A study in blue jays

Not really. I just couldn't think of a better title.

 This photo was taken about a month ago, when the babies were everywhere! They've always got their little beaks open and their feathers ruffled it seems. And goodness, do they squawk for mommy & daddy to bring them some food!

...which is what this little fellow was doing. I think mom & dad were practicing tough love, though, and sending him off to search for some food on his own.

Here's a mom or dad visiting the deck.

These were taken much more recently, during our heat wave a week or so ago, which is why this fellow's beak was open even though he wasn't waiting for someone to magically drop food into it like the first little guy.

Birds actually pant when it's quite hot out.

Oops, it looks like I've been spotted.

Of course the other thing they do when they're hot is visit one of the many birdbaths in the yard.

And it never hurts to find the tallest perch to try to catch some sort of breeze! I'm so glad we got this birdhouse put back together because it is a favorite place for the birds to survey the yard for peanuts, bugs, moths, you name it.

Stay cool, everyone! We're in for a run of hot weather here in New England!

I'm linking to Tracie's Cottage Garden Party at the lovely Fishtail Cottage

and Cindy's Show & Tell Friday at the beautiful My Romantic Home.

Donna

Splish splash, they'll be taking a bath...

Every summer I wander around and photograph the various birdbaths we have in our yard.

2008's post is here; 2011's post is here.

(Excuse the yard photos - we haven't put down new bark mulch yet, which the yard desperately needs. We'll see if the budget allows for some later this summer.)

There used to be 3 birds on this one. Over the years, two of the birds fell off and were probably raked up with leaves in the fall and tossed out by mistake. So now, this one little fellow sits and waits for friends to come and set for a spell...

He used to hang from an oak tree branch next to our deck. Sadly, we lost that branch in last October's freak snowstorm, so this year he's been moved to the patio.

This waterfall fountain sits on the patio. It gets a lot of squirrel and chipmunk action.

The squirrels and chipmunks also love this small gazing ball birdbath that sits next to the swing set deck.

The finish on this birdbath has become mottled and has taken on a greenish tint, even though the water is clear.

It sits in the backyard between the gate and the garden angel.

These three little cherubs patiently say their prayers while waiting for the birds to come pay them a visit.

This little birdbath hangs from the cherry tree in the backyard.

Another little bird is perched on the rim of this small mosaic birdbath.

This bath sits in "the secret garden," an unkempt, overgrown area next to our backyard shed. The birds really enjoy this bath, probably because it is so private.

This fountain birdbath sits on the deck. It seems a Japanese Beetle is enjoying the water bubbling out of the top and running down the sides.

This is the heated birdbath, attached to the deck railing by the backyard. In the wintertime it gets plugged in and moved to a part of the deck visible from the dining room window.

If the birds were voting for their #1 birdbaths, all of the following would tie for first place. This is just a large green plastic saucer/drip tray from an oversized pot. It's deep and wide, and the birds love to bathe and splash around in it. This one sits in the front yard under one of our hoppa crab apple trees...

...but we have another in the backyard, next to the girls' old tree house (now the gnome home).

Our cement pedestal birdbath developed a crack a few years ago. We've 'patched' it and it has held water temporarily, but for the last two years I've just placed a large, inexpensive "chip" bowl from the Christmas Tree shop in the basin. And the birds l-o-v-e it.

In fact, the birds love these large baths so much that I stocked up last year (I think they were $1 or $2 each at CTS)...

... and I've put them all over the backyard.

 This one sits between Mary and garden bunny, next to the shed (and you can just make out the base of the "secret garden" birdbath in the background!)...

Another sits on top of this tree stump. (We salvaged this large piece of the trunk from the huge, gorgeous maple tree that we lost, another casualty of last October's snowstorm.)

And the last one sits on an old metal table in the front yard under the window box by the garden gate.

I hope you're all enjoying lovely weather. It's been gorgeous here in the Northeast!

I'm linking up to the Cottage Garden Party at the beautiful Fishtail Cottage
and to Show & Tell Friday at the lovely My Romantic Home.

Donna

I {{heart}} birdbaths...

I admit it... I have a love affair with birdbaths. Last year I took you around our yard and showed you our twelve birdbaths (some are just teeny tiny ones). I also shared various birds, chipmunks and squirrels at our birdbaths last summer in my Backyard Visitors and Drinking Buddies posts. A never-ending supply of fresh water really does attract birds and little critters into the yard.

(click any photo to enlarge)

The newest addition is this white pedestal birdbath ... lucky number 13!!

I couldn't resist its distressed charm (that, and the fact that it was on clearance at The Christmas Tree Shop!)...

It has pretty roses around the base....

...and two sweet birds that sit on either side of the basin.

For the past few weeks I've been trying to decide where to place it. Yesterday I moved it to the backyard against the fence (the location you see in the first photo). The white shows up nicely against the age-darkened fence so I think that will be its permanent home.

If any of you are in the market for a birdbath fountain, just look at this one that I spotted at our local Wal Mart earlier this week (it's also available on their website, which is where this photo came from)... Isn't it adorable? I love how the water comes out of the bird's beak... Their website also has several varieties of simple pedestal birdbaths (not fountains) with bird statues perched on the edge of the basin... I am so drawn to that style!

I've really been enjoying the beautiful weather we've been having. Today was gorgeous! You'd never know that the night before last we had frost warnings! I ran around covering all my annuals with plastic bags and, thankfully, they all made it through the chilly New England night!

Wishing you all a lovely week, wherever you are!

Donna

More backyard visitors...

My sister cut out this cartoon for me - she knew I'd get a kick out of it - and I did!! I think it's hilarious!! (Thanks, Pat!)


And here we hve life imitating art... That's probably exactly what the robin on the ground is saying to the robin sitting in the birdbath!!!


And here a mockingbird stops by for a drink...


A few minutes later, a young male cardinal stopped by for a peanut...


And, as you all know, I have a soft spot for all my Chips...


So here are various Chip(s) at the birdbath(s)...



They're just too cute!!! And I'm learning to keep my hands steadier! You can even see his little pink tongue in this one:


A little red eye going on in this next photo...


The gazing ball bath is the perfect size for Chip(s)...


And here's one of our Sammy(s), also stopping by for a drink after his peanut snack!


We've started to make some progress in the Roswell crater... Hopefully it won't look so desolate in the near future...

Donna

My drinking buddies....

I just couldn't resist that title for this blog entry!!

Here are some photos I snapped over the past two days and, as you will see, National Geographic will not be calling me to do any photo shoots for them! I swear, I get so excited about little creatures and birds that my hands just shake!! So please excuse the blurry photos (they get even worse towards the end!), but enjoy the sweet little critters who stopped by my watering holes to wet their whistles!


Here's Chip (we have about six of them scampering about the yard), leaning into the waterfall to get a drink....


I had no sooner set this birdbath down at ground level (it had been on a table), when a chipmunk stopped by. I'm so glad I moved it because it has become an instant hit with the chipmunk crowd! Can you tell how excited I was by how BLURRY the photo is? And I swear the critters were the only ones drinking!


Awwww, just look at Chip standing next to the birdie.... "Hmmmm, should I just pose pretty for the lady with the camera or should I get my drink?"


"I think I'll get my drink."


Sammy Squirrel (one of about 2,000 that inhabit my yard) stops by for a sip in the gazing ball birdbath...


... while Samantha Squirrel stretches to get a drink from the robin's favorite bath. (I think I really need to get busy and start planting instead of sitting around watching all my little friends!)

Anyhow, I hope sometime soon I can get photos of the birds that are constantly visiting the bird baths, but for the past few nights it's clearly been the furry crowd!

Donna