Check out some of The Holler’s shy guys like this very skittish Yellow Breasted Chat.
Black Phoebe’s are some of my favorite birds.
They sleep under our porch roof all year and will not budge from the perch in winter. It’s too cold to move!
They are avid people watchers.
Acorn Woodpeckers are extremely shy at The Holler, and hard to capture, because they have large oak groves to select acorns from and rarely bother to visit the feeders.
They always seem to know where I am before I do!
Mockingbirds only visit the bird baths on very hot days.
This Scrub Jay is worse for wear. It looks like something, probably the Roadrunner, grabbed him by the neck.
But he got away and recovered, helped by copious quantities of Holler seeds.
Spotted Towhees are very rare Holler visitors.
And then of course we have very shy Squirrely who thinks he’s a bird.
Cheers to you from The Holler shy guys~
Amazing shots,love them all !
Thank you! So happy you do~ 🐤
Hermosas fotos!! Saludos Cindy!!
Saludos mi amigo y muchas gracias! 🐤
I hope I can recover from my car accident as well as that scrub jay did from the road runner!! 🙂
I am so sorry and I hope so too!
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So fragile and beautiful, wonderful photographs Cindy. I have a shy guy, he has made his home on the eave of my porch, comes every night leave every morning. So sweet.
Yes, this is wonderful isn’t it! Wild creatures finding shelter with us. What a gift! 🐦
My husband laughs because if my bird doesn’t show up I worry. 🙂
Yep. Exactly the same here!
Their so sweet. I look forward to them flying in. I can time this one for 7PM
Been watching phoebes on the beach this morning.
I love them! Sweetest birds. 🐦
“They always seem to know where I am before I do!” Oh, that made me giggle.
It’s true too. I think birds are somewhat psychic…… 😉
🙂
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
More great bird photos from Cindy Knoke.
Hugs to you my 🐦 appreciating friend! <3
Great captures, Cindy. I esp. like the surprised Chat in the bathtub 😉 and the whiskers on the Phoebe. 🙂
Every couple of weeks a bird will visit that I am unfamiliar with. The latest was a pure black bird with a pronounced mohawk and red eyes. I found out what he was, but I can’t remember now. I love when this happens!
Maybe you ought to keep a log? It would be interesting to see what comes over the course of a year and you could report sightings to e-Bird and/or FeederWatch to help scientists in their bird studies.
I should do this……
Such gorgeous close-ups. I love looking at the details of the feet and the dew on the feathers!
The closer I can look at wild creatures, the more complex and beautiful I see they are. 🐦
One of the things I like about your pictures is many of the species you capture are not in my area. Cheers to biodiversity!
Yes!!! Cheers to biodiversity! <3
You don’t bring me flowers anymore… Bird in the hand.
Laughing…….
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Cool photos. Amazed how you get such clarity and closeness.
Thank you very much! 🕊️
Excellent photography as always!
Grazie mille!
Haha. A flying squirrel 🙂
He actually fell the other day trying to leap from the wall to the feeder. I do think he believes he can fly!
Awww, What a determined squirrel! Now I have this lyric stuck in my head 🙂
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away…
I think squirrely listens to this song too much……
Just out of curiosity, where is the Holler?
It is north east of San Diego County.
The wonders of the world! I never get to see so clearly. Your pictures inspire joy and thanksgiving.
Awww, your comment made me very glad I posted! <3
I can understand why you love the Phoebes, Cindy. What a little ball of fluff. 🙂 <3
They are so sweet, so curious, and they are always looking at you. They are people watching birds! 🕊️
Sehr gute Fotos. L.G. Wolfgang
Vielen danke mein lieber Freund Wolfgang! 🕊️
Oh, Cindy, they are beautiful. I love the Black Pheobe, we don’t get these in the UK and I’m so relieved to see that the Jay recovered. xxx
The Phoebe’s are such sweet birds in terms of temperament and the jays are so shy here, although not at picnic grounds I visit. I am relieved he recovered too. I watched him and can verify he did! 🐥
We had robins, blue tits, sparrows and two male blackbirds which we nickname “the mad brothers” around our feeder today. so precious. xx
Sounds delightful!
It was, Cindy. xxx
<3
Spotted towhees are regulars here on the Washington coast – they are here year ’round.
😎
I know they are common in some areas, but not here, so he was a thrill to see! 🐥
Amazingly beautiful birds, as you have around you Cindy and the last one looks a little different 😀
Every week or so, we get an anomaly bird and I have to scramble to identify it. I love this! 🐥
Or did you mean the Squirrely???? He seems to think he can fly and took a substantial fall he other day to prove it!
Haha so cute
They are the Holler eye candy and entertainment! 🐥
More wonderful pics. You are fantastic at bringing out the colors. Amazing.
I am very happy you enjoyed the birds James & cheers to you~
Amazing close-ups you captured. Lol that squirrel should think again before trying to eat the bird seeds.
He took this amazing leap and fell straight into a bush. Poor guy!
Thank you for introducing your beautiful feather friends. 🙂 Remarkable captures, Cindy!
Do they stay with you through the winter?
Yes, the prevalent ones stay all winter, including the hummers!
Lovely! You always photograph in such a way as to make them appear human-sized so I can easily “hug” them with my mind 🙂
That poor jay!
I don’t think the squirrel is shy…….
Hahaha, all cute!
I so love this idea, “… make them appear human-sized so I can easily “hug” them with my mind..” Thank you!
Lovely Cindy.
Leslie
Merci beaucoup! 🐦
🙂
Great collection of birds – and the squrril is cute.
Squirrels are such amazing rascals……
Yes. They are.
Cindy, they are shy but beautiful and awesome! 🙂
You just gave me a very big smile my friend! Cheers to you 🐦
Such an interesting collection of shy birds and wanna be’s! Great captures Cindy 💛
So happy you enjoyed them Val & thank you!
Are you 100% positive Squirrely is not a bird? It could be a night-flying squirrel. I believe they are a sub-species of a bird/squirrel eco-mutant union. It sounds horrible, I know, but of course I made this hideousness up. HALLOW’EEN in 2 weeks!!!!!
He tried to fly. He did this grand leap from the seed house hoping to make it to the seed bowl. He fell rather dramatically, into a bush. I was embarrassed for him…..
OUCH!
He is fine, but I haven’t seen him try it again!
Great shots!!! (Esp the flying mutant) 😀
He is difficult to capture due to his aerial expertise…..
Birdies and a squirrel :-)!!!! You made my day! Big hugs and thanks from here to you Cindy.
You are my kind of person! <3 Thank you.
I love the way you give such character and personality to even the smallest, and most ordinary little birds and creatures. They all have a story and you tell theirs very well. Blessings and cheers to you, too, Cindy. 🙂
Back 2UX2 my dear friend <3
Wonderful pics Cindy, as usual. I especially like the first one of the scrub jay.
Alison
He was so beaten up, poor guy. But I watched him recover. You like the Jays I notice. So do I!
Stunning photos! The only bird I recognize is the mockingbird. We have lots of them in North Texas.
We used to have more of them when I was a kid. We have them now, but not in the same numbers. I have always loved them. My friend raised one. I love their mimicry and of course they are relentless rattlesnake hunters!
What a great series. You have such a variety visiting your bird feeders (and in the area).
I love our birdies. We have more variety in this region than anywhere else in the continental US which is definitely ‘for the birds’ and more than fine with me!
You are so good at capturing beautiful pictures of these shy critters..
Ahhh, you are such a very nice friend~
Each has its charm.
The do, and personality too!
nice to see some of your West Coast birds. I have never seen any of these in the East, except for the mockingbird. Poor little Scrub Jay – he really looks like a cat almost got him!
We don’t have cats. Coyotes would eat them, but we do have roadrunners and they are actually fairly cat like! Glad you saw some new birds. New birds are always fun to see~
Always wonderful to see and feel your environment with nature’s wonders. Enjoy!
So happy you enjoyed and the 🐤🐤 thank you too!
Delightful!
So pleased! 🐤
FIrst time to hear of an Acorn woodpecker but he is certainly distinctive. Great shots.
And so shy at The Holler. He has his oak groves so he rarely ventures to the feeders and when he does he is so skittish! When I walk to the groves all the woodpeckers, hundreds of them become silent and stay that way.
WHAT An incredible description. I can see it!
Such great captures and your commentary brought a huge smile to my face – thank you 🙂
Awww, thank you more for such a kind comment! 🐤
Amazing shots.☺
Aww, so nice of you! 🐦
Birds are my most favorite motifs, too. Your photos capture their beauty so well. Thank you for making me smile, Cindy.
Thank you for making me smile with such a thoughtful comment~ 🐦
Really great photos – that woodpecker looks a bit “full on” compared to the others.
It’s that Pope cap he wears. It confers a certain dignity and responsibility even for a bird…..
Such charming creatures, especially the squirrel masquerading as a bird. Has it ever taken a dip in the bird bath? 😉
No he hasn’t. I would have to put some peanuts in it to tempt him, which is a really interesting idea…… 😉
😀 😀
Good as ever
Thank you Derrick!
The first Black Phoebe: “Don’t I know you from somewhere?’… 😉
<3
Laughing…….it’s a good line, for a bird!!! 😉 😉
Great photos like these must have taken quite a bit of patience. I’ve had good luck with butterflies, bees, and spiders, but the birds always fly away before I can snap them. The Spotted Towhee is gorgeous.
I have only seen him here that one time and feel grateful I was able to fire off a shot! There is not doubt about the fact that birds are the hardest thing for me to photograph too. They are so flighty!!! 😉 🐦
Lovely collection of feathered friends you have there at the Holler Cindy! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
The 🐦🐦, and I thank you for the appreciation Brad & cheers to you!
tweet, tweet! 🙂
🐤
These photos are so delightful. Thank you. 🙂
Thank you more for your very kind appreciation! 🐦
Cindy, you never fail to amaze me with your photo captures! So many interesting critters at the Holler!!
It is what I love most about living here. I feel at home among the wild critters <3 🐦
Such gorgeous little creatures. How they can make us smile — thanks to your excellent photography skills! 😀
Birds do show us how to be happy. Watching them as I do is very good for my mental health. I learn so much from them about living in the moment. <3 🐦
The Black Phoebe is absolutely adorable. And so glad the Scrub Jay recovered. Gorgeous photos, Cindy. Thanks for sharing these little beauties. Hugs to you, my friend 💚
Hugs to you Tina and thank you for appreciating our feathered friends! Have an awesome evening~ 🐤
‘Acorn’ believe Pope Woody is back for a visit. What a blessing to see him and the rest of the shy guys, dear friend. (⁎⁍̴̛͂▿⁍̴̛͂⁎)*✲ﾟ*｡⋆♡
I always think of your pope cap when I see him! Such a perfect descriptor!
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ƪ(♥ﻬ♥)ʃ
So beautiful. I’ve never seen a Black Phoebe but now that I have…I just love them. So adorable. Soft and fuzzy. Red eyes…gorgeous, a spotted squirrel and all the other lovelies. Thank you so much.
Awww, thank you more for loving the wild ones dear friend~ <3
Pingback: Wonderful photographs from the blog of: Cindy Knoke | Rethinking Life
Those are wonderful photos. I rarely see birds in nature. They are always too far away for clarity so this is a treat.
It is exactly the same for me. I only started taking photos when I retired. I was stunned by what the camera showed me.
When I take photos, it’s point, shoot and pray. Hoping there is something to see when I get to look at it close. Blogging created the desire to photograph more and taught me to be more observant. Retirement has so many surprising benefits, doesn’t it?
Yes, retirement rocks! It’s like being a kid again with no parents to tell you what to do!
🙂
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I am cutting out early tonight as friends are coming to supper. Always a pleasure to share the photography of Cindy Knoke. I love my sparrows, blackbirds, starlings and doves.. but how wonderful to look out at your garden and see these beauties. #recommended.
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The words talented Photographer don’t do you justice Cindy. Another beautiful post
Oh, your kindness is very much appreciated!
Oh dear, the poor scrub jay. Talk about having a bad day!
Yes! I bet he is quite thankful he escaped. I suspect the roadrunner was involved. He is quite a hunter~
I saw a roadrunner once in Texas, funny looking thing.
They live with us like pets!
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Beautiful birds, great captures.
Honored, thank you! 🐤
Magnificent!!!
Grazie mille!
Holla to these spectacular fine feathered friends. 🙂 x
The 🐤🐤 and I appreciate it my friend and Happy Friday!
Lol. Happy weekend Cindy! 🙂
<3
Fabulous photos Cindy, so sharp
Grazie. It is so good to see you back in blogsville Pauline!
A Very fabulose bird!😊
Very happy you like him!
Took a short hike along a ridge crest yesterday. Heard lots of birds, but saw only a few. I’m a couple of hikes behind on writing about them. I’ll catch up with myself some day. -Oscar
oh cindy – tweet tweet – thanks for the avian friends treat 1
Thank you for appreciating the 🕊️🕊️!
🙂
These are all wonderful shots, dear Cindy. The shy ones are worth the challenge of capturing on camera.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Blessings and thanks flying back to you Wendy~ 🕊️
Brilliant and so colorfully vivid Cindy!! I wonder how long it takes you to capture that set of photos– so beautiful! I didn’t know mockingbirds were so colorful! thanks, thanks. xo
Sunday blessings Rhonda & cheers to you my friend <3
Beautiful birds and you capture them well.
Thank you, much appreciated!
Wonderful photos! You have such an amazing variety of wildlife.
I can’t imagine living without wildlife around me. Today I whistled a tune that actually stopped the roadrunner in his tracks to listen!
Beautiful pics!
Thank you very much & cheers!
Wow! They all seem to be musing and posing for you. Love these beauties.
Anyone who loves 🐦🐦 is a friend of mine!
Cindy, you are amazing in your ability to get all these birds to come visit. Your captures are awesome. 🙂 I’m so glad you fattened up that scrub jay! So happy the roadrunner didn’t kill him.
The black Phoebe’s are so cute looking and dear. 💞 🕊
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The skilled, and patient, photographer catches even the most shy ones beautifully.
Awww, so kind and have a wonderful week!
Such a beautiful assortment of feathered and furry wild friends you have! Looking at your wonderful nature photos brightens the day.
Awww, makes me so glad I posted. Thank you. Your comment brightened my day!
Nice collection of birds, and great images.
Thank you!
Great pics. As you know, I am an avid birdwatcher, but I used to feed squirrels when I could get out and about. I can’t believe the Black Phoebe survives the winter. I enjoyed learning about these birds. I particularly loved the woodpecker! <3
Wild birds are amazing to live around. You become part of their animal family. So happy you enjoyed our feathered and furry friends Nancy & cheers to you my friend~ <3
Wow, amazing.
Thanks so much & cheers to you!
I don’t know how long we will be saying cheers. But cheers bk to you to x
I am so very sorry.
Cindy, I am cured, I am in full remission although suffer with pain. But don’t we all in some way. I thought we would be saying cheers to each other, bk and forth on message. 😊
Thanks for the clarification. I got confused because I read your post saying, “I Beat Cancer.” Yes we all do feel pain in different aspects of our feeling selves, physically and psychologically, and none of us will avoid being brought to our knees by it, both in our own minds and bodies, and in those of the one’s we love. In some ways, pain is the one thing we all have most have in common, although some people run hard from recognizing this, until of course, they can’t run anymore. I am so glad you beat cancer, so very sorry you had to fight it in the first place, and that you are left with chronic pain. <3
It’s a great reminder I beat cancer with the support of my family. I am glad we are around each others posts now. Am getting used to this online thing now.. thank you for your caring thoughtful comments. 😊👍🏼🍦
Thank you.
What a wonderful collection, Cindy! Your shots are beautifully clear and detailed. I admire your patience–waiting for the right moment to shoot. Are you waiting a long while?
I have my computer desk by a window with the screen removed that functions like a computerized bird hide so I multi-task, much like this cat, although my goal is conservation!
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Oh!!! That’s your secret method!! Great idea.
<3
An absolut wonderful collection of adorable creatures, Cindy!
You are such a lovely soul Klausbernd. Thank you.
Your blog is just wow
Well thank you & it’s lovely to meet you!
Same I can say dear🙋
<3
And then of course we have very shy Squirrely who thinks he’s a bird.
This was cute…
Thank you. Squirrels seem very smart to me~
The Black Phoebe is so cute!
I love them! They are very sweet natured too~
They are so beautiful! but the black phoebe’s is very smart!
Thank you & yes, the Phoebe is smart, sweet and a most dexterous flier!
It seems your feathered friends are keeping an eye on you. Fortunately for us, you are keeping your focus on them. Thanks for sharing them Cindy!
Love to you sweet Lea <3
Merci mon amie! <3
<3 <3
WordPress has just notified me that I have had this blogs for six years as of yesterday. Where does it go? I owe so much to you Cindy. If not the first you were certainly one of them and you have stuck with me and sometimes kept me going. <3 <3
We are colleagues, friends, and soul sisters. Hugs to you dear Lea <3 <3
<3 <3
Bonsoir ou bonjour mon ami (ie)CINDY très beau billet sur les oiseaux
Regarde un peu la lune
Là haut dans le ciel
Son sourire est celui que je t’adresse
Regardes les étoiles
Ces gouttes de miel
Ce sont tous mes bisous pour, toi
Qui retombent en pluie
Je te souhaite une bonne soirée
Suivie d’une douce nuit
Regarde un peu , là haut dans le ciel
C’est une partie de moi
Avec mon sourire quand tout vas bien
Ce jour je me sens bien alors je profite de m’arrêter chez toi
Je t’adresse tous mes bisous D amitié
Comme des rayons de soleil
Qui viennent réchauffer ta demeure
Gros bisous BERNARD
Une image de tendresse belle journée
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Beautiful selection of birds. Thanks for sharing photos.
Thank you more for taking the time to appreciate them!
How beautiful rhey are. 🙂
The 🐦🐦🐦 agree with you, and so do I <3
🙂