song birds Archives • Into the Light Adventures

The Desert Cardinal

By Sandra | March 30, 2022

The Desert Cardinal, Dapper in looks and cheerful in song, the Pyrrhuloxia is a tough-as-nails songbird of baking hot deserts in the American Southwest and northern Mexico.

I finally got a photo of this Desert Cardinal, it was a hard one to find, but it stopped by the bird feeders here at this park. Its beak is thick like a parrots.

They’re closely related to Northern Cardinals, but they are a crisp gray and red, with a longer, elegant crest and a stubby, parrotlike yellow bill. During breeding season Pyrrhuloxias are fiercely and vocally territorial, but in the winter they forget their disputes and join together in large foraging flocks.

Desert Cardinal Female Cardinal

The Desert Cardinal

by Sandra J

They are Back

By Sandra | August 6, 2021

They are Back, yesterday I talked about the migration beginning for some of the birds in my area. Well, not for these two birds. They were gone during the month of July, nesting and raising their young. But they are back, amazing how it all changes, one group leaves and the next one comes back.

The Chickadee and the Blue Jay’s are back in my yard. One of the things I love about the Chickadees, they are not to afraid of people. If the feeder is empty and I go outside, heading towards the garden shed where I keep the bird seed. They actually follow me and go back and forth in the trees every where I walk, waiting for me to get some food for them.

Oh, and I found another orange leaf laying on a green leaf. Summer and Fall together as one.

Have a Great Weekend

They are Back

by Sandra J

The Dark Eyed Junco

By Sandra | May 11, 2021

The Dark Eyed Junco, a pretty little bird that is part of the sparrow family. All these years I thought this bird was called a Rufous. I looked it up today and it doesn’t look anything like a Rufous. I don’t know where I came up with that one. The internet told me, I will blame it on that. There are over 35 species of sparrows also.

They are seed eating birds and prefer eating from the ground, they scratch the ground like chickens do. I have so many around here this year. They are a cheery little bird to me.

Grrrrr, I love it when they look like they are giving me the stink eye. 😒

The Dark Eyed Junco

by Sandra J

Sing a Song of Sixpence

By Sandra | April 19, 2021

Sing a Song of Sixpence, does anyone remember this rhyme? Sing a song of sixpence, a pocketful of rye, four and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing. Now wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before a king?

The king was in his counting house counting out his money; the queen was in the parlor eating bread and honey. The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes when along came a blackbird and it nipped off her nose.’

I only remembered the black birds in the pie until I looked it up to find the rest of the rhyme. These were more popular during Henry VIII days it said. But nonetheless, lots of blackbirds were out this weekend along with some very nice sunshine.

And when the sun shines on a Common Grackle, he really shines.

I am thinking this one below is a regular black bird. All the others had the iridescent blue feathers around their necks.

And so many red Winged Black Birds this year. I do love hearing the song they sing.

Last but never least, one Red Squirrel. They have been pretty scarce lately. I am just guessing they are finding food in the forest or they are in their nest starting to raise their babies. 😉

Sing a Song of Sixpence

by Sandra J

Where is the Purple Finch

By Sandra | April 2, 2021

Where is the Purple Finch, Happy Easter Weekend, in line with Easter Egg Hunting, try and spot the purple finch song bird in this first photo. Almost like looking for an egg. 🙂 The last photo will show you a close up of the little bird, it is camouflaged pretty good.

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Where is the Purple Finch

by Sandra J

A Cheerful Tiny Bird

By Sandra | March 17, 2021

A Cheerful Tiny Bird called the Chickadee, Now I have taken 100’s of photos of this bird and many others. I never get tired of photographing the same species, but I do try to change the backgrounds and make each photograph a little different. The bird is the subject of the photo, but the challenge comes by finding new locations and different ways to photograph each bird.

Which takes a lot of patience to study and watch each species and try to figure out how they live so that I can showcase how they eat, nest and fly. Of course flying is the difficult one to capture, especially with this fast little bird.

by Sandra J

Mr. and Mrs. Evening Grosbeaks

By Sandra | March 4, 2021

Mr. and Mrs. Evening Grosbeaks, out for an evening’s dinner, dressed in their finest attire. Sunshine sure brightens the day.

He looks like he is on a mission to chase someone away from the feeder. Arrow dynamic, pointed like an arrow. 😊

by Sandra J

Brilliant Splash of Color

By Sandra | March 2, 2021

Brilliant Splash of Color, after the heavy snow yesterday, the sun came out and I spotted this beautiful red hiding behind the trunk of a pine tree. What a gorgeous sight to see. The only Male Cardinal I have seen in this area in awhile.

Of course this little Red Squirrel can hold its own in color department with its beautiful red/orange stripe down its back. He is a sneaky little guy trying to grab the last of the bird food. 😉

Brilliant Splash of Color

by Sandra J

Light Snow to End the Week

By Sandra | February 26, 2021

Light Snow to End the Week, what a beautiful week it has been weather wise. Even the snow was just right, not to much but just enough to see it lightly falling around the birds perched in the trees.

Look here, one tiny branch with a red bud on it. I love seeing the first new bud on a tree, after its long winters nap.

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Light Snow to End the Week

by Sandra J

Bright Sunny Day Today

By Sandra | February 12, 2021

Bright Sunny Day Today, the sun finally came out today and what a difference it makes for photographing birds. There are plenty of gray days all winter, so it is a real treat when the sun comes out and the birds gather around the feeders.

These are all the Female Evening Grosbeak

And one Red Squirrel

Have a Wonderful Weekend

by Sandra J

Under the Shadow of Wings

By Sandra | February 9, 2021

Under the Shadow of Wings, I hear whispers in the wind. These tiny little birds are flying all around me, not afraid nor shy. They land on my camera at times as I am standing there near by.