Sapsuckers & Other Birds

I am plugging away on my second Prairie Schooler 'small'.

One morning there were Red-breasted Sapsuckers everywhere! 

The morning light was less than wonderful and I managed to 'capture' two birds, but I think there was a family of four.  

They reappeared later in the day...

...but again two was the most I managed to bag.

This sweet yellow House Finch is a 'regular'. I never see him with a female like the red-suited male House Finches.  He might be a great example of 'clothes make the man'.

The same gray morning I had a couple of Purple Martins visit. 

Again, the color is all washed out due to the morning light conditions, but you can see the size of the bird in comparison to a Steller's Jay.  Later that morning while I was dozing in a hammock, four Purple Martins came to the bird bath in the back yard.  I know they are a 'common' bird for lots of the USA, but they are infrequent and sporadic visitors for me.  

This young bird came by for a few minutes without any adults to help me with identification.

After consulting with other birders, we've decided it is a newly fledged Cowbird.

With the help of my father, I repaired a peanut feeder that raccoons had damaged a couple of years ago.

I've put it in the backyard and the Chickadees have found it.

The Flickers are still using the front feeders.

And they are still busy with their youngsters.

Here Mama Bird (on the right) is feeding her great big greedy Baby Baby Bird (on the left).