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Mid-afternoon - on fence-post in our backyard. I got a kick out of the expression on its face. :o)

Mid-afternoon - on fence-post in our backyard.

Mid-afternoon - at home-made feeder in our backyard, eating sunflower seeds. The chicadees alternated with the red-breasted nuthatch at this feeder.

Mid-afternoon - at home-made feeder in our backyard, eating sunflower seeds. These photos are a bit clearer than the previous one I posted.

Mid-afternoon - at home-made feeder in our backyard, eating sunflower seeds. These photos are a bit clearer than the previous one I posted.

I'm not sure how my husband got this shot of 11 of the 30 - 40 sparrows that are in our yard all the time now. This bunch had been in the lilac bush beside our house, but when I walked by, they swooshed out of it and onto our roof.

Not a very clear photo, I'm afraid, but the little fellow is still identifiable, I think.

One of the 3 that were at the various feeders in our backyard late this afternoon. It was really funny watching them try to get at the sunflower seeds in the tube feeder. The tray was too small for them to stand on and they were flapping their wings like mad to maintain their balance. But they kept coming back. Hopefully they'll discover the sunflower seeds in the larger feeder my husband made just for them.

They also enjoy the mallow seeds.

One of 4 regular visitors to our yard.

The Siskins seem to like goldenrod seeds too.

I love these little acrobats!

The sunflower seeds are really popular!

Just a few of the 30 - 40 Pine Siskins that surrounded me early this afternoon in our backyard.

Early afternoon - a few of the more than 30 House Sparrows and an equal number of Pine Siskins that have "invaded" our yard (and very welcome invaders they are!). It was a BUSY day in the neighborhood today!!

Early afternoon - a few of the more than 30 Pine Siskins that have been coming to our yard in the last couple of weeks.

My husband took this picture a couple of days ago. The Blue Jay family have been even more regular visitors lately.

Just before noon - at the bee balm. I think this plant is what's drawing the hummingbirds. I'm going to have to plant more!

Just before noon - at the bee balm. I think this plant is what's drawing the hummingbirds. I'm going to have to plant more!

Just before noon - at the bee balm. I think this plant is what's drawing the hummingbirds. I'm going to have to plant more!

Just before noon - at the water barrel again. The rest of the 20 - 30 were in the trees and at the feeders.

Just before noon - at the water barrel again. The rest of the 20 - 30 were in the trees and at the feeders.

Just before noon - at the water barrel again. The rest of the 20 - 30 were in the trees and at the feeders.

Early morning, then again around noon - at one of the feeders in our backyard.

Yesterday - early afternoon. While working in one of our flowerbeds, I counted 7 Pine Siskins on & around the finch feeder above me. There were 5 on the feeder and 2 in the tree. My husband took these pics and this one is funny: you can almost hear the young 'un on the right saying, "Where are you going?? Don't you know I'm hungry?!).

Yesterday - early afternoon. While working in one of our flowerbeds, I counted 7 Pine Siskins on & around the finch feeder above me. There were 5 on the feeder and 2 in the tree. My husband took these pics and this sequence is funny: here the 2 juveniles are begging to be fed and in the next photo, you can almost hear the one on the right saying, "Where are you going?? Don't you know I'm hungry?!).

Yesterday - early afternoon. While working in one of our flowerbeds, I counted 7 Pine Siskins on & around the finch feeder above me. There were 5 on the feeder and 2 in the tree.

One of four seen several times through the day, at crabapple tree in backyard, along with a couple of Pine Siskins.

One of two seen several times through the day, at crabapple tree in backyard.

Several times through the day, at crabapple tree and sunflower seeds feeder in backyard.

At sunflower seed feeder.

At sunflower seed feeder. The second one can be seen at the top right of the photo.

Yesterday: mid-afternoon. My husband got this shot of four of the 30 or so sparrows that have been cleaning out the feeders for the last couple of weeks.

Yesterday: mid-afternoon. My husband got this shot of one of the 30 or so sparrows that have been cleaning out the feeders for the last couple of weeks.

Yesterday: mid-afternoon. My husband got this shot of one of the hummingbirds as it flitted among the flowers in our backyard. It can be seen at the top left-hand corner of the photo. It spent several minutes at the beebalm.

Yesterday: mid-afternoon. My husband got this shot of one of the hummingbirds as it flitted among the flowers in our backyard. It spent several minutes at the beebalm and also liked the mallows.

Early afternoon - in crabapple tree and feeder in our backyard.

Photo taken yesterday by my husband. Early afternoon - the siskins looked like they were just relaxing and gazing around the yard while sitting in tray under feeder, occasionally dipping into the sunflower seeds. They sat like that for a good 10 minutes.

First sighting today - around 9:30 a.m. - darting about yard. Then at noon, this time hovering in front of kitchen window near petunias and at feeder. Watched them for a good part of the afternoon, darting about yard from crabapple tree to willow to feeder to various flowers.

First sighting today - around 9:30 a.m. - darting about yard. Then at noon, this time hovering in front of kitchen window near petunias and at feeder. Watched them for a good part of the afternoon, darting about yard from crabapple tree to willow to feeder to various flowers.

First sighting today - around 9:30 a.m. - darting about yard. Then at noon, this time hovering in front of kitchen window near petunias and at feeder. Watched them for a good part of the afternoon, darting about yard from crabapple tree to willow to feeder to various flowers.

First sighting today - around 9:30 a.m. - darting about yard. Then at noon, this time hovering in front of kitchen window near petunias and at feeder. Watched them for a good part of the afternoon, darting about yard from crabapple tree to willow to feeder to various flowers.

One of about 30 that have been at our feeders all week.

One of about 30 that have been at our feeders all week.

At one of our backyard feeders. Photo is blurry because it was taken through a screen.

At one of our backyard feeders.

Mid-morning at backyard feeder. This is the second time we've seen them in our yard.

My husband took this photo of the waterthrushes in our weeping willow several days ago. This is the second time we've seen them in our yard.

My husband took this photo of the pair in our weeping willow several days ago. I'm just now getting caught up on my photos & postings.

All day - anywhere beween 10 and 15 house sparrows, flitting from feeder to feeder in our backyard, completely oblivious to the pouring rain.

Just after 1 p.m. - this little fellow found the one dry spot in the backyard & stayed put for a good ten minutes, until the rain let up a bit and it rejoined the rest of its family.

Around noon or 1 p.m. - flying to & from feeders in our backyard and this one decided to take a bath in the rain!!

Around noon or 1 p.m. - flying to & from trees in our backyard and foraging on ground in flowerbeds.

A couple of days ago - group of 8 (a family, I suspect) in our backyard from early morning till evening, flying from feeder to feeder and bath to bath, skreeling at each other.

A couple of days ago - a group of 8 (a family I suspect) flying around our backyard, to & from feeders, baths, and the water barrel - skreeling to each other.

A couple of days ago - a group of 8 (a family I suspect) flying around our backyard, to & from feeders, baths, and the water barrel - skreeling to each other.

Earlier this week, a juvenile flew into railing on our deck and knocked itself to the ground. Our houseguest picked it up and stroked its back until it recovered. After a couple of minutes, it flew away - apparently none the worse for its experience.

Earlier this week, a juvenile flew into railing on our deck and knocked itself to the ground. Our houseguest, who was stting on the patio, ran over, picked it up and stroked its back until it recovered. After a couple of minutes, it flew away - apparently none the worse for its experience.

Earlier this week, on our back fence around 9 a.m..

Around 4 p.m. on Thursday - a group flitting from feeder to feeder (but mostly feasting on sunflower seeds) in our backyard.

Around 4 p.m. on Thursday - a group flitting from feeder to feeder (but mostly feasting on sunflower seeds) in our backyard.

Mid-afternoon, on our back fence.

Early eveing - foraging on ground beneath sunflower seeds feeder.

Early eveing - sharing the sunflower seeds feeder with the downy woodpecker.

Early eveing - flitting from plum tree to back fence to feeders in our backyard.

Early eveing - flitting from plum tree to back fence to feeders in our backyard.

Late morning, in one of our crabapple trees. I think it's a juvenile, because it flew right over my head, less than 5 feet away and showed no fear of me. It also seemed a bit smaller than the other Blue Jays we've seen.

Around 6:45 p.m. - at one of our backyard feeders.

Mid-afternoon, at one of our backyard birdbaths: a young robin shared with 2 sparrows at first, but soon chased them off and had the bath to itself. It must have felt good in this hot weather!

Mid-afternoon - swooped into yard and startled the robin into flying away, then hopped around the yard and onto the rain barrel before flying away again.

Mid-afternoon - swooped into yard and startled the robin into flying away.

Mid-afternoon, at one of our backyard birdbaths: a young robin shared with 2 sparrows at first, but soon chased them off and had the bath to itself. It must have felt good in this hot weather!

Mid-afternoon, at one of our backyard birdbaths: a young robin shared with 2 sparrows, but soon chased them off and had the bath to itself. It must have felt good in this hot weather!

Late morning - a male & female at one of our backyard feeders. The male is in the back of the feeder.

June 18 - early afternoon at one of our backyard feeders. A few minutes later, the house finch joined the goldfinch and more excitement ensued in our house!

June 18 - early afternoon at one of our backyard feeders. Such excitement when we saw and then identified it!

June 13 - early evening, at rain barrel by our garden shed. Why she preferred the rain barrel to one of the bird baths, I have no idea.

June 13 - around suppertime, at one of our backyard feeders.

Early afternoon, at one of our backyard feeders.

Late morning, at one of our backyard birdbaths.

Late morning, at one of our backyard birdbaths.

Late morning, at one of our backyard birdbaths.

Around 7 p.m. - foraging beneath one of the feeders in our backyard. I took these photos from an upstairs window so as not to startle them by going outside.

Late afternoon. Five at the feeder & 5 on the ground beneath it. Pests!

Around 7 p.m. - foraging beneath one of the feeders in our backyard. I took these photos from an upstairs window so as not to startle them by going outside.

Around 7 p.m. - foraging beneath one of the feeders in our backyard. I took these photos from an upstairs window so as not to startle them by going outside.

Around 6:30 p.m.. This tiny lady tried to get to the feeder, but the cowbirds and redwings crowded her out, so she came hopping around our patio, then flew away.

Late afternoon - early evening: a group of 10 - 12 (the rest were on the ground beneath the feeder) kept flying in, between downpours, feeding like crazy, then swooshing out to take shelter when the rain got too heavy.

Around 6:30 p.m. a single Red-winged Blackbird with a group of Brown-headed Cowbirds kept coming to our backyard feeder in the brief periods between downpours.

Around 6:30 p.m. a single Red-winged Blackbird with a group of Brown-headed Cowbirds kept coming to our backyard feeder in the brief periods between downpours.

Around 7:30 p.m., foraging in our backyard. I startled them when I came around the side of the house - not knowing they were there. By the time I snuck into the house and my husband & I grabbed our cameras, they had scuttled into our neighbors' yards where these photos were taken.

Around 7:30 p.m., foraging in our backyard. I startled them when I came around the side of the house - not knowing they were there. By the time I snuck into the house and my husband & I grabbed our cameras, they had scuttled into our neighbors' yards where these photos were taken.

Male & female at "Hawkestone Pond".