by Donna Andrews.
Confession time: I am not a bird expert. I write a series with birds in the title, but Meg Langslow, my heroine, is not a birder. Her dad is--as my dad was. You pick up stuff along the way. But when it comes to birds, I share my mom's philosophy. She kept the feeder filled, and enjoyed watching whatever birds showed up, and didn't worry about keeping a life list.
Although these days, I do appreciate the birds as photo subjects. I'm committed to doing this thing called the 365 project, where every day you post a photo taken on that day. Some days, especially if it's winter, and I'm working hard, the birds are about the only photogenic thing I see all day.
And I hate to admit it, but I'm particularly delighted when I get to photograph them in the snow, because the photos are that much more interesting. Sorry, feathered friends. I feel for you, I do. And I promise to keep the seeds flowing. But you're so pretty against a white backdrop.
So with the caveat that if you ask me what kind of bird something is I may have to retreat to my bird books for half an hour . . . here are some of my favorite shots from the last six weeks.
Oh, I love this! Thank you!
Is one a cedar waxwing?
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | February 19, 2015 at 09:49 AM
What a wealth of birds you have in your yard! And don't spend that half hour looking them up - ask your fans! You'll have people who immediately know what kind of bird it is.
Posted by: Sue | February 19, 2015 at 09:57 AM
No waxwings here, Hank. They're all backyard birds: goldfinch, Carolina wren, robins, chickadee, titmouse, red-bellied woodpecker, and junco. In no particular order.
My husband has made his living as a bird paparazzi for most of the last 50 years. But Donna these are great pictures!
Posted by: Karen in Ohio | February 19, 2015 at 01:04 PM
I'm jealous -- where did all that green come from? I don't even remember what my yard looks like -- it's just a big mass of whte.
Posted by: Nancy Passow | February 19, 2015 at 05:13 PM
Just beautiful; especially the chick-a-dee in the snow covered branches. Thank you!
Posted by: Susan Hampton | February 19, 2015 at 05:42 PM
beautiful! I have a red-tailed hawk cruising by my feeders hunting mourning doves; such a dilemma. So I've sprinkled seed under bushes the birds use for cover.
Posted by: Margaret Turkevich | February 20, 2015 at 04:43 AM