Garden

[Witchy Woman]

A Painted Bunting has been spotted in Maryland!

While I have seen an Indigo Bunting in my back yard, I have never seen another bird as beautifully colored.  Until now.

There are many stories on the sighting, so you can find them if you like.  However, I must post a picture (not one I took, by the way).  Nature at her most glorious!

[BlueFinch]

How beautiful. Thanks for sharing a pic. 

[JYWilliams]

What a beautiful bird with a rainbow of colors.

[Witchy Woman]

@BlueFinch 

Amazing, isn't he/she?  I am not a bird watcher, but live in the woods and love seeing them.  We used to have numerous feeders and would have upwards of 20 Cardinals and Finches all winter. 

For several seasons, I had an Indigo Bunting that would visit.  I cried the first time I saw him.  A tiny bright teal blue spotlight in the woods.  They are amazing.

However, the squirrels and other critters destroyed and emptied EVERY feeder we tried...even those claiming to be squirrel proof.  They tore them out of the trees and off their stands.  Even tearing down my suet cake holders. 

So, I gave up feeding them.  Now, I rarely see any Cardinals.

I just watch the parade of other birds...and Wild Turkeys, but don't put out any food 

[Lilysmom1]

@Witchy Woman , I am in Nova Scotia.  One late Fall day I looked in my back yard from my seat in the living room and I caught the sight of a turquoise rag in my garden.  Then I saw it move.  It was an indigo bunting, very unusual sighting in my location.  I managed to get some photos.  It was strikingly beautiful.  It came to feed on my holly berries.

Some research showed it was the northern extent of its range and was probably blown in during a storm.  So beautiful.  I have since seen several at once and one time only.  What a treat!

Thanks for posting your find.  

[Witchy Woman]

@Lilysmom1 

Just to be clear, I have not seen this beauty, but it was spotted in Maryland (where I live).

There is some question about why it is this far North this time of year, and it has caused a huge stir among birders who have rushed to spot him.

The Indigo Buntings alone are impossibly beautiful in person.  So tiny and bright!  But his bird is amazing.  

I'm not much on going out into the cold and watching for birds, but if they are in my back yard, I take great pleasure.  I doubt I'll ever see one of these beauties in person.

[DSD2]

A visual treasure! Simply stunning.

All credit to you, the photographer. to capturing the glorious colors in all their glory,

[Witchy Woman]

@DSD2 

See my post above...not my photo, and I apologize if my original post mislead.  I just couldn't resist letting others see what it looked like.

[BlueFinch]

@Witchy Woman Yes, it's a shame that the squirrels prevent us from enjoying our feathered friends. I can't feed anymore either.

In S. TX., we don't have many colorful birds. I have some Cardinals and Jays, but otherwise it's shades of brown and gray. So, it makes me really happy to see the colors some display in other parts of the country.

I LOVE birds, preferably in the wild, but my father had a huge aviary, of over half an acre. He was well known. He even consulted with our large city zoo, being a bit of an expert in setting up the healthiest environments. Birds in his care had to have the best of everything. I learned from him to fully appreciate their beauty and value to the world. It was a special gift.

And, that kinda explains how I became BlueFinch .

[Still Raining]

Oh my, wish we had such a delight out here.

We do have year round hummers.  Now I have the time, I do think some have been given names 🥳