I understand totally Dave. But, they are fantastic photos of a bird that you are very happy to see! You will get that perfect shot, but in the meantime, there is nothing wrong with these!

While you are working on that perfect shot, I'll keep posting my lousy ones.

Oh Dave I love RBG's!! They used to stop in every year when I fed seed but now it is hit & miss. None this year, at least not yet.

I'd never seen a RBG, thanks for such great photos.

Wow Dave, I saw some RBG's yesterday too and don't recall seeing them before. I didn't get a pic near as good as yours.

Very nice pictures, Dave.

There's lots of birds around now, some I recognize and some not so much.

I recognize this little guy, since I feed them every year. Ruby redthroat hummingbird.

Well my Rose-breasted Grosbeak was back today and feeding so it looks as if he will stay around a bit. Now if I can just catch him showing up before 7:30 pm when there is some more light I will be happy.

Dave, that last shot is great.

all good shots as usual but especially that last one!

And RBG's are beauteous birds! Ones I have never seen in person but they are on my bucket list.

Nice job Dave!

Dave, stop apologizing. You and your pictures are fabulous. Natalie and I will continue to post our bad ones.

I've never seen a RBG either, but their colors make me want to salute. I know they're not really blue, but they remind me of the flag for some reason. They're not in my Florida bird book so maybe we don't get them. So it's good you posted pictures. I wonder if my aunt sees them in WV?

No photos lately but I did spot the hummingbird again. I hadn't seen one in a couple of weeks so I didn't know if they had moved on or not. Two of their favorite plants are blooming now - porterweed and firebush. We trimmed both back in late February or early March and they're really blooming now. I was heading out the door and I think the hummingbird was headed for the firebush, but saw me and turned right around. Because he was coming my way and then all I saw was his back! I used to have a hummingbird that would harass me every morning when I left for work and walked by the porterweed. He'd fly around my head and once he even flew right up to me about chest level. I took a step forward, he flew forward, and we did that three times before I guess he figured out I wasn't backing down. I thought that was pretty brave for a little bird. Makes me wonder what the porterweed tastes like because I can't keep the butterflies off it, either.

I'll post a bad photo most of the time too, unless I get lucky.

Eastern Phoebes are nesting in the front porch eaves. They show up every year. It looks like four little chicks in this nest. The Phoebes are normallly quiet, shy birds but the past couple of days I've been hearing quite a ruckus so I went to see what all the commotion was about. Apparently another Phoebe couple wants to take up residence in the nest. But after two days of squabbles, the second pair of Phoebes are making a nest at the back porch. And they must be in a hurry, they're slinging mud everywhere.

So, speaking of lousy photo
Here's one of the Phoebes feeding the newly hatched babes. I don't know if it's mama or papa because they both take turns. So sweet. They make a nice nest but a bit messy!

So cute Christine! So they use mud in their nest making eh?

Well, it looks more like a mix of mud and straw or other plant matter.

This is what they've done so far.


Now this is more mud that didn't make it but dropped on this ledge. I hope they finish in time. Trying not to interrupt them.

My goodness, Christine, they are very messy little nest builders.

They certainly are!!!

Apparently, I am also an Eastern Phoebe, at least when it comes to nest building!

A few from late today

Dave, are the little yellow guys Finches? Still learning here. They look like the birds my Grandma feeds. I'm still feeling that Grosbeak is patriotic without even trying. I like them!