Ann, Love, Love, Love that pergola, looks like a wonderful spot for sitting and watching the birds!

Margaret: Those Tree Swallows must be one of the prettiest birds I've ever seen ... great shots!

Ann, I thought it was so interesting up-thread when you mentioned ducks in a tree! I see ducks fly by occasionally and land in the water but I never realized that any nested in trees. Last April I spotted a beautiful Wood Duck atop a neighbor's chimney and this past November I was out on my back porch and heard a duck quacking, looked over and saw a duck on my neighbors deck railing and another in the elm tree. Eventually the 2nd one ended up on the branch with the other.

Wood Duck:


Muscovy Duck:

Wow!

Wood ducks have such glorious plumage.

That's the male, quite handsome isn't he? The female is dull looking in comparison. I got a picture of a female in the waterway last year but it's real fuzzy/blurry and out of focus because I took it from a distance with a very old camera.

Ann, I think you did really good by fixing up that birdhouse and putting it up on your backyard pergola. That setting is just so inviting and the view so pretty. Wish I could join you to sit out on the backporch and watch the bluebirds.

Margaret, fabulous shots of the Tree Swallows. We have Tree Swallows here in out area but they refuse to come nest in my yard. I know they like bluebird houses.

Ann, if you put out those bluebird houses in pairs I have read that often one can get both bluebirds and tree swallows. I bet you have them there.

Thanks Ann, Lin and Rita.

Lin, I love wood ducks, don't usually see them in this area although they are supposed to be here.

Rita, maybe put a nest box up under the eves of your house, we have 2 boxes under ours and they are usually the first occupied.
This is one of the under the eve boxes above the garage with 2 babies waiting for food. Photo 2010.

Margaret, I will have to think on that and see if there is anywhere under the eves that would work for a nestbox. But I know they are around as I have seen them flying and swooping for bugs many times.

Rita, when you mentioned that I Googled it --- cool! But tree swallows don't breed here --- they are only here during winter & go much farther north for breeding.

Such cute babies Margaret!

Oh, so sorry. Tree Swallows are so pretty.

The tree swallows are so pretty with their shiny color ... wish they nested here year round but apparently as Ann stated they are only seen here from fall through spring. I've never seen one close up, only flying in flocks.

Thanks Lin for the comments about the pergola but right now it's TOO hot & sunny to sit there. We did enjoy it in the winter though as the sun warmed us then & the pecan trees in the front are bare & we have a wonderful view of the hills in the distance. Right now we just sit on the screened back porch with the ceiling fans going & watch the bluebird going ons at the pergola. I have rooted some cuttings of trumpet honeysuckle which I will plant to cover the pergola to attract hummers. We have 1 male now & I would like plenty more. At present the pergola gets covered by grape vines but I'd rather have the trumpet honeysuckle.

Oh, I agree ... the Honeysuckle would be wonderful, for the pretty flowers and fragrance as well as the Hummingbirds and Butterflies it will attract! I purchased a small 'Mandarin' Honeysuckle in a co-op recently ... it was very tiny and I sure hope it grows and performs well.

Lin, Mandarin is a great grower and I think it is very pretty. Shouldn't be too long till it grows like crazy for you. I have one and love it. Of course those hummers love any type of honeysuckle. Either the common regular flower shape or the trumpet shaped ones.

Ann, I bet that would look so nice in blooming Honeysuckle. Much better than wild grape vines.

I'm not turned on by the grape vines. Look, it's almost June already & they haven't covered the top & given shade so out with the grape vines & in w/ the honeysuckle.
Lin, this is not fragrant honeysuckle. I made sure this is not the invasive kind. This is what it is:
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens 'Blanche Sandman')

I rooted the cuttings in water. Took no time at all. If you remind me b/c I'm terribly forgetful ---- this fall or next spring I will root you some iffn ya wonts me too.

The honeysuckle will stay green for you all year long. Might even bloom all the time also in your climate. Honeysuckle is a hummingbird magnet. They just love it.

My offer for rooted cuttings applies to any who would like them too. Rooted cuttings for postage or if you have something I would like then we can do a trade, even Steven. But remember that my plants were cuttings & have only just rooted so I can't send anyone anything immediately.

Saw this cute exchange between a pair of Western Tanagers this morning.

He was on the suet and the female joined him, then I guess they were chatting each other up and it looked like he gave her a suet morsel.

Great pictures Margaret. Really beautiful birds.

Thank you Rita. I think they are very pretty too!

Wonderful pictures, just wonderful! That male is wowzer colorful!