Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks And Some Other Birds In My Back Yard.
Every Spring I anxiously watch my bird feeders, awaiting the return of the migratory birds to area. Some make my area their home. Others are just passing through. The rose-breasted grosbeaks are one of my favorites. 
And a pair showed up at my feeder yesterday morning! 
It is hard to believe that these two pretty birds had flown thousands from Central or South America where they spend the winter. 
Unfortunately, the rose-breasted grosbeaks, haven’t stayed here in my backyard. They are usually only here for a few days each Spring. Still, I love to see them. I hope they both safely continue their journey north. One year one of them did not leave my yard. A few Spring ago my brother Mike and his son Mike Jr. were visiting. While watching some birds at another feeder, we heard a thump, looked to a feeder where rose-breasted grosbeaks were feeding, and saw some feathers floating to the ground. A hawk flew off into the trees. My nephew asked what happened and we had to tell him the grosbeak was dinner for the hawk. Such is the harshness of nature. 
This year the grosbeaks were greeted by some friendly chipping sparrows who gladly shared their seed with the visitors. 
In addition to the grosbeaks a couple of cowbirds also returned to my feeders. Like the grosbeaks they too are just passing through.
The goldfinches continue to feast on the thistle seed.
I love watching the brightly colored yellow males at my feeders. 
The year-long resident birds are still here, such as the house finches. 
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The chipping sparrows are constant visitors to my feeders. 
The woodpeckers also continue to feed at the suet at another one of the feeders. I believe, because of the absence of spots on the tail, this is a hairy woodpeckers. 
There are also mourning doves feeding on the seed that falls to the ground. 
And there are also the turkeys. 
They spend most of their days here. The arrive shortly after sunrise, roosting in trees near my brother Mike’s 
house and leave at dusk.
In between they are feeding on the corn and alfalfa leftover from deer or the seed falling from the bird feeders. 
They are interesting birds to watch. And I spend a lot of my working at home days watching them. 
As I write this, it is windy and pouring rain. Monsoon-like it is. Yet some of the birds are still at the feeders including this goldfinch and, 
this soaked woodpecker. 
I was surprised to see this junco looking for fallen seed in the rain. They live here in our winters and usually move on further north by now. 
I am still waiting for the arrival of another favorite, the indigo bunting. I usually have one arrive a few days after the grosbeaks.. I don’t see any warblers or vireos here in my back yard, but , of course, I will be looking for these pretty birds in the surrounding parks over the next few weeks. I love watching our feathered friends and I love Spring!Here is a link to a gallery in my blog website with some more photographs of the rose-breasted grosbeaks and other birds I saw in my backyard. Backyard birds April 29/30 2020. 
“Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive.”
―
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