Photo Challenge – Whatsoever is Lovely – Birds, Bees, and Butterflies

The last three days have seen sunshine, torrential rainstorms, steady rain, and sunshine once more. Camera in hand, I photographed some of the lovely residents of my yard and gardens. They are perfect for Xingfu Mama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge #25.

The Catbirds have been busy flying through the yard in search of insects and visiting the non-melt suet we have hanging on a Shepherd’s Hook. Evidence of the success of their busy lives was in the backyard two days ago.

How sweet, and how glad I was that he/she could fly. I like the hold the fledgling has on the composter. The baby birds seem so vulnerable. I said to my husband, “It is amazing that any survive the pitfalls of backyard fledging.”

The parent birds have been fruitful and are very attentive throughout the fledging period. Raucous warning chirps and screeches reverberated through the yard all day as the baby bird found its way.

Three Little Bees, I am singing the Bob Marley song, ‘Three Little Birds,’ with the substitution word of Bees in place of Birds. These three bees seemed fine sharing the Milkweed blooms among themselves.

Cabbage Whites are sometimes considered pests. Their caterpillars devour cruciferous vegetable leaves. Still, up close and personal, I love their pristine wings and mint green eyes. One of these days, I will paint their beautiful faces.

Pheathers – Catbird Antics

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I’m partial to catbirds and mockingbirds. I love the way they can sing the song of many other birds. Mockingbirds tend to sit on the highest of trees in my neighborhood. From the top of their world they serenade me with amazing tunes. The catbird has quite a melodic voice too, but what I love best about a certain catbird who visits my yard is his/her ingenuity.

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My catbird has discovered the suet cage I have hanging on a shepherd’s hook in my herb garden. The suet feeder is made for smaller birds, or woodpecker/flicker types that can cling to the bottom and peck out suet from that vantage point. The cage will not allow larger birds or squirrels to get to the treat. The catbird is able to glean a few nibbles from what falls to the ground, but it does not satisfy him, instead it incites him to want, “more, More, MORE!”

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“What’s a catbird to do?” Why learn to hover like a hummingbird of course. This past week I stood at my back window and watched in amazement as this brilliant birdie beat his wings so fast he managed to hover beneath the feeder long enough to grab snippets of suet.

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I had to laugh when he peeked around the side and glared at me as if to say, “Humph, I guess I showed you.” I love my catbirds!

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The Catbird’s Song

Public Video Courtesy of: YouTube – Donna L. Watkins