Garden friends

Since I've asked him to record the various birds in our garden, Bruce has taken an avid interest in my camera and can make it perform tricks I hope he'll teach me.  I generally see my camera perched on the top of a tripod these days and that pleases me greatly.  

Note:  I've included links for the songs of these birds.  They may take a minute or two to load.

He's taken some pretty good shots of our avian visitors.  This first is an American Robin.  This guy is sitting on top of a rhododendron in the pouring rain, fluffed up to keep warm.  Here's how he sounds.

American Robin

When Bruce told me we had chickadees in our yard, I was skeptical. I hadn't heard the call I learned to mimic as a child on our Alberta farm, nor had I seen anything that looked to me like a 'real' chickadee with polka-dot wings.  I still haven't heard them sing, but Bruce captured this guy noshing from the suet feeder.

Here's a link for chickadee bird calls.  The one I remember is the second one, our little guy is down the list a bit farther.  Both are beautiful songs.  Note Bruce's handiwork on providing a perch for the suet feeder. Garden twist ties have so many uses!

Chestnut-Backed Chickadee

The last of today's trio is a white-crowned sparrow who adds this note to the garden orchestra.  You might recognize that branch as the favorite place of our hummingbird .. seems to be a good vantage point for all.

White-Crowned Sparrow