Birds that Visit my Garden

I’ve thought for some time about adding a page to this blog, showing you birds that visit my garden.  I put out feeders, grow plants that invite birds in, and do not use toxic chemicals – no weedkillers, fertilizers or bugkillers.  This is the beginning of my ‘list’ and the new page is now on the sidebar so it will be easy to find later.  I plan to add more visitors  on the page – Birds Visiting my Garden – as I take new photos or find older versions.

Some of these images have been published as all occasion greeting cards – with a link just in case you’d like to order.  My ‘published’ birds are also available in fine art prints on paper, canvas and metal.  Enjoy!

American Goldfinch  Available in my Zibbet shop.

American Robin (all occasion greeting card available soon)

Black-headed Grosbeak   Available in my Zibbet shop.

Brown-headed Cowbird

Calliope Hummingbird   Available in my ArtFire shop.

California Quail  Available in my ArtFire shop.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee  Available in my ArtFire shop.

Dark-eyed “Oregon” Junco (available, not yet listed)

Evening Grosbeak  (available, not yet listed)

House Finch  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Grouse

Hairy Woodpecker (available, not yet listed)

House Wren  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Hummingbird – Calliope?  Available in my ArtFire shop.

Lazuli Bunting

Mourning Dove

Northern Flicker  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Peacock came through with a flock of Turkeys! Available in my Artfire shop.

Peahen   Available in my Artfire shop.

Pine Siskin

Purple Finch  (Available, not yet listed.)

Raven   Available in my Zibbet shop.

Red Crossbill couple

Red-Breasted Nuthatch  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Red-breasted Sapsucker  (Available, not yet listed.)

Rufous Hummingbird  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Rufous-sided Towhee  (Available soon)

 Rufous Sided Towhee   Available in my ArtFire shop.

Song Sparrow  (Available, not yet listed.)

Steller’s Jay  Available in my Zibbet shop.

Western Tanager

White-crowned Sparrow  (Available, not yet listed.)

Wild Turkey baby

Wild Turkey female  (Available, not yet listed.)

I have many other bird photos that I’ve published as all occasion greeting cards.  I plan to add an additional page here to show you the fascinating birds of my Pacific Northwest region.  I especially love the big birds, eagles, herons, osprey, hawks…

So much to do, so little time!!

Sand Hill Cranes at Conboy National Wildlife Refuge

Instead of working in my garden, I’ve been going up to Glenwood quite often lately in search of Sand Hill Cranes.  The Conboy National Wildlife Refuge is a wondrous area filled with birds of all kinds.  As we slowly drove by a lovely field of purply blue camas we realized there were a pair of cranes out in the field!

Even with my new 150 – 600 mm lens they were too far away, so we continued through the refuge and found another pair who were closer.

They allowed us to watch them graze, dance and chat at one another.  Sorry to the nice man in the truck who had to squeeze past my car on the narrow gravel road.  In my haste to capture the cranes I completely forgot to close my door after grabbing my camera!

I love sharing my images with you, hoping you’ll fall in love with these beautiful graceful birds too.  I’m still hoping to catch a glimpse of the babies I’m told are in the area.

You can see some of the other birds I’ve been following on my studio blog, Steider Studios and my 365 Photos blog as well as my Facebook page, where I post most often.

I know, I should get back to work in my garden now that all my spring shows are over, but I can garden all summer and the babies are only here right now!!

When I have some time I’m going to add a page here to show you all the beautiful, colorful birds and butterflies that congregate in my garden – flying flowers.

Thanks for stopping by, it’s always a pleasure to see you!

Back Yard Birds for Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day!  Happy me – I had a new bird show up at my feeders today!!  A Black-throated Gray Warbler!!  At least that’s what it seems to be from my Audubon Field Guide.

Not the best photos but he was quick!

After tending my garden all morning I kicked back to photograph some of the birds at my feeders.  The Black-headed Grosbeaks politely wait in line for the Evening Grosbeaks to finish.

I’ve had pair of Red Crossbills at my feeders all week.  Yesterday I saw a second male!

The female Crossbill landed on this birdbath as I was photographing flowers & stayed for a drink even though she knew I was so close.

Hummingbirds have been here awhile and I’m wondering if the one on the right is a baby.

One of my favorites, the American Goldfinch numbers have steadily increased over the years.

I’ve had a couple of exciting birding adventures but haven’t edited all the photos yet.  Monday I went to Conboy Wildlife Refuge in Glenwood and was treated to a pair of Sandhill Cranes mating.  You can see a few photos on my Facebook page album.

Then on Thursday I went to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge north of Vancouver and saw many Cinnamon Teals and Canadian Geese with a multitude of goslings!  A few of those photos are also in a Facebook album on my page.

 

Not to mention 4 nesting pair of Osprey along the Columbia River that I’ve been watching with a 5th nest being built!

And a team of vultures that watched me photographing the Ospreys!  I managed to catch this one before he took off.

I have one more spring show coming up, the Hood River Rotary Wine and Pear Festival at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) on May 17 and 18.

Then I hope to spend more time in my garden among the flowers and flying critters.  And catch up with all my blogging friends!!

 

Wait. Its Autumn?

I know autumn has arrived, but It still feels like summer in the Pacific Northwest.  We’re enjoying sunny days close to 70º, calm with no wind or rain.  I will not like saying good-bye to my daily hikes in the Columbia River Gorge where I live and work as these lovely days finally come to an end.

The photos in this post are from my daily bird sightings in the forest behind my garden and along the Columbia River.  Many birds have migrated south but many remain here through the winter.  Above, a Pileated woodpecker flies overhead.

On the wings of change…eagles have returned to the Columbia River while osprey have left.

Herons are more easily found along many of our rivers right now.  I don’t know if this heron was dancing for joy because he caught a fish…or looking for a mate.

I’ve enjoyed the challenge of photographing a pair of Red-breasted sap suckers all summer in addition to several woodpeckers….

…like this Lewis’s Woodpecker – an exciting first sighting for me.

Another first sighting this summer for me was a Townsend’s Solitaire that I saw in September.

I managed to catch up to this flicker before he flew off – the top photo shows him flying away.

I think the western bluebirds may be gone now, but for awhile they were plentiful.

I’ve fallen behind in my garden blog but I’ll catch up – when dreary weather forces me back indoors.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh How My June Garden Blooms!

I gasped when I noticed these flowers blooming!  I’ve tried growing Jack in the Pulpit (also called Cobra Lily) for close to ten years and now I have three blooming!

I’ve had Arisaema candidissimum and Arisaema sikokianum bloom then disappear.  These Jacks have leafed out each year but never bloomed.  I’m not sure which variety they are because I’ve tried so many, but I think they’re Arisaema heterophyllum.

Each is blooming in a different part of my garden – my test to see which is the best spot for them before I buy more.

I have yellow Pouch Flowers blooming!  Love these sweet pockets of color.  I still need to find the red variety.

My geum is at the tail end of its blooming cycle.  Another plant with a red variety I want!

My yellow tree peonie has two blooms this year, but the lavender variety hasn’t developed blooms yet.  I think I have it in the wrong place with not enough sun.  I’ve heard they don’t like being moved, so maybe I can limb up surrounding trees for it.

I love this red peony – blooms are covering the foliage this year.  My pink peonies are about to burst open.

As I wander my way through the garden I am serenaded by this sweet Sparrow and a plethera of other song birds.  By planting natural habitat for birds I’ve created a safe zone for them and a sanctuary for me.

I try to not disturb the chickadee bringing treats for her babes.

And I try to capture her in flight to no avail.  So far.

Our hummingbirds must be nesting because they’re no longer fighting over the feeders.

Ravens are back in full force, attacking my compost pile with gusto.

Alas, the cowbirds are also back!

Other critters I love to capture are butterflies.  I stopped using toxic poisons (weed and bug killers) in my garden more than a decade ago and love how these flying flowers have increased over the years.

I especially love when I can capture them in flight!  I grow a lot of plants that encourage them to stay in my Columbia River Gorge garden.

Read this link from Organic Gardening for more information about attracting butterflies to your garden.

Swallowtails are probably the largest butterfly I welcome back each year.

I am noticing many different types of bees pollinating my flowers, fruits and veggie plants.

As I pulled weeds and excess plants I gently moved ladybugs to new homes.

My Gas Plant is one I look forward to each year.

As is this Columbine.  I haven’t posted in so long, I fear I’ll bore you with too many photos, so will end here.

If you’d like an alternative to commercial weed killers, try this recipe, it works:  1 gallon apple cider vinegar, 1 cup salt, 1 teaspoon detergent.  Mix and spray on weeds.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Earth Day

I spent the day in my garden.

Watching the birds and bees.

It was fascinating.  A day of R & R in the midst of weekend art shows.

Birds.  Bees.  Flowers.  Lizards.  

There’s more, but I have yet another art show to prepare for.  Thanks for stopping by!

Geese in the Gorge

I think our eagles have left the Gorge.

I checked at all my usual haunts.

Not one did I see.

In their place I found geese!

They were fun to watch and I was the only one at the park.

Not one other hiker, biker, walker, birder or hunter.

Just me and my dog alone on the beach with geese.

Thanks for stopping by.

Magical Morning in January

This little chickadee drew me outside.

The wonder of hoarfrost kept me in my wintery garden for a bit.

My purple birdcage is only partially covered.

Our backyard fence, bent from heavy snowfall earlier this winter.

I counted six nuthatches at our feeders today along wit a multitude of chickadees.

When the sun appeared, the glistening hoarfrost was magical.

My garden ‘Buggettes’ prove to be colorful bright spots this time of year.

Hoarfrost looks downright prickly here!

Another nuthatch, ready for his turn at our feeders.

Trying to capture the glistening as hoarfrost is struck by sun’s warmth.

My glass Ladybug is another bright spot in my winter garden.

Clusters throughout my garden were covered with hoarfrost, but the sun was fading fast.

Joe Pye Weed covered with hoarfrost in front of my blue chairs.

For a minute I didn’t recognize this!  Metal obelisk waiting for spring plants to emerge.

As the sun disappeared, I snapped this last shot & faded into the warmth of my house.  Thanks for stopping by!  Especially in the depth of winter!!

September: A New Month, A New Camera

Rudbeckia.

What  joy!  My new camera is a Nikon D5100.  I have a HUGE learning curve ahead of me.

Cosmos.

I love my Nikon CoolPix P80, but sometimes wished for something that would really capture what I was seeing.  Back in the days of 35 mm film I had a great Nikon AF camera with zoom and macro lenses, but it was heavy and I like the weight and freedom of my point & shoot P80.  Knowing the difference between the two, it is at times frustrating when I miss a shot because my camera won’t engage as quickly or see as clearly or get as close as I’d want to be.

Hollyhock.

September is my birthday month and I pooled all my resources (family) to go in together for one gift.  For my birthday AND Christmas.  The one gift I’ve been wanting but denying myself for over a year.  And could I please have it early?

Clerodendrum.

Although I think I got some pretty good shots with a point and shoot, I cannot wait to see what I get with my new camera.  I can see the difference just with these first ‘fooling around’ photos.  The clarity.  The immediacy of the shutter release.  The fact that I did very little editing – mostly just cropping.

Steller’s Jay at Feeder, shot through the kitchen window.

If you don’t see me for awhile you’ll know why!  Or I might have to post even more photos than before!  A new adventure begins!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Backyard Bird Watching

My ‘Triple Splash’ birdbath is a focal point in this garden section where I love to sit and watch a ballet of birds.  When I turn the sprinklers on, the baths fill and our birds have a party.  Their songs fill our neighborhood.

As I was photographing my current garden project in progress, hummingbirds began buzzing by.  Maybe it was my pink shirt, but I changed my focus to them!  This little guy was enjoying nectar from a digitalis.

He then landed in my flowering cherry tree and posed for me for about two seconds….

….then buzzed back to another foxglove.  He almost blends in with the stem!

This sweet little chickadee was feeding babies…..

…..is there anything so sweet as the sound of baby birds when food arrives?

Sparrows are abundant now.  They chirp at me during my morning walk all the way down our road.

A Yulan Lily tree, right outside my kitchen window is a magnet for birds because it’s next to the feeders.

I love how sunlight can make a Pine siskin look so colorful.

Grouse are such funny birds.  They think if they don’t move I won’t see them.  I’m happy I could get so close.

Mama turkey clucks her chicks into being still and sitting low in the grass as I walk by.

She must have thought I was too close, all of a sudden they exploded up into nearby trees.

A family of Ravens has been quite vocal and staying close lately, drinking at our birdbaths.

I was thrilled to catch this one in flight!

My biggest thrill this month was a Western Tanager showing up at our birdbath.  I barely had time to grab my camera and shoot through the kitchen window.

He only stayed for these two shots…not the best, but I was happy to get them just the same!

Thanks for stopping by.  Oh, that project I’m working on?  I’m re-terracing my ‘Left Bank’ and will tell you about it soon!