Suburb-The Changing Seasons V2 (March 2017)

Woodpecker Pair

Nesting Haiku (Peck)

Peck, peck, each day
Find the spot and peck away
Ready for nesting

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I have been watching red-bellied woodpeckers pecking the wood in this old tree. It is amazing to see how they have transformed the branch with a perfect circle entry way to the nest. It must go pretty deep, because I have seen the male bird go completely into the branch and then turn to stick his head back out. This was the moment that I actually saw the pair together at their nesting site. I guess this means they have completed the courting ritual and agreed on the nest location. I will be keeping watch for new developments!

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This is my third 2017 post for year three of Cardinal Guzman’s photo challenge, The Changing Seasons. You can post a photo gallery (V1) or a single photo (V2) that showcases your view of the month. You can check out the Cardinal’s page for the general challenge rules and join right in! His photos are fantastic and this month he has an extensive gallery! Like last year, I am planning to add a haiku along with my single V2 photo each month. Even though it has been said that a picture paints a thousand words, I like pairing pictures and words; both can still mean different things to different people.

All my previous Changing Seasons posts are in one place under the Changing Seasons header at the top of the page. And, I also have a bird header where all my bird pictures are gathered.
Take a look around my blog if you are interested! Comments are welcome!

See Green

Fountain

Spring is the time to see green! I took all these photos last April when the bright green color of spring was all around.

Fountain

Weeping Willow

Green Banks

Winding Creek

Now, its starting to look like spring again, with bursts of greenery signaling the arrival of the season! Happy Spring!

Sign of Spring

*posted in response to the daily post weekly photo challenge to share a gallery of green!

Advantage Grackle (CYW Royal Purple)

Grackle

The iridescent purple head and golden eye are distinctive features of a grackle. This smart bird was supposed to be too big for this feeder, but it figured out a way to get some food! It used its size to its advantage by reaching its head around to grab a tasty treat!

Here is another view:

Grackle 2

*posted for JNW’s color your world challenge: royal purple
I love those mystery (is it purple or is it blue?) colors!

Atop A Perch

Starling Atop

This European Starling must have a great view from atop a perch in an old tree! Talk about a bird’s eye view; this bird can see it all! Sometimes viewed as a nuisance bird, I think the starling is interesting and beautiful in its own right. It certainly stands out against the clear blue sky.

Here is another picture of the bird, nesting in a tree cavity and taking in the view.

Nesting Starling

*posted for the daily post weekly photo challenge: atop

Even Familiar Roads

Eastern Phoebe in the Park

(4 photos) I often take a walk in the park. The road taken to the park is not new to me. The pathway around the park is not new to me.

Of course, I am always looking for birds. This weekend, on a walk in the park, I saw an Eastern Phoebe bird for the first time! Yes, this was exciting to me! Even though many people already know of this bird, it felt like a new discovery to me. Sometimes, even the familiar road, often taken, will offer a surprise!

Today, I had the pleasure of seeing and photographing four kinds of birds. The Eastern Phoebe, pictured above, is a flycatcher and I watched it swoop low to the ground to catch bugs in mid flight!

I also watched a White-Breasted Nuthatch, upside down, pecking and posing in a tree.

Nuthatch in the Park

The park is a haven for bluebirds with bluebird boxes spaced all around. This Eastern Bluebird perched prettily on a branch.

Bluebird in the Park

And, I got to see, and hear, this sweet song sparrow! It was singing its little heart out!

Song Sparrow in the Park

These little birds, so vivid and distinctive from one another, are amazing and fill me with wonder. I just want to take pictures of them all! It’s a good thing that I know which road to take to find them!

daily post weekly photo challenge: the road taken
and daily prompt: vivid

Sky blue and bluejay too (CYW)

Sky blue and bluejay too

JNW’s Color Your World photo challenge theme for today is sky blue. I just love a clear blue sky! And, if you look close, you can see the pretty blue feathers on this bluejay too! I was double blessed with the beautiful view!

Have a great weekend, everybody!