July Backyard Birds

We have had a great variety of birds in our backyard over the years. We live above Burns Bog and have been feeding birds since the early 80's. However, our primary bird seed feeders are located in spots that don't lend themselves to photography.

However, the hummingbird feeder is on our back porch, and down below we have a nice large flat bowl that we keep filled with water. I always take my camera out with me when sitting on the back porch.

This is a sampling of birds seen while enjoying the summer heat on the porch.

Anna's Hummingbird

We keep the feeder filled year round as the Anna's here do not migrate south in the winter. They have a very early breeding season to avoid competition with the much more aggressive Rufous Hummingbirds. They arrive in early March and take over for a couple of months.

I believe the birds in the photos below are juvenile male Anna's. The photos were taken two weeks apart, so it might be the same bird. The second one is definitely a male.

Anna's Hummingbird (Imm) - Backyard, North Delta BC - June 30 2016

Anna's Hummingbird (Imm) - Backyard, North Delta BC - July 13, 2016

We have resident chickadees year round and not just Black-capped.

Black-capped Chickadee - Backyard, North Delta BC.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Backyard, North Delta BC.

The American Goldfinches come and go, sometimes we see them in winter in their dull basic plumage. In the summer we see them in alternate (breeding) plumage.

Here's a male that I waited just a bit too long to snap the shutter.

American Goldfinch - Backyard, North Delta BC.

About 15 minutes later I was more alert and captured this female at the water dish.

American Goldfinch (F) - Backyard, North Delta BC.

American Goldfinch (F) - Backyard, North Delta BC.

We also have an apple tree in the back yard which attracts birds when the apples ripen.We see Downy Woodpeckers practically every day at our suet feeder, but it was a treat to see one in the apple tree.

Downy Woodpecker - Backyard, North Delta BC.

Another bird I hear in the yard but struggle to see is the Bewick's Wren. I have heard it numerous times this year, but have not seen it, never mind taken a picture. There's still a third of the year to go so I still have hope.

That's it for this post, the next one will be from August.