Backyard pictures

[Faulkner]

The weather forecast was looking good last night so Mrs. Faulkner asked me if I'd take her out in the morning around our place for some outdoor photography. Maybe call up a few birds and see what else might show up.

This morning after breakfast we both gathered our gear and headed out. We had a great time and I thought I'd share a few pictures I took.

There is a honeysuckle thicket on a fence row where a lot of birds hang out, including some hummingbirds when they're taking a break from our back porch feeders.

Goldfinches are pretty common this time of year in the Ozarks and we have a lot of them hanging around. They're easy to photograph because they're easy to see and not shy at all.

We were surprised to see a Baltimore Oriole because we have not set anything out to attract them as they migrate through. They do not stay here long, usually in and out in a week or so as they migrate further north. They're a shy bird and don't like to get their picture taken so you have to be quick when you see one.

Red bellied woodpeckers are usually around here all year long. They'll let you take their picture as long as you don't get too close.

Indigo buntings leave in the fall and are gone all winter, then show back up in spring. Some will stay in the area but most migrate further north for the summer. They prefer to stay mostly concealed in thickets and are challenging to get their picture, but they will come out to get a drink so we watch for them around standing water or puddles.

 

[Onomea]

You are one helluva photographer, Faulkner. Always enjoy the pix.

 

[Faulkner]

Like indigo buntings, painted buntings leave for the winter and return in the spring. Even though we hear them around our place often in the spring and summer, we seldom see them even as colorful as they are. They are very shy birds and usually stay deep in the foliage. We were excited to get a few shots of one today, I think they're quite pretty.

While stalking the painted bunting for a picture, I spied a bird I did not recall ever seeing before. I snapped a few pictures and then refocused on stalking the painted bunting. Later, when I was reviewing my pictures I pulled out my reference book to see what the mysterious green bird was, only to learn it is a female painted bunting. They are very well camouflaged and its no wonder I've never seen one before. Had I known what it was I'd have taken a few more pictures of it.

At one point, I was watching an indigo bunting get a drink in some standing water in the grass. I had the camera focused on it waiting for it turn around so I could get a front shot when, amazingly, a painting bunting landed in view for a drink as well. I only got a couple of pictures but I was pleased to get a rare shot of an indigo bunting and a painted bunting in the same frame.

Overall we had a great outing and really enjoyed ourselves. Mrs. Faulkner took a lot of pictures and, as an accomplished photographer, she has a different photographer's eye than I have so our pictures usually don't compete even though we're covering the same subjects. She wants to try and do this again next week.

 

[Puller]

I know we have painted buntings in Mississippi but I don't know that I've ever seen one. I didn't realize they were so colorful.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Beautiful, as usual.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[wilkoi]

Very nice.

 

[vonn]

Awesome pictures of birds most never notice. Thanks

 

[Greyman50]

Very nice pics of birds. Used to have many visit feeders in S. Ga., took pics with phone as Im no photographer, just like birds. All Ive seen here are wrens, blue jays and the usual mocking bird. Heres the best pic of painted bunting.

 

[6518John]

I know we have painted buntings in Mississippi but I don't know that I've ever seen one. I didn't realize they were so colorful.

I have actively birdied over 50 years and spend an enormous about of my free time outdoors and and I can count on one hand, with a finger or two to spare, the number of times I have seen a Painted Bunting.

As usual, National Geographic/Coffee Table book/magazine quality photographs. Simply astounding quality.

 

[Targets Guy]

 

[Targets Guy]

 

[Funflyer]

We get a lot of Roadrunners wandering through the yard looking for their favorite meal, lizards. This one found a snake and decided to hop up on our deck so we could see his catch. This was a few years ago.

 

[Faulkner]

I have actively birdied over 50 years and spend an enormous about of my free time outdoors and and I can count on one hand, with a finger or two to spare, the number of times I have seen a Painted Bunting.

As usual, National Geographic/Coffee Table book/magazine quality photographs. Simply astounding quality.

Same here, I didn't even know of painted buntings until 3 or 4 years ago when my wife captured a fuzzy picture of one and asked me what it was. I thought it was some exotic canary that had escaped someone's birdcage. I looked it up on-line and saw it was a seasonal native to Arkansas, then I listened to a recording of it's call and was surprised because I hear that call all the time but had just not placed it with a specific bird. It's similar to an indigo bunting's call so I assumed that is what was, but now that I have learned the two calls are distinct I can readily tell the difference between an indigo bunting's call and a painted bunting's call.

Not only do painted buntings work at staying hidden, they are small birds too. Not much if any bigger than a nuthatch or white-throated sparrow.

Here's one more picture for the thread, this one landed in the open for just a few seconds on a farm implement yesterday. You gotta be quick to get a picture of one, they don't sit long.

 

[ladder13]

Fantastic photography.

 

[DGNY]

You have a great gift. Thank you for sharing.

 

[bill2000]

Always a treat to see your photography. Nice to see photos of birds in habitat and not at feeders. Thanks for brightening up the day with color!

 

[wood714]

Y'all have some nice back yards.

Meanwhile here in Florida... Lake Lizards.

 

[lawandorder]

We had some unusual visitors stopping by this week. A pair of Blue Grosbeaks, and 4 males & one female Rose- Breasted Grosbeaks..
Don't see them much..

 

[chuckie]

Last winter! Our backyard.

 

[Rudi]

Faulkner, you are many things. LEO, good man, family man, and one really good photog.