Female Hummingbird

There are at least 2 hummingbirds using my feeder. One is this female. The other one comes in so fast that I have been unable to get a good picture of it.

Great Egret

The weather is starting to cool a little more after 5PM. This Great Egret hasn't left the area yet.

Downy Woodpecker

I have had two very nice Downy Woodpeckers eating out of my suet all summer. Here is a very close-up and clear picture of the male Downy Woodpecker. Notice the short bill and the tuft of nasal bristles on top of the bill. This is what distinguishes it from the Hairy Woodpecker which has a longer bill and no bristles.

This is a permanent resident bird to Northern Virginia. 

Fall Migration through Virginia

The middle of August marks the start of the fall migration. Being in the Atlantic Flyway, Virginia is lucky to have many interesting species traveling through VA as they head south. I am going to keep my eyes open for the warblers as they should be the first wave of migration.

Finally a Hummingbird

Today started out around 75 degrees and a little muggy. That is a lot better in my book than the normal 95 and humid that it is has been most of the summer. With that in mind, I made sure that the seed feeders were stocked and waited to see what would come into my backyard.

I was up in the kitchen looking out when I saw something that looked like a large dragonfly darting around my red flowers. It was a hummingbird. I quickly boiled some water, put in some sugar and red dye and got the hummingbird feeder hung in a good spot on the fence. After about 10 minutes, the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird came back and has been at the feeder on and off all day.

Notice the 3 outer tail feathers are white tipped. 

This is the smallest bird in Virginia and is a summer resident in NOVA.

Gray Catbird

When I was on a walk over by the lake yesterday, a bird flicked by me and landed in a nearby bush. It was a Gray Catbird and it was acting like it had a hurt wing. I would bet that there was a nest nearby.

The Gray Catbird is a summer resident to NOVA. 

Hot enuf for ya

Even the ducks are giving me the "just let me sit here cuz it is hot" look.