In Our Garden

ONE OF OUR FAVORITES, THE COLORFUL RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD BATHING AT POND BUBBLER

A COAT OF MANY COLORS ON A FEMALE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, OUR MOST FREQUENT HUMMINGBIRD VISITOR TO OUR GARDEN

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

A COOPER'S HAWK, ONE OF SEVERAL THAT CAUSE A MASS EVACUATION OF SMALL BIRDS FROM OUR GARDENS

THIS SHARP-SHINNED HAWK SWOOPED INTO OUR GARDEN THIS MORNING AND TOOK DOWN A EURPEAN STARLING. THE SHARP-SHINNEDS NOT ONLY STRIKE IN FLIGHT BUT OFTEN CREEP AROUND THROUGH THE SHRUBS AND HUNT ON THE GROUND TOO.

SHY SQUIRREL

ONE WOULD THINK THIS PROUD-LOOKING PINE SISKEN - AND NOT ROBERT - WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR WONDERFUL TOMATO CROP IN THE POTS ON OUR SIDE DECK THIS SUMMER!

SLUG AT POND'S EDGE

LIKE CANDY TO OUR EYES ARE THE LEAVES OF THIS SMOKE BUSH IN OUR GARDEN

JAPANESE SNOWBALL TREE BLOSSOM

JAPANESE SNOWBALL BLOSSOMS

WINTER'S GIFT TO SPRING: SNOWDROPS

JUST A VERY FEW OF ABOUT 70 PINE SISKENS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OUR GARDEN FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS

BATHING BEAUTY - GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW

JUST A QUIET MOMENT WITH A LITTLE HOUSE SPARROW FLEDGLING WHILE IT CATCHES IT'S BREATH, HAS A LOOK AROUND AND WAITS FOR A PARENT TO COME AND FEED IT . . .

CATCHING A FEW WINKS IN OUR CHERRY TREE IS A LITTLE HOUSE SPARROW FLEDGLING WHILE IT WAITS FOR IT'S NEXT FEEDING FROM IT'S PARENT . . .

ONE NEWLY FLEDGED HOUSE SPARROW CLINGS TO A PLANT STEM AS ITS SIBLING CLINGS TO HIM - A PRECARIOUS START TO LIFE ON THEIR OWN AFTER THEIR PARENTS HAVE WITHDRAWN

BIG SPLASHES AS HOUSE SPARROW FLEDGLINGS ATTEND A COMMUNITY BATH

YOU JUST MUST SMILE WHEN YOU SEE THE PERKY LITTLE SPOTTED TOWHEE IN THE OPEN LIKE THIS - THEY USUALLY SCURRY HURRIEDLY INTO THE LEAVES AND SHADOWS AT THE SLIGHTEST SOUND OR MOTION.

SPOTTED TOWHEE IN SUMMER GARDEN

EMERGING AZALEA BLOSSOM, SPRING HAS COME TO OUR GARDEN HERE IN THE NORTHWEST!

AZALEA "BOUQUET" IN OUR GARDEN THIS SPRING

STRIPED CROCUSES, a winning image in the 2011 Nature's Best Photography Magazine competition

THE HUMMERS ENJOY THESE BLUSHING LILIES BY OUR POND

A "WOW" RHODODENDRON IN OUR GARDEN THIS SPRING

AN EARLY SPRING ROBIN CONTEMPLATING THE POND IN OUR GARDEN

OUR SIDE DECK THIS SPRING

ANOTHER GRAY SQUIRREL - AND THIS BLACK ONE SPORTS A SILVER TIP ON ITS TAIL

ANY GUESS AS TO HOW THIS GRAY SQUIRREL GOT SUCH AN OBVIOUS CRIMP IN ITS TAIL?

GRAY SQUIRRELS AROUND HERE PRESENT IN A VARIETY OF COLORFUL COATS, THIS BLACK ONE SPORTS A RED TAIL

IT'S THE BLOSSOM OF ST. JOHN'S WORT

THIS YOUNG STARLING'S EXPRESSION CERTAINLY CONVEYS ITS VERY AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE, DOESN'T IT?

EUROPEAN STARLING JUVENILES (Stump diving?)

STARLING IN THE SNOW

IT'S MY TURN! STARLING FLEDGLINGS

EUROPEAN STARLING DRINKING AT THE WATER BUBBLER IN WINTER

IT'S NOT HURT, THIS STELLER'S JAY FLEDGLING IS JUST DRYING OFF AFTER A DIP IN OUR POND.

THE PARENT BROUGHT THE SEEDS TO THIS STELLER'S JAY FLEDGLING. THOSE FEATHERS ARE LIKE SMOKE AND ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO PHOTOGRAPH!

STELLER'S JAY FLEDGLING PREENING

STELLER'S JAY, A SPLASH OF COLOR AGAINST THE SNOWY BACKGROUND

A STELLER'S JAY ALL PUFFED UP TO KEEP WARM ON A CHILLY MORNING

DETAIL OF THE FEATHERS OF THE STELLER'S JAY

FOUR STELLER'S JAYS CAME IN TOGETHER FOR A WHILE THE OTHER DAY, CHATTERING AWAY ALL THE WHILE IN THE SERVICEBERRY TREE

STRAWBERRY SEDUCTION YARROW (Achillea millefolium)

SUMAC LEAVES IN FIERY AUTUMN COLOR

BEE ON A SUNFLOWER PLANTED BY BIRDS THAT FEED IN OUR GARDEN