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CLINGS TO A PLANT STEM AS ITS SIBLING CLINGS TO HIM - A PRECARIOUS START TO LIFE ON THEIR OWN AFTER THEIR PARENTS HAVE WITHDRAWN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