Showing posts with label baltimore oriole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baltimore oriole. Show all posts

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Something different

This is not a sewing post. How 'bout that? I just happened to see something that I thought was so interesting that I just had to show you.

Last night I saw several of what looked like young baltimore orioles trying to get grape jelly from my feeder. Some did well, but there was one that couldn't seem to figure out how to get to the jelly in the feeder. A bit later, one of the parents came, sat on the feeder, and fed that baby the jelly! I was amazed, as I'd never seen that happen before. I wasn't quick enough to catch them on camera, but this morning it happened again, and this time I got it! So cool!




Now I'm wondering just how those babies knew to come to the feeder in the first place. Did the parents bring them earlier, or is it instinctual that they just know to go to something orange???

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Orioles and more orioles!

Forgive me for overloading you with oriole photos. If you don't like looking at them, just skip this post and go do something else, because I've had more orioles this year than I've ever seen before, and since they're my favorite bird, I just can't stop taking photos of them! If you like them, too, just enjoy.....

These, of course, are baltimore orioles.


They didn't seem to mind the rain much.



There have also been a few orchard orioles. They're not as brightly colored. They have basically the same markings but are more the color of a robin's breast.


Both kinds of orioles like the same grape jelly, though, and sometimes there are squabbles over it! (And sometimes it gets spattered on the window, as that drop shows.)


In fact, there have been a lot of squabbles over that one feeder, so a couple days ago I added a makeshift feeder with orange halves on it.


They loved that, too, and often there were waiting lines, even in the rain.


More waiting... and more squabbling...


... so today I ordered another jelly feeder. I don't know if it'll get here in time before a lot of these birds move on, but if not, I'll have it for next year. I really like this feeder because it's easy to fill and easy to clean. I found out, though, that they've been discontinued, but a seller on Amazon still has some if you're interested.

I guess I should buy some more oranges, too. They really love those!



This next shot was just lucky. I was in the window aiming for a rainbow, and he didn't notice me and landed very close.


Once in a while I'd get a goofy shot, too, like this...


... or this...


I love that last one. :)

I have a sewing project almost completed, but it must be received before I can show it to you. Maybe by the end of the week. I like it a lot and might need to make another for myself. ;)

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Birds

It seemed like it instantly turned to summer in one day. The birds all came back, and I have been thoroughly enjoying them. One day last week, just in the time I was at the table having my lunch, I saw five different kinds of birds on the deck - baltimore orioles, an orchard oriole, robins, chipping sparrow, and goldfinches. I had the camera at the ready next to me, and I managed to get photos of all of them except the orchard oriole who was too quickly chased off by a baltimore oriole.

The baltimore orioles seem to be extra-bright orange this year. Here are some random photos, some from that day, and some from later which look better because I'd washed the windows in between times. ;)


I snapped this next one just a split-second too late. :)


That was the male. Here's the female, wondering where he was flying off to, I guess.


The female again:


Kind of an awkward way to eat, if you ask me:


And the brilliant male once more:


Can you guess who's splashing in the birdbath below?


If you said robin, you're wrong. It was the tiny chipping sparrow. He was having a great time!


And finally, some goldfinches:


They don't care at what angle they eat, either.

I am sooo glad I put that birdbath out there. It really attracts. I hope I get to see (and get photos of) some unusual birds again this year... like last summer's blue grosbeak.

Update: I saw the blue grosbeak at the birdbath today (Friday). I'm so glad he came back! He left too soon for photos, though. I'll probably never get another as good as last year's, anyway. :)

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Orioles like to bathe, too











"Ahhhhh... that felt GOOD!!"

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Pretty birds

These lovely little goldfinches have been gracing our deck for the last week or more.


They're just so bright and pretty!



Not long after the finches, came the baltimore orioles.


After scraping out the bottom of the grape jelly jar, I discovered I didn't have any more. I decided to give plum jam a try. They seem to like that just as well. It must be lip-smackin' good... you can even see the tongue on the bird below. :)


Yesterday there were a LOT of orioles. There was almost a line waiting to get at the feeder. I even saw one taking a bath, which is unusual. I think the ones yesterday were mostly a batch of younger ones, as their orange color was much more yellowish.


I thought it was kinda cool how the leaves just coming out on the trees had a bit of matching orange to make a nice background for the oriole pics.



Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Clean windows help

Yup, clean windows do make for much nicer photos.


You can even see a dab of grape jelly on the end of his beak below.



Here's his mate, patiently waiting for her turn. Note the striking difference in coloring. But still so bright and pretty!


The finches haven't been so thick this year. The most I've ever seen on the feeder at one time is three. Other years I've seen so many that they fight over it. Maybe more are coming yet?


Some of you may be wondering what's happened to the sewing. I actually haven't touched my sewing machine, except to clean and oil it (pats herself on the back for doing that), for about 3 weeks! I haven't had anything to sew! Or at least anything that I thought was worth making right now, though I have lots of tutorials. BUT, that is about to change. I have a pattern to test very soon (from one very busy lady who keeps getting delayed by other things), a fun project for Jess, plus my local librarian/friend, who knows I like to sew, called me to say they'd just gotten in a new pattern book and I could have it first if I wanted. Yay, I'll pick it up today... lots of potential in it, I'm sure! So hopefully I'll have sewing projects for you to see again very soon.

I'd better hurry up and get my garden and flowers planted ASAP!

On an interesting other note... as I was uploading the above photos, I noticed that I've now taken over 10,000 photos on this camera! WOW!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Right on schedule!

My all-time favorite birds are back! I've always loved baltimore orioles, I guess because they're so bright and pretty, and as a kid I'd get only a rare glimpse of their beauty, so they were extra-special. They're kind of hard to spot when they're in the trees, because they love to be way up at the top. Since I've been putting an oriole feeder out, filling it with grape jelly, they're not such a rare sight for me anymore. In fact, I see them often, and I love it! I'll never get tired of seeing them. Or taking pictures of them... so be forewarned.

Last year I heard the first oriole on May 11th. I put out the feeder right away and had the lovely birds within five minutes! This year I decided to put it out earlier, since it's been such a crazy spring weather-wise and so many things seem to be ahead of schedule. I actually heard orioles several times since then, but none appeared at the feeder. Not the right ones, I guess. I just told myself that the 11th would be the day.

And it is!!  Here's what I saw first thing this morning!



Not the best photos, but ya get the picture (pun intended). And I see that it's time to wash my windows again, too. That'll help photo quality a lot. :)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Loriiiii ! ! !

Miss Purrkins ate one of my orioles!!!!!!!!!!!

(No, I didn't take pics. Too sad. And I didn't want to gross anybody out.)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

More arrivals

Yesterday while out visiting the kittens, I thought I heard an oriole. I saw it fly, but against the sun I couldn't tell for sure what it was. This morning I definitely heard one, so I quickly filled the feeder with grape jelly and hung it out. Within 5 minutes, this guy was there!


Then some competition showed up. This next is a lousy photo (it's a very cloudy, dark morning... not good for photos... and my flash thought it should go off even though I told it not to), but I thought it was interesting.



"Go AWAY! I was here first!"


Josie found the new arrivals very interesting, too. In fact, she's still upstairs watching now, whereas she's usually down here with me trying to sit in front of the monitor or something equally as pesty. :)