Blue Jays vs Hawk

Tonight Wayne and I were sitting on the back porch eating our supper when I spotted a hawk in a tree at the edge of our yard. All of the other birds disappeared - most went into hiding in the wisteria bushes. And all was quiet... until a pair of blue jays let the hawk know that this was their backyard. They dive bombed the hawk, until the hawk flew to the opposite side of the yard, and they dive bombed it again and chased it on down the street. Blue jays are noisy anyway, and you should have heard the racket they created as they chased this hawk out of the yard.

Soon the birds were back on the feeder. Here are some special guests at the feeders tonight, and one bluebird who chose to land on the cable line.

This red-breasted woodpecker is a frequent visitor to the feeder. He usually gets the feeder to himself.  The white bucket behind the feeder is a baffle to keep the squirrels out of the feeders. It works most of the time.

This is the first time we have spotted the female rose-breasted grosbeak eating the corn. She very meticulously plucked off a kernel, ate it, and helped herself to another kernel.

This bluebird landed on the cable line and waited for me to snap his picture. We have a bluebird box on a tree out in the yard. They loved it earlier this week when I mowed the yard - they swooped down to get the bugs I had stirred up.



Jenny wren has built nests in both wren houses now - guess they can't decide which one to set up house in.

All of our backyard birds certainly do give us a sideshow, especially in the evening when they come in to feed. We like our feathered friends.

Spring Flowers & Birds

Spring is here when you begin to see the color that the blooming flowers add to the yards. I've snapped a few photos in my next door neighbors' yard - where the daffodils, hyacinths, and tulip tree are all blooming.

The purple hyacinths with the yellow daffodils sure add a lot of color to the yard

Look at this pretty double daffodil...in peach and white. We certainly enjoy the perennial flowers that Lorraine (rest her soul) planted on her property. This is just one of several colors of double daffodils that she planted a couple of years ago. This year they are the fullest that I have seen them. Each clump is as pretty as the next.


The tulip tree (some call it magnolia) on the corner of our neighbor's property is in full bloom now. We haven't had any hard rain to wash off the petals...but we expect some rain this week so I had to go snap a photo of this beautiful tree this morning. Each blossom is opened full out.
Pretty, isn't it?

This is one of the two bluebirds that stayed in Paducah all winter. We have had a bluebird box on one of our trees for the past few seasons. This pair is now looking to build a nest in it. I understand that bluebirds don't like new wood so maybe the wood has weathered enough now that they can make it their home. This morning I saw one of them taking a bath in the bird water bowl. It was happily splashing around to get itself all wet.

We have robins that stay all winter, taking advantage of the bird seed and water that Wayne makes sure are available to them.

But it is always fun to see how red-orange their breasts get in the spring. Besides those that stay, we'll have many more fly back soon.

One thing about the weather here in Paducah...if you don't like it, just wait a day and you'll get something different. Today it was 70 degrees and the birds are starting to come back. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds came looking for a nest today. Look at this beauty. His breast was so bright in the late afternoon sun.