Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Redstarts!

When coming down my stairs this morning (we have a full-glass front door, top and side-lites) I noticed from the corner of my eye a bunch of black, white and red activity at the feeder. Thinking this was probably a nice male Downy or Hairy woodpecker I was delighted to notice a flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at the suet basket. They didn't give me enough time to get the camera in gear, and didn't show since. Our friend has them at her feeder in a more woodsy area, our front feeders are fairly open and exposed, so I was happy to get them visit us this Spring! What a thrill!

This You Tube clip is courtesy Lang Elliott at MusicOfNature.org. I felt this was the best Rose-breasted Grosbeak footage available, and wanted to share this masterpiece with my readers. Again, please visit  http://www.musicofnature.org/home/ , with thanks to Lang!

Still, our next guest was indeed a male Downy which we did get on film.....we love our many different Woodpeckers around here!

Wow, another first this spring, a small troop of American Redstarts in our overgrown creek area this afternoon! How beautiful the adults are in their jet-black and orange plumage. Like the Yellow-rumps, darting high up in the air in an almost aerial acrobatic circus act, catching flying insects around the tree tops. Hope to shoot the photo one of these days.