While I’ve not been taking too many photos, I’ve still been doing a bit of bird watching. Sometimes it’s fun to simply observe without worrying about taking photos.
Had to quit feeding most of them for a bit while Chip, the stray cat, hung out with us. However, now that he’s in a much better new home (hopefully, still no word on things), I’ve returned to feeding my backyard birds. And they’re starting to return.
They’ve never been bothered by my original assistant. She’d much rather snooze on a deck chair or the railing than put in the effort required to nab one.
Here’s what I’ve spotted in the backyard over the course of the past week.
Our Hummingbird
I see more than one hummingbird (sometimes around the front porch getting in the sage and lavender as well!) but this fellow insists he owns the backyard feeder. 
As it becomes closer to time for him and his cohorts to depart, the feeder empties at a record pace. I clean it and fill it completely once a week. By the end of the week, it looks like it does in the photo, low on food with a few black spots (my guess is ants are causing the spots as a few never fail to get in there despite the ant guard).
One morning, I observed the most interesting interaction between the tiny hummingbird and our little gray cat. The cat was in typical style lounging on the deck rail just behind where’d I’d moved an almost blooming fuchsia. 
The hummingbird zipped over to in front of the cat and flew all around her. Almost as if he was checking her out to make sure she wasn’t competition for his food. She just watched him with a “what now?” expression on her face.
He’s also flown toward me and “danced” around a bit one day. I did read where hummingbirds recognize humans. Perhaps he was trying to give Chelsey (our little gray cat) a message about his feeder as well.
Returning Regulars: Chickadees and Tufted Titmice
As I’ve returned to doing a bit of birdwatching, I’ve also noticed more of the returning regular birds in the backyard. One day I spotted no less than 6 chickadees on the fence by the feeders!
Happily the tufted titmice returned to the feeders as have the cardinals, sparrows (mixed thoughts on that), house finches, and a nuthatch.
I managed to capture photos of a chickadee and tufted titmouse.
A Parting Scene: Story From the Front Yard
One day while doing a bit of cleaning in the living room, I heard a commotion of crows out front. They were louder than the neighbor across the street’s rooster (story for another day but do know roosters do not crow only at dawn and they are LOUD). I opened the door to see why all the fuss.
Perched on the telephone pole across the road sat one of our Cooper’s Hawks. Knew I’d heard one earlier in the week but never spotted it. Ran to get my camera, returning, of course, as he gracefully made his exit toward the wooded area further down the street.
Almost immediately after he flew away, this Eurasian collared dove flew up and claimed the spot previously occupied by the hawk. It was like he was saying “That’s MY spot.” (I do often see doves of all sorts on that pole and the wires by it).
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Linking up with the Bird Depot hosted by Anni over at I’d Rather B Birdin’.
