Meet mommy grosbeak.
She is not as flashy,
as her hubby.
But she has a subtle, more delicate beauty.
Here is her dashing Romeo.
You have to admit he is, quite the looker, and eater!
He is shy, hesitant around humans,
smart birdie.
Cheers to you from the happy Holler honeys~
Dear Cindy,
great pictures! We never saw these birds before.
Thanks and cheers
The Fab Four of Cley
π π π π
So happy to make the introduction. Cheers flying back to all four of you α
Gorgeous Cindy. And about the female of the species? Flashy is often overrated!
Agree wholeheartedly and thank you! α
They’re a lovely pair, and your images are fantastic!
Honored. Thank you very much & cheers to you α
You are seeing some gorgeous birds at your place! Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos of them – such a joy to see. π
So happy you enjoyed them. They make gardens magical places α
Smashing good photographs Cindy! Lovely indeed! All the best.
So appreciated & so very thoughtful of you. Thank you & cheers α
Youβre very welcome Cindy.
αα
A happy duo! As always, your photos capture the beauty of our fellow creatures.
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Rebecca α
Beautiful images, cindy. Wonderful captures. Got a kick out of the little brown birdie (Sparrow?) who photobombed the last image of the Mrs.
He was a photo bomber! Cheeky guy. π
Beautiful pic..
Thank you! α
I think ‘Grosbeak’ sounds rather judgmental. Handsome and functional is what I’d say – though that’s not a snappy name ….
I often wonder about the people who named various bird species, because the names are often quite peculiar…… π
He’s gorgeous and so is she!
So are your shots!
I saw a report on H1N1 bird flu. All birds (domestic and wild) are in danger, due to climate change. We are destroying hundreds of thousands of chickens here. It’s crazy. If we see dead birds, they want us to collect them (with rubber gloves and a mask on) seal in plastic and call the health department.
I know it is horrible. It spreads rapidly and decimates wild birds. In the USA it has not yet gone west of Utah. If it does all Holler feeders will need to be shut down, which is terrible for all the nesting birdies α
Aww! αα
My niece and her husband need to take down their bird feeder in Winnipeg. At issue, though, is the fact they have been having extra cold weather and blizzards this April.
Squirrels, rabbits and more have been using the feeder and what spills onto the snow to survive.
It is a really tough call.
I would have this lovely couple over for tea (or seeds) any day! π
They are the most lovely neighbors! α
In addition to the photos of the winsome couple, I enjoyed your commentary!
Smiling…… I am happy you enjoyed Liz & thank you! α
You’re welcome!
α α
Awesome shots and beautiful commentary.
Thank you very much Michael α
Most welcome. My pleasure.
αα
Excellent shots and post. Thank you. π
You are most welcome & cheers to you α
Beautiful images Cindy and they are such gorgeous birds! π
Thank you! I love them α
The females might not be as flashy, but I still like them! They look sturdier somehow, I think. Great photos, Cindy!
Thanks much Debbie & I am happy you like her! α
Wow! β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈπ
Happy you liked them! α
Sometimes it’s better to be less ostentatious. (I think of that every time I get into my car!)
Less is more…….. α
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What a lovely pair!
Aren’t they wonderful! α
We’ve occasionally seen these birds here in the past, but not for several years. This is true of many of our occasional species. I wonder what is happening to them. Pesticides? Lit up city buildings that kill so many migratory birds at night? Something is changing, and not for the better. Great pictures, and I’m glad you are still seeing these birds.
Bird populations have been steadily declining mostly due to habitat loss, but the factors you mention contribute as well. Avian Flu is now ravaging the east and Midwest. It is not yet west of Utah. Avian flu arises from large scale avian agriculture and shipping, and decimates wild birds. The poor birds are under siege. I am sorry you are seeing the effects α
Yes, I’m sorry too. I had heard a bit about avian flu making a comeback but haven’t heard any details. I hope it runs its course quickly without too much damage. I really love birds, and these obstacles they face make me so unhappy.
I do truly love people who love wild birds. α
She’s one of the prettiest female birds – another favorite. I love the warmth of sun colors π
I think she is lovely too. I love the pale yellow and little brown dashes α
Good-looking birds. Did you take these photos on your property?
Yes I did. The Holler is ‘definitely for the birds!’ α
Laughed about the ‘dashing Romeo,’ Cindy. It’s hard to pull off when wearing your lunch! π βCurt
Laughing…… I should have said, dashing, hungry Romeo. “Romeo, Romeo where art thou?”
“I’m in the bird feeder stuffing my beak.”
They are a happy couple . I think her husband is having a snack .
Yes he is! Maybe he’s bulking up to help out. Plus he could be hungry π
These are such fabulous photos of rather handsome birds whose personalities youβve beautifully captured
So appreciated! Thank you Sheree α
Youβre very welcome Cindy
αα
Oh I’ve never seen a grosbeak before – they are both beautiful birds. I also appreciate the more subtle beauty in the female birds. Even the really plain ones. Thanks for sharing these pictures!
You are most welcome & I am happy to make the introduction α
So beautiful!
Alison
Happy you like them Alison & cheers my friend π€£
These are great Cindy, but I couldn’t live there. I’d forget to eat with all of these guys distracting me everywhere π π€£ β€οΈ ππ½ π¦
Plus, they risk eating you out of house & home! π€£
Your photos do an AWESOME job in highlighting the extreme difference between the sharp talons and beaks and the delightfully soft feathery torso that looks like a pillow!
Do you know what are the crumbs around the beaks in the first few photos?
Thank you very much. In the first photo, it is a dried corn kernel in the female’s beak, in the fifth photo it is the shells of millet seeds on the birds beak, and the black seed in subsequent photo is a sunflower seed. α
A very handsome pair… I hope they have a nest full of babies!
I hope so too. Cheers to you Eliza α
I think “not as flashy” is classic and I like that. She is a beauty π
Excellent pictures of these cute friends.
Thank you & I appreciate class more than flash myself α
I like your grosbeak birds. Thank you Cindy. π
I am so pleased you like them & hope all is well with you my friend α
Beautiful closeups of this interesting bird Cindy, beautifully showcased.
Thanks so much & cheers to you α
You captured the beauty …. even the messy eaters who must learn to wipe their face before getting the picture taken.
Smiling…. It is so much fun to photograph them. They have no stylists. They are innately stunning α
Enjoyed the cute narrative with the well captured pics!
It’s lovely, Cindy!
So honored you think so and thank you α
These are magnificent and your captions are entertaining! π
You make me happy Michele. Thank you α
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Amazing shots Cindy! Thank you!
You are so welcome, Birds show us how to be happy α
Both are lovely.
They are α
Beautiful colors and amazing detail
Thank you. Birds are hope on wings α
Another wonderful set. It is fascinating how avian males always seem to be the more brightly colourful
Yes, they can draw attention away from nests! And thank you Derrick.
Dammit – Derrick is still Anonymous
It is super frustrating. I am sorry Derrick. Thank you for taking the extra time to tell me αα
What a delightful couple. Thank you Cindy for capturing them so well π·ππ·
Thank you more for appreciating them Val & cheers to you α
Cindy, your stellar photography never disappoints. Thank you for sharing.
Your thoughtfulness is so appreciated Mary Ann α
My pleasure, Cindy. It is good to remain connected to others! Have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead. oxox
Visa versa 2UX2!
Cindy, thank you. What flowers are in your garden now? oxox
Oh boy. So many. The matijila poppies are blooming up a storm, so are the roses and David Austin roses. Everything is blooming, evening primrose, sweetpeas, rock rose, pincushions, nasturtiums, whirling butterfly bush, butterfly bush, The grapefruit and lemon orchards are blooming and all the cacti.
That’s a CA climate for you! Besides nasturtiums, sweet peas and some cacti what are edible? Poppies are gorgeous. Your entire garden must be. I use lemons almost daily. Our growing season in Upstate NY is limited. Do you already have posts of your garden for me to refer to? Sounds fantastic to me!
I post some, especially when in flower, under category Holler Happenings. We have a pomegranate orchard which is blooming now too, all the herbs you can think of including lots of lavender, and we have a few avocados. We also have a lot of white grapes and a few apples which are not right for our climate, but they grow, sort of. I didn’t plant them. I always grow veggies too. I am going to post some of our David Austin’s and the Matijila Poppy flowers soon. I have noticed that plants in upstate NY burst forth during the shorter growing season and put on an exuberant and gorgeous display. It may be shorter season, but it is more enthusiastic!! π
Cindy, thank you for noticing our exuberant display in the gardens. My favorite juice has been organic pomegranate for breakfast. We have our herbs indoors until we can move them outside. You have an impressive array of plantings. I will have to drop by the Holler Happenings to see your beautiful gardens. Be well. oxox π
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Enjoy the day and nature’s beauty. oxox
They’re a cute and colorful pair. Thanks Cindy!
Most welcome Brad & hope all is well with you α
Yes, thanks Cindy.
αα
Cindy, thank you so much for these beautiful photographs!
You are so very welcome Charles & thank you for your thoughtfulness α
Mr. and Mrs. Grosbeak are beautiful , and you’ve captured their shy personality so well.
So thoughtful and so appreciated Kathy α
Wonderful photos, I like your grosbeak birds. Thank you, Cindy.
I <3 my friends who <3 birds α
Absolutely gorgeous. I feel as if I could reach out and pet each tummy.
Almost as if they would hop right on your finger……. Thank you Gigi & be well α
Oh, Goodness!! I will never tire of these gorgeous creatures!
You get the best shots!!
I have all my life been puzzled why in nature the males are flashier, particularly so with birds! And only tonight as I read this, did it occur to me, that it allows the Moms to be somewhat more camouflaged and the Dadβs can help distract would be predators from the nests!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful creatures!
Cheers!
You are exactly right. The answer was within you all the time. How cool is that! α
Uber cool! βΊοΈππ»
Happy, Glorious Sunday!
αα
Pingback: Mr. & Mrs. Grosbeak~ β – Echoes in the Mist
Grateful for you Sharon. Take good care α
Wow!!
Birds are such! Thank you Jennie α
They are! π
Smart and beautiful! Thank you for introducing this lovely bird. Great images!!
So happy to make the introduction Amy & thanks my friend α
Aren’t they lovely!
Yes indeed. A handsome happy pair αα
Fantastic pictures again, Cindy!
So appreciated & hope all is well with you α
These really are amazing shots. Bootiful! π
So appreciated. Thank you & cheers to you α
Bless yers. π§‘
αα
Nice shots!
Thank you Sharon α
Haha Mr & Mrs Grosbeak! Love it! Your beautiful shots have always been a βbeaKconβ of light and hope in the midst of all the chaos in the world. ββ ( ΰΉΰ₯ΛΜΆβ‘βΛΜΆΰΉΰ₯)ββ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈπ
Birdies are hope on wings! Cheers to you α
π»β€οΈπ
they are so pretty!
They are lovely aren’t they. Happy you enjoyed them Arshia & cheers α
Great close ups! Photos are superb and super sharp! They are both beautiful!
So appreciated! Thanks so much & cheers to you α
Excellent images, Cindy. Great clarity. Love their markings and colors.
Thanks much Jane & I am you enjoyed the Holler honeys! α
We are visiting family in the high desert a bit east of you. I was thumbing through their local bird book to familiarize myself with the western birds. So far, those in their back yard lookβ¦ brown. – Oscar
Oh dear. Keep looking and enjoy your stay! There are are around 600 species of birds where we are, 500 native and the others introduced, but thriving. Of course I have never seen most of them α
We did find a good handful of blooming desert flowers in Red Rock Canyon (hint as to where we are) during yesterdayβs picnic and stroll.
I know exactly where you are. We were just there. Hopefully you are finding pictographs!! Enjoy.
Great shots. I actually like the female better. Orange-bellied birds are pretty common with robins, barn swallows, and towhees, but I don’t see yellow birds very often.
Thanks much. Thankfully some like subtly over flash! αα
Our Grosbeaks just arrived a few days ago. They are certainly striking. We’re hoping to see more youngsters pestering mom and dad to be fed as we have for several years now. We have yet to locate a nest though. (That’s a good thing I suppose.)
How wonderful! I love to watch the juveniles badger their parents for food too. They fluff up their feathers and shake. So cute! I think smart birds build hard to find nests! α
I have to agree about smart birds building where they’re hard to find. I actually caught the begging action of the grosbeak youngsters last year on video, but was too intimidated to try to post it…
Beautiful.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness Jonathan. You are most appreciated α
They make a handsome pair. Lovely.
They are quite the lookers aren’t they. Hope all is well with you α
They both look purrfect to me, Cindy…and did I see a little baby in the picture too, or was it just an introoderπΈPawkisses for a Happy ThursdayπΎπ½π
Love this! My parents were big birdwatchers so I have a soft spot for these creatures . . .
I <3 people who <3 birds! α
Me tooπ
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A beautiful couple they are π <3
Thanks my friend and happy you like them α
A charming couple!
They are indeed. Thanks very much Micheline & be well my friend α
I don’t see many gosbeaks around here, so I was thrilled to look at your photos. Those beaks look like they could crack just about anything!
Yes! They have very strong and large beaks for their body size. They are powerful little nutcrackers! α
Again these birds are a new species to me. Love them π
Grazie mille Sue α