Spring Backyard

 The old pear tree is in bloom.

A female Purple Finch stopped by.

"I come here every spring."😉

"I live here.  In spring, I come with my girlfriend."👍🌷💕

One Summer Morning

 At the wetland, a couple of young California Squirrel were taking a morning nap.

"Do not bother us.  We are taking a suntan this morning☝."

One Pie-billed Grebe was swimming with ducks.

"The morning time in the pond is nice and quiet😄👌."

In the bush area, one female Purple Finch was watching me.

"I saw you the other day👀👀😁."

Not House Finch

Have you ever seen a Purple Finch?  They look like House Finch, but they have a prominent eyebrow and the male has deep purple pink.

 

"I am a female, so I do not have deep pink purple."

"I am a pretty male."

"I came with a friend."

Spring Visitor

In spring Purple Finches sometimes stop over.  They are deep pink colored, a lot brighter than a male House Finch.  

One day I saw two munching sunflower seeds.

Another day I saw one at the bath.

Then they eat the tender spring apple leaf buds.

"I love the spring delicacies."

A Rare Visitor #3

Before the stormy weather last weekend, I found a Purple Finch visiting my backyard.  It is difficult to tell one from a House Finch.  Only when I enlarge the picture, I could tell the difference:  Purple Finch has the deep pink color and the white eyebrow.

"I stopped over to quench the thirst on a nice day."

"I look like a House Finch, but my color is deep pink."

Amongst the Wisteria Blossoms

Next three days, it will be hot like summer.  In the backyard, the wisteria is in full bloom, attracting many living things.

Honey Bee:  "I like the sweet taste."

Purple Finch, female:  "I just like to hang around for a visit."

Anna's Hummingbird:  "Nothing better than fresh sweet juice!"

After a Long Absence

After a long absence, a male Purple Finch stopped over the other day.  He looks like a House Finch, but his color is deep pink.

"I like to eat your seeds."

"I have a white eyebrow."

"Be nice to me, Uncle Junco."

Roasted Sunflower Seeds

First it looked like a House Finch but the behavior was somewhat different.  House Finch hardly eats at a bird bath feeder placed on the patio during the winter months.  So to find out who it really was,  I looked through the camera lens.  Aha !  Just as I suspected, it was a rare visitor:   a Purple Finch with the deep pink head and white eyebrows.

"I haven't been here for a long time, but I took a chance 

to come and check.  I am glad I found a lot of sunflower seeds here."

"I am almost full."

Deep Pink Color

The outside temperature registered just like in early winter.  Below the patio roof, it was shady and cold.

The other day I saw two deep pink colored Purple Finches.  They do not live here; sometimes, they stop over for a short visit.

"I am a Purple Finch.
Look at my pretty deep pink."

 

"I can be hidden amongst House Finches."

Later I saw a couple of female Purple Finches, too.

"I like your sunflower seeds, too."

"Especially these home grown ones."

Hello Again

Amongst the little birds I saw during the coast range outing was a Purple Finch, a pretty deep pink colored bird.  Once in a while, one comes over to my backyard. 

"Did I see you before?"

"Here in the woods, I can visit with many
of my bird friends and dine at
the same time.  What a nice place!"

A Cold, Frosty Day

Today a cold and frosty day arrived and, according to the weather forecast, will continue on for a week.

Here is the art work of Frosty the Snowman.

Another work was found on Charlotte's web, too.

Birds are made lot tougher than humans.  Out in the backyard, little birdies were out as usual.

"I am armored with down feathers to keep me warm."

On a frosty wisteria vine, Ms. Purple Finch bumped into Mr. Townsend's Warbler.

Townsend's Warbler(right):  "Nice to see you again.  I saw you last winter, didn't I?"
Purple Finch(left):  "Yeah.  I do remember your prominent yellowish mask."


Then a bunch of cotton ball like little birds start swishing into my blueberry bush.

"Hi, I am a Bushtit.  In a big flock, we travel from one place to another in search of the suet.  Oftentimes other friends mingle and fly with us."

Purple Finch

A Purple Finch comes to my backyard once in a while.  Last year I noticed in the fall and again this year.  Looking similar to the House Finch, a regular resident of the backyard, I often notice the differences on a computer screen.

#1 Difference:  eyebrow (more showing in a male)

Next day, Mr. Purple Finch showed up at the same place.  His wife might have told him to check on this new feeder.

#2 Difference:  male color is deep pink (not pink or orange of House Finch)

On a sunny day after a week of rain, it decided to explore on the ground a little bit just like the other birds were doing.

 And onto the fence where it was warm and comfy, it stayed there for a while before flying away.

Come back soon.