Steller's Jay

I just spent two awesome weeks in the Colorado mountains with some of my fishing buddies. This Steller's Jay joined us as we stopped for lunch in the Taylor River canyon before heading up above the reservoir and on to the town of TIncup.

Among the Reeds

A male Yellow-headed Blackbird pauses in the reeds at the Monte Vista NWR outside Monte Vista, Colorado.

Sitting Pretty

A female Yellow-headed Blackbird perches in the reeds at Monte Vista NWR in Colorado.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Male)

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

But dad, mohawks are really in style!

A juvenile house finch (I think it is a female, but I do not know when a juvie male starts to develop their red feathers). She was waiting (rather impatiently) to be fed by her dad. Such a cutie!

Is That for Me?

A fledgling pygmy nuthatch waits very impatiently for a tasty morsel from its parent. These two have been so much fun to watch! The youngster will sit on the branch and wiggle its wings while the adult grabs a seed from our feeder. The second the parent lands on the branch the fledgling's mouth pops open and then it acts like it hasn't eaten in days! After a few quick gobbles the scene repeats itself. A parent's work is never done!

Hurry up, ma! I'm starvin' over here!

A pygmy nuthatch parent feeding its youngster. We just recently put up bird feeders on our back decks. Not only is it great practice for capturing photos of the birds that come in to feed, it is also a blast to watch all of the activity. In addition to all of the birds, we've had numerous squirrels, raccoons and even a visit from a black bear! That one cost me two feeders and the revelation that maybe I should be putting the feeders up higher on the upper deck!

Phainopepla (Male)