A large bed of these purple flowers, maybe Salvia of some kind, kept this Ruby-throated Hummingbird busy.
They both provided me with an unexpected photo shoot.
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird On Purple
Category Archives: Birds
Pileated Woodpecker, Learning to Forage
There were two Pileated Woodpeckers in a Live Oak tree above my head, picking through the Spanish Moss and Resurrection Fern. The vegetation looks lovely in the tree, but sure limits photography of birds.
I never saw what they were eating but it appeared to be berries or nuts, and no pecking was going on.
It is likely this was an adult teaching a juvenile as a few times the younger looking one was just watching then got fed.
One came out into the open just before they flew off.
July 23, 2021
Red-headed Woodpecker In a Snag
A snag at the edge of a swamp was the perfect spot for this Red-headed Woodpecker to survey his territory.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Overhead
I heard this Red-bellied Woodpecker way before I finally spotted him. I waited and got this reward.
Pileated Woodpecker, Cheesy Wood
Swiss Cheese, anyone?
For probably not the first time this Pileated Woodpecker did the rounds of this well pecked tree.
Checking out the existing holes…
…giving it a few new knocks…
…and having a general look around.
June 9, 2021
Sticky Beaks
Fellow blogger Ms. Liz, (ExploringColour.wordpress.com/) recently introduced me to the New Zealand term “sticky beak” used for an inquisitive and prying person.
Our chat came immediately to mind when I saw this group of barnyard chickens trying to peak through the slats into the coop where a few other chickens had been confined.
This chicken might have been as nosey but was exploring on his own.
Pea Hen
A Pea Hen was perched on the wall around the Middleton Place Stable Yard late one afternoon.
I hadn’t seen or heard any Pea Fowl at Middleton this spring and had wondered if they still hosted any. They roam free and easily fall victim to any number of predators.
Looking around I only saw this one dapper looking hen, no Peacocks. Other years a half dozen or more were all around the stable area.
May 2, 2021
Red-headed Woodpecker
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a bird that I have only glimpsed, generally flying away from me. Then a few weeks ago I saw two in less than ten minutes!
The second one, perhaps a mate to the first, tormented Ted and me with knocking that we could not locate. Who knew they could make such a racket inside a tree?
Once out of the cavity he stuck to the shady side of the tree.
You Looking at Me?
We’re so pretty!
Colorful Barnyard Chickens
Along with the heritage breed Coastal Sheep that have free run during the day at Middleton Place there is a small mixed flock of colorful chickens.
The Sheep had just been penned for the evening and needed a bit of grain to induce them into their quarters.
The chickens were well aware there might be droppage available for pecking.
They also seemed to know not to get amongst the sheep until they settled down,
A fourth fancy-looking fellow joined the crowd on the safety of the divider.
The big rooster decided to move on, dropping into an empty pen that is awaiting the birth of lambs, expected any day now.
Middleton Place
March 30, 2021