Pigeons flap and flutter!
.
They are among the largest birds that visit out feeders yet it is they who seem always to panic at the smallest thing.
.
They make several fly-by passes before committing to land.
.
Then they strut and fuss about as if offended by having to dine with the riff-raff.
.
“Dirty bath water? What, what? This won’t do!”
.
“Madam, did you take my photograph?”
The sight of me in a window is likely to scare them off, so I have to approach and lift the camera very slowly.
They are not the most cooperative of subjects, but I wanted to get a picture of the above bird which had a particularly dark complexion.
.
The dark pigeon is especially handsome, but I like the conventional colouring too.
.
With all its variations.
.
Dark and Pale. I didn’t quite get the shot. Oh well.
.
At the other end of the spectrum, the grosbeaks seem like laid back little birds.
They sit placidly on the feeders turning seed over in their fat beaks, ignoring all but the most boisterous of intruders.
Grosbeaks are the couple you would like to invite to dinner.
It is my impression that they would never say an unkind word.
.
Another sweet couple came for a meal today, house finches.
.
Like the grosbeaks, they mind their own business and seem to exchange civilised conversation with Master Sparrow.
.
On a fine Wednesday afternoon, a red-bellied woodpecker posed nicely.
.
While a catbird bathed nearby.
.
A goldfinch critiqued the facilities!
.
And down at the pond, the Canada geese babies are growing fast.
Feathered friends. How I love them!
.
Thank you so much, Carolyn, for the wonderful photo tribute to your feathered friends! I admire all birds, and your collection of them is especially lovely!
Joanna
I love seeing the catbird. We took down the bush in which the catbird here had nested for the past two years. It was a casualty of stream renovation, done after the catbird departed. This spring, I heard the catbird one day, and was very happy, but, alas, it seems to have gone elsewhere. I presume it was too dismayed by the absence of the bush, and moved on…
So, I will need to rely on your pictures instead, which I always enjoy! Thanks.
I hear pigeons cooing every morning in the blue gum trees in front of our bedroom window, but strangely enough, I don’t see them often. It’s rather the small birds, like the wagtails, sparrows, and finches that parade up and down on the lawn. So, it seems that pigeons – whether they are here in SA or in the USA – do not like too much action around them. Lovely photos of your feathered friends.
It’s far too easy to get nothing at all done at this time of year. There are only so many hours in the day to watch all the bird activity!
You managed some fine captures of the birds, Carolyn, especially the blur of the flapping wings. I also noticed that the Wood Pigeons are the most nervous, and will fly away even if they see me inside the window from a distance. The plump Wood Pigeons always remind me of some overstuffed, self-important characters from the novels of Charles Dickens. Best wishes, Pete.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wood_pigeon#/media/File:Common_wood_pigeon.jpg