halcyon_garden | Entries tagged with birds

I was very busy, but I took a few bird pictures and a video.

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There was a cold wind today. We didn't get further snow, but a good amount of what had come down late last evening still stuck around.

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The birds have quickly found out that I started putting food on my windowsill again. I saw many goldfinches and other birds today.

four european goldfinches on my windowsill eating sunflower seeds. they are small brown birds with black, white, red and yellow markings.

four european goldfinches on my windowsill eating sunflower seeds. they are small brown birds with black, white, red and yellow markings.

The temperatures went way up over night and all the snow melted. There was a mild wind and some birds were singing spring songs.

the waxing half moon behind cherry tree branches in the blue evening sky

the waxing half moon behind cherry tree branches in the blue evening sky

There was a green woodpecker visiting around noon. She was looking for bugs in the old wood beams of the house and the wooden windowframes. All the pics I got of her look somewhat surreal due to the window reflections.

a green woodpecker in the middle of taking flight right outside a window. she is out of focus and motion blurred. she has a light olive green body, black markings on her face, a red marking on top of her head, and a striped pattern on her wings. behind her is greenery of a garden.

a green woodpecker in the middle of taking flight right outside a window. she is out of focus and motion blurred. she has a light olive green body, black markings on her face, a red marking on top of her head, and a striped pattern on her wings. behind her is greenery of a garden.

the green woodpecker sitting on the outside of the window frame, seen from the inside. the window reflection is obscuring her somewhat. he bright red head marking stands out.

the green woodpecker high up on the outside window frame, seen against the sky. the window reflection makes her head appear transparent.

I went for my walk in the evening.

sunset sky. it is mostly blue, with some wisply clouds. the sun is near the yellow-tinted horizon behind some clouds.

The cluster of mushrooms I found yesterday started to make its inky cap nature clear. They are probably mica cap or a related species.

some inkcap type mushrooms in a middle stage of ageing. the edges of the tan caps have darkened and are starting to curl and disintegrate.

some inkcap type mushrooms in a middle stage of ageing. the edges of the tan caps have darkened and are starting to curl and disintegrate.

I visited the boys briefly as I was walking in the fields.

boy who is a cow named Fernando, face closeup. he is turning his snoot upwards to smell me, and he is looking cute.

boy who is a cow named Fernando, face closeup. he is turning his snoot upwards to smell me, and he is looking cute.

cow boys Leonardo and Paisley grazing underneath some willow trees.

post sunset sky with some blue and some scattered clouds that are tinted with peach coloured light at some edges.

post sunset sky over the path between the fields. it's a pastel gradient with some small distant clouds by the horizon. dark oak branches are hanging into the frame from above.

The cow boys are super interested in me now whenever I walk by. Before I started giving them apples sometimes, it would take them much longer to come up to me (although they still tended to do it). Nowadays Fernando is always checking very closely for any potential apples I could be carrying.

snoot close up of a boy who is a cow named Fernando.

snoot close up of a boy who is a cow named Fernando.

This is the view from my window:

the three cow boys grazing on their pasture in the apple orchard, seen from my window.

a red clover inflorescence close up in a meadow, with some yellow flowers blurred in the background

I haven't seen a common blue butterfly in a while. This male was just chilling in the meadow.

a tiny fuzzy butterfly resting upside down with wings closed on a dried plant part. they have a silvery colour with some light blue and light orange.

a tiny fuzzy butterfly resting upside down with wings closed on a dried plant part. they have a silvery colour with some light blue and light orange.

raspberries on the plant, some of them are way past their prime

a mass of dried plant parts that are kinda curly looking, creating a texture of curves in earth tones

I was looking at the plants in a spot I don't usually look closely at, it's really close to my garden though. I hadn't noticed these spindle bushes before, but there are several of them there. The fruit look really cool and they are also really poisonous.

young fruit on a spindle bush, they are pinkish and shaped like a four-lobed capsule

young fruit on a spindle bush, they are pinkish and shaped like a four-lobed capsule

a lone leafless dried up little tree between the meadow and the fallow field. the sky is light grey overhead with some distinct darker clouds, and it's clear at the horizon where it is tinted light yellow.

close up of the textured bark on an old apple tree. it is covered in various coloured lichen and moss

As I was walking through the apple orchard, I noticed these blossoms on one of the trees. They were the only ones in the entire orchard that I could see, just that one set on the one branch on one tree. It's interesting to find things like that. I've read online that it can happen under certain weather conditions like what we've been having, with the long drought and then the sudden big rains.

close up of some slightly damaged looking pink blossoms on an apple tree, one is open and two others are still closed

close up of some slightly damaged looking pink blossoms on an apple tree, one is open and two others are still closed

I went out into the fields and there were a lot of birds there. I saw some big raptors, and a lot of swallows zipping around. There was a flock of pigeons going around, not sure what kind they were. Then I was watching starlings form a flock (pictured). They are probably preparing for their migration. I also saw flocks of smaller songbirds but I don't know the species.

a flock of starlings over the green fallow field, framed by dark tree foliage on the sides and top

a flock of starlings over the green fallow field, framed by dark tree foliage on the sides and top

There was a little bit of wind and some light rain on and off, and it was chilly.

a tiny white mushroom growing between partially dried grass and fallen leaves

a tiny white mushroom growing between partially dried grass and fallen leaves

I was watching the birds today around noon. They were being very lively and active. I saw about 10 different species. This green woodpecker came very close to the window, and they once again proved that birdwatching goes both ways.

a green woodpecker hanging onto the trunk of an old plum tree. they have olive coloured feathers, a red patch on their head and a dark eye mask. they have an inquisitive expression.

a green woodpecker hanging onto the trunk of an old plum tree. they have olive coloured feathers, a red patch on their head and a dark eye mask. they have an inquisitive expression.

I went for my walk in the early evening.

the entrance archway to my garden in the autumn sunlight. everything is still green. there are large cherry tree branches growing above the path.

the entrance archway to my garden in the autumn sunlight. everything is still green. there are large cherry tree branches growing above the path.

There are still a few things growing in my garden, such as these tomatoes. Some of my strawberries are of an everbearing variety, so I have a few small strawberries sometimes even at this time of year.

close up of some tomatoes on the plant in various shades of ripeness: red, yellow and orange.

close up of some tomatoes on the plant in various shades of ripeness: red, yellow and orange.

I went to walk between the fields.

the dry wildflower field in the warm evening sunlight. there are some trees in the background. the sky is blue with many white puffy clouds.

the dry wildflower field in the warm evening sunlight. there are some trees in the background. the sky is blue with many white puffy clouds.

a dried cluster inflorescence of a plant backlit by the evening sun.

the edge between two fields near sunset. one field has a thin cover of green plants on it, the other one is bare earth that looks freshly plowed. the sunset light is yellow and giving high contrast lighting to the clouds overhead.

trees with their roots holding onto the small stream's bank. the water appears greenish.

a group of tree trunks standing close together. the bark is striped. at the base of the trees is a pile of big old fallen tree branches.

a bunch of wild growing trees and shrubs by the side of a field. they have various shapes and thicknesses. the sun is setting behind them.

The secret spot is a good place to watch the sunset.

sunset in a small grove. two trees in the foreground are white barked birch trees. there are some fallen leaves on the ground that are tinted orange from the sunset light.