Farmer's Market

We had a very successful trip to the Farmer's Market last Saturday morning.  We came home with these flowers, five Black-eyed Susan plants, some smoked salmon, a bag of apples, a canteloupe and a framed picture.

We arrived early on that cool morning so we didn't have a big crowd to deal with.  Yay!!

We're pleased with all of our purchases; something tells me that won't be our last trip downtown to experience Beloit's Farmer's Market.

(Are you ready to be amazed?  We paid a mere $5 for the awesome flower bouquet).

Hey, Hey, We've Got Hummingbirds

This ruby-throated hummingbird has become a regular at our two red feeders.  We fill the feeders with sugar water (1 cup of sugar dissolved in 4 cups of water). 

His ruby throat isn't visible in this photo.  The black throat patch reflects bright ruby red when the sun hits it.   

Thank you, sun.  I love that bright ruby-red color.

Is that one cool bird, or what!  He's only 3 inches long.  Maybe that's why he attracts my attention.  You know, the best things come in small packages. 

Several weeks ago, I concluded that I'd probably never get a photo of a hummingbird.  Hummers came and went so fast that I could never get my camera, turn it on, zoom in and shoot before they were gone.

Now, we see hummingbirds many times every day.  This hummer is standing on a metal branch of our feeder system.

I see them everywhere, even on our telephone and cable wires.  I don't know how they grip the thick wires. 

This female hummer (same as male, but lacking the throat patch) has no trouble at all perching on this lofty spot; she's in the thick of things, surrounded by trees and shrubs.  She can watch all the activity of her neighbors at the feeders and birdbaths.

I took this through the screen.

I captured this photo as he hovered beside the feeder.  If I'm close enough, I can hear the hum of their wings as they fly in.

I have a rather unbelievable tale to tell:

  "Lon and I were sitting on the screen porch (with the screen door propped open) early one evening.  It was when we were beginning to see hummers more frequently.  We'd seen several females.  I was looking at hummingbirds in our Birds of Wisconsin field guide.  The only kind listed was the ruby-throated.   I commented to Lon on how pretty the males were and how much I'd like to see them at our feeders.

I put the field guide down beside me and looked out the open door.  At that exact moment, a male ruby-throated hummingbird came flying in my direction.  It hung in the air in the doorway about 3 to 4 feet from me as if to say, 'Here I am.  I've come to grant you your wish.' "

Can you imagine how excited I was?  Was it just a crazy coincidence or something more?  I choose to go with "something more."   

Since then we've seen countless males and females.  Now that I have several good photos of them, I can relax and really enjoy them.  No more frantic scrambling for my camera when I spot one!

Lazy Bird

I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted this bird lying on the base of our birdfeeder.

The cups on this feeder hold dried mealworms.  I suspect this fellow ate his fill and needed a few moments to digest his lunch before moving on.  

I'd never seen a bird in this position except when on its nest.  Too funny!!  

An Elusive Downy Woodpecker

I have only two photos of the downy woodpecker who comes to our feeders.  When I spot him, or I should say her (males have red on their heads), she's always only partially visible.

As soon as I get a better photo, I'll share it here.

Cooperative House Finches

Oh, it's you again with your camera!  Hold your horses.  I'll turn around so you can get a head on shot.       

I'll be with you in just a second.  Dang, that suet up there looks pretty darn good.

Okay, I'm ready.  This is my best pose, Shaddy.  Shoot quick cuz I'm itching to peck at that good-looking block of suet. 

 We get some finches with a lot of red on their heads and shoulders.  I'll be on the lookout for them with my camera in hand.   

Goldfinches Abound at Our Feeders

I took these photos on Saturday morning as I sat on our screen porch with my camera and a cup of coffee.  How colorful is this male goldfinch?  Gotta love it!

This fellow is about to help himself to the sunflower hearts we put in this tube feeder. 

If one goldfinch is grand, then two goldfinches are grander yet!

Goldfinches are nearly as tame as chickadees, not quite as comfortable with me nearby, but pretty darn tolerant.

These are female goldfinches.  They wear feathers of a more subdued yellow than the males.

I love this photo.  I caught her in the act.  She's enjoying the "niger plus" birdseed. 

All of our feeders are squirrel proof.  If you're thinking of investing in birdfeeders, don't even consider purchasing one that isn't squirrel proof.  Nothing's more frustrating than dealing with squirrels eating the birdseed! 

I hope you've enjoyed these photos half as much as I've enjoyed taking them and posting them here on my blog.

Please come back to see house finches, sparrows and woodpeckers.

Nature provides the best entertainment.  Birdwatching is relaxing, fairly inexpensive and sharing moments with our feathered friends is a simply wonderful pastime.

Chickadees On a Saturday Morning

Saturday morning, I sat with my camera and a cup of coffee and watched birds come to our feeders.  Today, I'm sharing the photographs I took of chickadees. 

Chickadees are very tame.  We sit in lawn chairs only a few feet from the feeders and they come to eat without hesitation.

 I fill these cups with meal worms every day.  Chickadees love them.  They'll often sit right down in the bowl as they eat.

We fill the tube feeders with sunflower hearts, peanuts and niger seed.

This bird is hard at work, taking bites of a meal worm that he's holding with his feet after helping himself to the daily supply I provide in the cups.

No matter how you look at them, chickadees are just plain cute.

We're fortunate to have chickadees all year round.  Their bandit-like appearance makes me smile. 

I'll be back soon with pictures of the other birds we feed, including woodpeckers, gold finches and house finches, sparrows, cardinals and more.

We've had hummingbirds at the special feeders we have for them.  I'm finding they're a little harder to photograph but trust me, I'll be trying.