Winged Jewels

Vermillion Flycatcher, facing forward by Ruby 2417 Via Flickr: Tucson, Arizona.

Blue Purple and Green - Little Blue Heron Portrait by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: This photograph of a little blue heron was taken in Florida at Wakodahatchee Wetlands This bird is in its breeding plumage. We found her in the tree near her nest keeping a close eye on her eggs. Little Blue Herons are small herons, about the size of a Snowy Egret. These small heron nest and forage in many kinds of wetlands, including swamps and marshes, - Egretta caerulea

black throated hummingbird by Andrew huberty

Trying to get a date - Great Egret by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: This male Great Egret was performing a courtship display. The showy feathers are called aigrettes, and are part of their breeding plumage. Taken at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida. -Ardea alba

Siblings - Great Horned Owl babies by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: These great horned owlets seemed almost ready to start branching. Yet, their parents nested on a palm tree in the middle of a field. Besides being open to the weather and having no shade, the same breeding pair seem to nest there successfully over the past couple of years. Taken at the boat launch at Fort De Soto, Florida. - Bubo virginianus

Palm Warbler in the Woods Today by Kitty Kono Via Flickr: Valley Forge

Male Western Bluebird by Ruby 2417 Via Flickr: Diablo Foothills trails, Alamo, Ca. March, 2024.

9943-1sm by torriejonvik Via Flickr: Female Anna's Hummingbird intent on pulling bullrush seed for her nest.

Big bird - Sandhill Crane by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: While out driving on a country road in Alberta, Canada we found some sandhill cranes. This one was calling to his mate. These birds are hard to find in our area but can be found in farmers fields. An interesting fact of these birds is that Sandhill cranes have mostly grayish feathers, but the shade of gray can vary widely. Although the feathers are gray, sometimes they can have a reddish-brown appearance. This is because sandhill cranes preen themselves by rubbing mud on their feathers and mud from iron-rich environments is often red. -Grus canadensis

The Love Between a Mother and her Baby by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: This photograph of a mother Great Horned Owl and her baby was taken in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This was the first day the owlet came out of the nest. Great Horned Owls can be found breeding from northern Alaska to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. Canadian birds seem to be somewhat migratory, responding to the population cycles of their prey, and move into the northern United States in winter. Juveniles are dependent on the adults through the summer, and sometimes do not leave their parents’ territory until forced to do so in late fall. - Bubo virginianus

Blue - Tree Swallow by Georgie Alexon Via Flickr: Having tried and failed to get these birds in flight, I was happy this Tree Swallow was perched on a wire. He posed nicely for his photograph on a countryside road in rural Alberta, Canada. ree Swallows winter farther north than any other American swallows and return to their nesting grounds long before other swallows come back. They can eat plant foods as well as their normal insect prey, which helps them survive the cold snaps and wintry weather of early spring. - Tachycineta bicolor

Flash Jr., and Mystic Spires!!! (Explored 5/12/2023) by Debbie Meader Via Flickr: Flash Jr., our resident male Anna's Hummingbird, sipping nectar from our Mystic Spires Salvia!! I just planted the Salvia in our yard, and it took him no time to find it and have a snack!!!

The Common Yellow Throat Has Returned by Kitty Kono Via Flickr: Today in Valley Forge

Spotted Towhee at Filoli by Ruby 2417 Via Flickr: Filoli Estate and Gardens, Woodside, Ca. April, 2023. All the wondrous rare plants and meticulous gardens on display, and I photograph the wild birds who fly in uninvited.

Sipping nectar!!! by Debbie Meader Via Flickr: Miss Penelope, our female resident Anna's Hummngbird, sipping nectar from our Lobelia Cardian Flowers.

Enjoying the nectar!!! by Debbie Meader Via Flickr: A male Anna's Hummingbird enjoying the nectar from a Red Flowering Currant plant. Photo taken near Shillapoo Lake, at the end of Lower River Road!

Anna's Hummingbird and Aloes by Ruby 2417 Via Flickr: The Anna's are the only species that spends the winter in Northern California, and I have no idea how they got through the winters before humans started planting all these early-blooming aloes. Half Moon Bay, Ca. Jan. 2023.