Guests for Dinner

One evening about a month ago my husband and I were carrying our plates to sit down at our kitchen table, and this was what we saw:

I immediately said to Jack, "Take my plate and don't move."

This trio of Baltimore Orioles were originally

attracked to my Hummingbird feeder.

Before sitting down to eat, I quickly cut apart some oranges

and placed some on both of our decks.

For the next couple of weeks I could see them

eating out of two different windows.

In previous years I was lucky if I saw them on two days.

Such beautiful birds!  

However, some of my local birds and some visitors

were not at all impressed.

 

Taking turns didn't

seem to be in the

Oriole's vocabulary.

Even a few harsh words didn't help.

Finally the Rose-Breasted Grosebeak got a little creative.

And they ended the day as Friends!

Hope the Orioles come back next year...and bring their wives along.

Picking a Kentucky Derby Hat

I have always enjoyed the times

when we were priviledged to attend the Kentucky Derby

to watch and sometimes take pictures of some of the beautiful hats. 

Some, of course, were funny, some were pretty common,

but some were extraordinarily beautiful

and cordinated with their owners' dresses..

...I know, the Kentucky Derby is supposed to be about horses, 

and those horses when you see them up close

are magnificent creatures...

..Anyway, getting back to hats.. 

Here are some of the birds from my backyard trying to pick their Derby Hat.

This Baltimore Oriole

won First Prize

This little Chickadee was trying to get perched just right.

The Titmouse tried a couple different poses.

A little disagreement insued when  two female Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks saw the hat. 

Mr. Grosebeek seemed to be trying to tell the one sitting on the deck rail that he was buying this hat for his wife, and she wasn't included.

This did not go over very well, but finally

 the man and his missus had their time to wear the hat.

She finally convinced her husband to let her wear it by herself.

Eventually the Baltimore Oriole came back

 because he wanted to have a photo shoot. 

They tried doing it together.

But in the end, all had to agree

that the hat really went with the Baltimore Oriole's dress.

As you may know, feathers have been really "in" recently in hats!

One Colorful, Colorful Day

The day started out as usual with all the "regulars" coming to the feeders.  Then I noticed a little Chipping Sparrow. 

I had seen him a couple of times so far this Spring.

Soon after, I saw some spashes of Black, White and Red. 

The Rosebreasted Grosbeaks were back.

"Do you guys mind if I join the party?

As time went on I saw at least seven males.

Then I saw this Bluejay sitting higher on the pole

looking down on the Grosbeaks.

It didn't take him long to decided to join in,

especially if lunch was being served.

For a while the Grosebeak just tried to ignore him.

A few other Bluejays came to check out the menu.

 That was quite a reach!

This one has an interesting bill! 

But it doesn't look like it has affected its ability to eat.

After the Bluejays left, the Grosbeaks continued with their party,

but a new couple came and asked to join in..

some Purple Finch.

 The Purple Finch and the Grosbeak families seemed to get along pretty well.

If it weren't for their difference in sizes,

it would be hard to tell the females of these two different birds apart.

Then suddenly there appeared a spot of yellow....

A Goldfinch had joined the group.

 

Gradually the numbers of Goldfinch started to grow,

and the Purple Finch had to decided whether to stick around.

The Purple Finch finally decided it was time to leave.

In the midst of all these visitors,

 some of the regulars were getting a little upset.

The Redbellied Woodpeckers tried to break up the party a number of times.

This little Yellow-Throated Warbler stopped by, but didn't like the crowd.

There was one more obviously colorful visitor that day.

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinel.

I guess the Bluejays must have invited him.

Mrs. Cardinal seemed to prefer to eat

what the others had dropped on the grass.

She also seemed to be showing off her pretty red hairdo.

I don't think I got too much work done that day,

but the Colorful Show put on by

God's Beautiful Birds made it very enjoyable.