The Backyard Bird Rest Stop

Today I settled onto the back porch with my camera and a simple goal: to photograph the birds visiting our backyard rest stop. Throughout the day, they arrived to refuel on seeds and flower nectar, pause for a drink, or splash enthusiastically in the birdbath. Each species seemed to keep its own schedule, as though the garden were a well-organized little station along a busy avian highway.

The birds clearly prefer this bath to the one in front. Here they can perch—or dangle—along the rim while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. It offers some protection from potential predators, although the occasional sparrowhawk remains a danger from above.

Hummingbird Heaven

Anna's hummingbird enjoys a penstemon.

Juvenile hummingbird rests ona wire

Hummingbird contemplates life.

Mourning Dove

Lesser Goldfinch

Juvenile Grosbeak and Lesser Goldfinch

Male Black-headed Grosbeak

Femail Black-headed Grosbeak

Lesser goldfinch watches a dark-eyed junco take a bath.

Dark-eyed junco dries off after taking a bath.

Purple finch shares seed with a black-headed grosbeak.