I bet Claudia!

Well I tried to work on my pictures of the White Breasted Nuthatch's today. They are outta here in a split second after they have that Sunflower Seed! Lots of blurry pics I had to delete, lol. Was able to get a couple decent ones though.

Nice photos you got though Cat. They sure like to hang upside down don't they?

Thanks Ann! Yes, I think they do, lol.

Cat, I agree ... nice pic's, I really love that second shot!

Those are very good shots Cat!

Thanks Everyone! I think they are such a neat looking bird! So Sleek looking, lol. Funny I can usually hear them coming before I see them.

The Masked Lapwings are nesting next door. Last year they raised two safely. The third got run over outside my house when it was nearly fully grown.

They are very aggressive protectors of nest and young. They dive bomb and can hit quite hard on one's head and shoulders. They recognise me usually but I am pushing it to approach the nest too closely.

The man mowing always notices them and mows round them on a ride-on mower but I worried till he finished last week. But he is a good man.

Glen, That Masked Lapwing is a very interesting looking bird and it looks to be a large bird too; I bet that beak could do some damage! It's so nice that the lawn man mows around them so as not to disturb the nest too much. How sad that they can be hit and killed by vehicles on the roadway.

A couple from today. Hummingbird Female and Dove. View full size for a little better look.

Oh Dave, those are wonderful shots! I especially love the second pic of the hummingbird! Fun ... when I clicked quickly through the first three it's as if the hummer is moving, turning it's head to look at the camera.

Saw lots of warblers on our walk this morning! A sure sign that fall is just around the corner...... just in case the temps dipping into the 40's didn't do it for ya! a couple more of our hummers seem to have decided it is time to head south. Still have a few here. Some are just passing thru no doubt.

I hate to see the Humming Birds leave!

Me too..... we have at least 1 female right now so I know she h's flown in from somewhere heading south.

I'll take care of y'alls hummers when they get back down here to my area.

We know will!

Our hummers have all taken off except one little female who I'm a little concerned about 'cuz we've been freezing the last few nights. It comes up to the feeder all puffed up from the cold. The Northern Flickers are busy eating ants, I'm guessing they're about ready to go too.

Hummingbirds may be small but they are a lot tougher than they appear! I read a couple of years ago about how nowadays some hummers actually remain in northern states throughout the winter! Like some toads/frogs they can enter a turpor (sleep-like) state that slows their body functions down, allowing them to conserve energy during the cold nights. I doubt though that they would remain very far north for long without a constant food source to sustain them through long, cold winters.

This months Birds and Blooms magazine has a little article talking about the subject of Hummingbirds during winter and the turpor that allows their metabolism to drop as much as 95%; their heart rate and body temperature decline as well, allowing them to conserve energy and survive low temperatures.

So glad to know, Lin

The Flickers are coming & more hummies & the goldfinches will be coming too.

And that also means my hummies will be leaving round about Oct.