at the thistle feeder.

Male Lesser on left, male American on right, and two female American Goldfinches in the center.

The Pine Siskins like to mix it up with each other and the Goldfinches around the feeder.

 My Grape Holly plants, or Leather-leaf, put out their yellow blooms this year. And as you can see, a local bee appreciates it. 

The White-crowned Sparrow has been very elusive this winter, rarely coming around the feeders in the yard.

 It is a Song Sparrow, or possibly Savannah. I just don't see them enough to know the difference.

 This young House Sparrow provided some afternoon entertainment. He was so puffed up and moving slow. I was glad there wasn't a predator around. He actually took a short nap there on the rock!

 The Chickadees have discovered the new feeder at the house.

 Our diving ducks, the Ringnecks, continue to enjoy the offerings of our pond.

They are not as skittish as the Gadwalls, and don't mind coming up close enough to the near shore for a better shot.

An early morning encounter, when the surface of the pond was like blue mercury.

 I thought I had been spying a broad white center stripe on a duck bill out there. This pic confirms; we have an American Wigeon on the pond. The top duck is the only one among the Gadwalls and Ringnecks. His blue flash on the side of his head gave him away.

 It's cool when they are taking a nap on the pond.

 Sunday morning near freezing, causing the steam to rise from the warm pond waters. The sun was coming up, and it was one glorious morning on the porch!

Later the Gadwalls were spooked by my activity, and staging to make their escape. One wrong move, and they erupt into flight.

From the other end of the porch, the Carolina Jessamine that I nursed through our last dry summer is bursting forth. I know the date isn't right, but looks like Spring is bustin' out all over to me! Let's see what kind of bug and bird magnet this plant turns out to be.

Winter Catchup II, or 'Son of', or 'Bride of'

Just a few more left over pics from our winter, including some exclusive shots from the Albuquerque porch of our sis-in-law Ginger. Enjoy.

Never get tired of this regular at the thistle feeder, the male Lesser Goldfinch.

 Likewise the House Finch is a year-round resident, and always at the office deck feeders.

 A regal pose for the 'common' House Finch.

The Great Blue Heron landed on the far side of the pond.

 This is what a House Finch looks like in sub-zero weather in Albuquerque, NM! Rather puffed up!

                             

A bird that we rarely see in Central Texas, the female Junco.

And her mate the male Junco. These are sparrows with a different color scheme. Our visit was short in ABQ, but a blessing still!

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!