We've had more hummingbirds at our feeder this summer than ever before. You have to be quick and very stealth to get a picture of these guys. The least little noise or movement and they're gone in a flash.

After a couple of setbacks, our Tree Swallow couple has finally been successful. I found the half of this tiny egg shell on the step under the birdhouse this morning. When mama flew out, I quickly peeked inside the house and saw three tiny babies. She would've had four, but something got to one of the eggs early on. Here's hoping that a few weeks from now the babies will fledge successfully.

Friday In My Backyard

If you look closely through the willow tree branches, you can see a Robin sitting on her nest. This is the first time we've had a bird nesting there. She is very protective and if you get within a few feet she will let you know that she isn't happy.

Daddy Tree Swallow keeps watch from his perch near our back porch. I moved our shepherd's hook closer to their bird house so they can better protect them selves from predators. We had a female Tree Swallow killed on her nest by a House Sparrow a few weeks back.

Mama Tree Swallow peeking out from her nest. She is incubating eggs right now and is spending more and more time inside the bird house. I peeked inside earlier today and there were 3 very small, white eggs. Tree Swallows are known to lay 4 to 7 eggs. They lay an egg a day. Hopefully we will have some babies here in the next week or two.

Our Tulip Poplar tree is in bloom. It bloomed a bit late this spring. I guess because of the unseasonably cool temps we had early on. They are so beautiful! It's the Tennessee state tree as well.

Our hedge row is teaming with honeysuckle. They smell so good! Brings back great childhood memories. I love this time of year and hope your Friday has been awesome! Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!

Bye Bye Bluebird!

I took this picture of daddy bluebird three days ago. Yesterday, I decided to take a look at the babies. I got a ladder out of the garage, carefully climbed up to the birdhouse and opened the door. The nest was empty. The babies must have fledged sometime in the last couple of days. I've read that bluebirds can lay more than one clutch of eggs in a season. I'm hoping our bluebird couple will do just that.

Five years ago today, my niece Kelly was married on the beach in Destin, Florida. Happy Anniversary Kelly and Kerry! Love you both!

Daddy bluebird bringing home the bacon, or should I say the grasshopper.

Feeding the little ones. I got a quick glimpse of one of the babies yesterday.

Break Time!

Mama tree swallow taking a break. The nest building has been going at a fevered pitch over the past three days. We took a peek in the box yesterday afternoon and we believe the nest is almost done. As for the house sparrow, so far so good. We haven't seen it around the birdhouse since the incident. The mama will be vulnerable to attack when she lays her eggs and spends more time on the nest. We're doing all we can to see that it doesn't happen again.

Happy Mother's Day!

I shot this video Friday morning of our mama bluebird sitting on top of our swing post. She had some kind of grub in her mouth and was getting ready to feed her babies. Their nest is in a birdhouse on the arbor overlooking our garden. We can hear the babies, but haven't seen them yet. The bluebirds are a little more wary of people than the tree swallows. They don't fly up to the birdhouse while we're near, but I think they're starting to get used to us being around. We finally got our garden planted on this beautiful Mother's Day afternoon. I hope all of you mom's out there got to spend time with your peeps today.

This is me and my mom, or Ma as I liked to call her. I guess this picture was taken sometime early in 1959, the year I was born. My mom passed away a year ago this past April 29th. I miss her each and every day and wish she was here for me to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. She was the best! Love you now and forever Ma! Until we meet again.

Bird Speak

I wish I understood bird speak. I would love to know what daddy tree swallow was saying to mama tree swallow :0) The nest building continued today although not as vigorous as yesterday. I guess the rain has slowed them down. Happy TGIF everyone!

Great news! Our tree swallow couple found the new bird house this afternoon. So far so good. No conflicts between the tree swallows and the bluebirds :0) I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

A bluebird couple have taken up residence in one of our back yard bird houses. We think their eggs have hatched because we found remnants of blue egg shells near their nest. Also, the male and female were bringing insects to the bird house. I've read that blue birds can lay up to three clutches of eggs in a season. We're still waiting for our tree swallows to start nesting in another box we put up. The bluebirds and tree swallows have been fighting for territory over the past month and we're hoping now that the bluebirds have babies to take care of, the tree swallows can start nesting. One good sign, I noticed the female tree swallow checking out the other bird house this afternoon. Stay tuned!

The battle of the bluebirds and tree swallows continues. The birdhouse in this picture is being occupied by a bluebird couple. They have already built a nest in the box, but try and tell that to the tree swallows. In this photo you can see a female tree swallow poking her head out of the bluebird's house. She was checking it out until the bluebirds came back and ran her off. Terry bought another birdhouse yesterday and we put it up yesterday afternoon. This morning I've already seen two or three tree swallows checking out the new box. Hopefully they will nest in the new box.  We're keeping our fingers crossed :0)

Mr. Bluebird

We have a bluebird couple building a nest in one of our birdhouses. It's the same birdhouse that our tree swallows have been nesting in for the past two years. The swallows and bluebirds have been fighting over who is going to occupy the birdhouse. For now, the bluebirds are winning. Terry went out at lunch today and bought another birdhouse. Hopefully the tree swallows will make their home in the new box and everyone can live happily ever after. Stay tuned!

Male bluebird. Gorgeous colors!

Black and White on a Grey Day

Bird acrobatics.

Mr. Redbird.

Tufted Titmouse couple.

 Tufted Titmouse on our feeder. We have a lot of these in our yard. Click the link to learn more about this cute little bird.

I took this picture the other day when it was 70 degrees outside and I had the window open in the office. Bullet was sitting in the window sill watching the birds fly by. I cringe to think of the carnage he would cause if he was an outdoor kitty!

I found this on the internet. Love it!

Male cardinal and purple finch at our feeder.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched in our Yoshino Cherry tree.

The ruby throated hummingbird is a wonder of migration. Every winter it makes an amazing journey. Some have been known to make a journey of 2500 miles or more, from Alaska to Central America. Because of it, the hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible. It will teach you how to find the miracle of joyful living from your own life circumstances.
- Ted Andrews
Pablo Neruda (1904 – 1973)