Lovely Blue

I forgot to clean up the birdseed after we played outside yesterday. A couple of bluejays appreciated the mess and went to work sorting out all the corn kernels. 

Friendly chickadee

My Grandpa was a friend of the chickadees. Sometimes he'd sit out under one of his homemade bird feeders and wait for them, letting them perch on his shoulders or eat out of his hands.

While playing out in the yard this morning, I was able to get within a couple of feet of the bird feeder while both a sparrow and chickadee took turns eating. The sparrow was more cautious, often watching me from the tree and waiting for me to move a little further away before returning. Here he is peeking at me.

The chickadee was braver, though he did scold me a few times when I surprised him. Perhaps they have less fear because after swiping a seed from the feeder they fly to safety in the tree?

Sparrow Variety

It's so easy to over-look sparrows. Earlier this year I was super excited when I found a white-crowned sparrow who must have peeled off from the flock during his migration north. He was around for quite a while, so when I took this picture today I wondered if it was the same guy and he summered here, or if his flock is on their way south already.

I noticed another type of sparrow at the feeder this morning. He had stripes on his head but not as vivid as the white-crowned sparrow. Looking through binoculars I noticed yellow around his eye. My book says it's a white-throated sparrow. 

Northern Flicker

Well, look who stopped by today!

Tomato Treat

This tomato has been perched on that gate post for a couple weeks, long forgotten. I'm glad someone came along to enjoy it, though by the looks of it he may not have been the first.

Nuthatch

I've been hearing nuthatches all summer, and finally saw one!