Tufted Titmouse Takes Off with a Peanut

 "Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder." 

~ Jimmy Carter 

Breakfast of Champions

 I guess we know what this robin is having for breakfast.

Gray Catbird Bathing in the Sun

 “Every day, wake up with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen.” 

— Unknown

When searching for info on sunbathing birds I found the following: 

"When a bird spreads its wings in the sun, it's called sunbathing, basking, or sunning. This behavior is a maintenance routine for birds, and can help with feather maintenance."

Print Available - HERE 

Courtship of House Finches

 "Always it's spring and everyone's in love 

and flowers pick themselves." 

—E.E. Cummings 

 Print Available - HERE

Robin the Nest Builder

"Laughter is a sunbeam of the soul." 

 ― Thomas Mann

Print Available - HERE 

Catbird Berry Toss

 "He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, 

and he who plants kindness gathers love." 

 ~ St. Basil

Print Available - HERE 

Good Eats - Robin Ready To Feed The Youngster

“The more you cultivate joy, 

the more joy you will feel and be able to share.” 

― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Print Available - HERE 

Blue Jay Gathers Twigs

Blue Jay gathers twigs

“He who plants kindness gathers love.” 

― Saint Basil

Print Available - HERE 

Chickadee Friends

“If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen.” 

― Loretta Girzaitis

Print Available - HERE 

American Robin - A Bathing Beauty

Print Available - HERE 

"The world unwraps itself to you, again and again as soon as you are ready to see it anew.” 

 ― Gregory Maguire

Mourning Dove Gathering Twigs

Print Available - HERE 

"Gentle Spring's around the corner, 

 Waiting just to show her face 

 And to bring us flowers and sunshine; 

 Winter's almost run his race! 

 Be not, then, my friends, discouraged 

 That there's cold and ice and sleet; 

 For Springtime soon will be with us,

 And the flowers we will greet:

 Daffodils, so bright and yellow, 

 Hyacinths of varied hues, 

 As they nod their heads, in gladness, 

 Telling us they bring good news..." 

 ~ Gertrude Tooley Buckingham

Baby Robin Is Hungry

There are really places in your heart that you don't know exist until you love a child.

 - Anne Lamott

I love capturing bird behavior and was thrilled to get this little one begging mom/dad for some food.  

Available - HERE 

 

Eastern Towhee In A Thorny Mess

Well, it looks like a thorny mess to me!  It amazes me how birds can dig around and even perch on thorny vines and manage to do it without getting all scratched up.

All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.  

- Yann Martel

American Robin - Worm Pulling

I am fascinated with watching the behavior of birds.  I confess to standing for hours trying to capture them doing what comes naturally.  Finally got a shot (not a great one) of this American Robin pulling the worms from the ground.  As I watched them it looked like they were cocking their head to  one side to "hear" the worms - when actually - they were scrutinizing the ground with one eye to SEE the worms.  

"They have what is called monocular vision, which means their eyes are on the sides of the head and each eye can be used independently" - 
I never knew that!!
More from this great article is found - HERE 

Feeder Fight

It wasn't a fight really - just a little disagreement.

Four White-crowned Sparrows at the feeder.

The soul gives unity to what it looks at with love. 

Thomas Carlyle

 

Robin Watching

The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.

- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Another berry tossing Robin.  

A highlight of my birding and photography moments have been 
to photograph the berry toss.  

Print Available - HERE 

Song Sparrow Takes a Bath

I sit at my window gazing 

The world passes by, nods to me 

And is gone. 

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Berry Tossing Bird Behavior

Previously I had promised to post the American Robin tossing the berry.

This is the 3rd time I've captured this interesting behavior

I've found a Mockingbird doing it - HERE

and

A Catbird doing it - HERE

A Closer Look at the same shot.

The world unwraps itself to you, again and again as soon as you are ready to see it anew.” 

 ― Gregory Maguire

Robin Balances A Berry In His Beak

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities but its own talents. 

 ― Eric Hoffer

American Robin gets ready to gobble down a berry.  I think this is BEFORE he would toss it and gobble it down.   I've been VERY lucky with the "berry toss" shots.  I've managed  to capture a Mockingbird tossing a berry - HERE

and a 

Catbird tossing a berry - HERE   

and just this week I've captured a Robin tossing a berry ....but that is a post for another time :) 

House Wren Display

“...you don't need a calling to minister love...” 

~ John Geddes

These little House Wrens can be very vocal.  I believe this one was displaying and calling for his mate.  Soon she arrived and I believe he took her "house hunting"  I've read that he builds up to 12 nests and lets her choose which one she wants.

What a Guy!!