I don't know how I lost this thread but I did.


INDIGO BUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A beautiful male in breeding plumage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew they are up here & during summer & breed here but this is the first sighting here! I'm sooooooooooooo excited!

Photos when I get them.

It is exciting, isn't it, Ann! I've been seeing the Indigos here for about a week, and I even saw a Painted Bunting yesterday...I sure hope you can get a pic, cause I've not had any luck!...Yet! I'll keep trying!

Suet baskets have arrived from England. Now all I have to do is put them up. I have already made the mixture which is in freezer.

for suet cages Glen!

Tara, it IS exciting! I'm surprised you have the painted buntings too. I had originally hoped maybe I would be the exception & actually have some show up here but they aren't known to be here so I'm hoping against hope. I was so sad that when we moved I knew we'd loose our painted buntings but to have indigos makes up for the loss. Buntings are soooooooo shy. It takes them a good while to get used to you & their surroundings. We've seen Mr. Indigo numerous times late yesterday & this morning but it's a look & then flit! away he goes. Pretty sure there was a female here this morning too but didn't get a good enough look to positively ID her. I keep seeing the male & every time I get camera in hand --- zoom! he's flying back to the trees. I was willing to settle for a crappy photo shot through the screen of the back porch but so far no luck.

I know what you mean, Ann. They are very shy! I was sitting on the front porch the other day after pulling some weeds, and sure enough, 2 Buntings landed on the ground near a birdbath, and they must have seen me at the last second...They immediately took off for my neighbors yard. Yep, and my luck, as usual, the camera was in the house!

I do have this picture from last year...But it's not a good one...So I never posted it Here it is...

Actually, for the shy buntings that's not a bad photo Tara. At least there are birds there!

I have been pretty sure there was a Quail nest somewhere in the back yard and today I was able to see that I was correct. Just caught this group in the backyard. The photo was taken thru a window. Quail babies are sooo cute. I counted about 7 but there are usually more. Sadly most do not make it to adulthood thanks to the cats around here. Many years the parents have built nests in one of my garden pots deep under the leaves. I have counted as high as 18 eggs in a nest. Not sure where this nest is but our yard has a 6 ft. wooden fence around it so the babies really cannot escape right now, unless they go thru a gap under the fence.

Glen for the acorn !! That was so nice.

quietyard said:I have been pretty sure there was a Quail nest somewhere in the back yard and today I was able to see that I was correct. Just caught this group in the backyard. The photo was taken thru a window. Quail babies are sooo cute. I counted about 7 but there are usually more. Sadly most do not make it to adulthood thanks to the cats around here. Many years the parents have built nests in one of my garden pots deep under the leaves. I have counted as high as 18 eggs in a nest. Not sure where this nest is but our yard has a 6 ft. wooden fence around it so the babies really cannot escape right now, unless they go thru a gap under the fence.

OH Linda that is so adorable that you have the baby quail there in your yard!

Such a blessing. They are not easy to photograph too.

Rita and Glen. Had I been outside no way could I have gotten a photo, just lucky I could see them out the window. They panic easily.

Linda, lucky you, they are adorable!

I hope they make it and stay safe from cats and other predators!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, the itty bey quail. They're so cute!

I can't tell you how long it's been since the dh & I saw quail in the wild. Years! They used to be so common, you could see them everywhere but we haven't spied one in at least 10, 12, 14? years.

Habitat change.

Not seeing as many birds now that the weather is warmer. Goldfinches have taken over the sunflower seed feeders. Doves are coming more often to the platform feeder. Still some Yellow-rumped warblers, but not large numbers. Guess they have gone north.


Mourning doves preening and YRW ticked off because there's no suet




Goldfinch disagreements

Becky, that little YRW is so adorable! It really does look ticked off.

Nice photos.

BTW, do people often mistake the spelling or pronunciation of your town & think it's Dracula?

Lol. He does look miffed.

Yes, he does. Quite an attitude.