Birding at Meadowlark Ridge

Our bluebird house has been home to many broods of Eastern Bluebirds over the years. It’s great fun to watch them throughout the season and to watch the youngsters grow up before they leave the area.

Our more brilliant blue birds are Indigo Buntings. It's always such a joy to see their vivid color across the fields during their spring and summer breeding season.

The Eastern Towhee is a welcome visitor in the summer. This one rustled up a nice red berry at the beginning of autumn before flying a little further south.

Even though it has a beautiful red head, this is actually a Red-bellied Woodpecker. One of several varieties of woodpeckers we see feasting on dead trees.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are spotted here during their summer breeding season. Their beautiful rose-red breasts are such a joy to see. 

A Killdeer is very hard to spot on the ground. When you approach its nest, though, it starts a distinctive broken-wing act to lead you away. Listen for their namesake call.

This Carolina Wren just found a hearty moth for dinner. Or does this meal go back to the nest for others?

Brown Thrashers can usually be found foraging on the ground during breeding season. They have a beautiful brown color and are exuberant singers. 

Our local Catbirds can be heard during breeding season making all kinds of interesting sounds, not just "mew".

Goldfinches are usually spotted as bright yellow birds in the field. This youngster hasn't quite developed that color yet.

Downy Woodpeckers are frequently seen year-round, right side up and upside down, foraging for food on branches and at the feeder.

It's a race to the suet but don't be confused. The front bird is a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The one with yellow in back is the Flicker, often called a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker. 

The Tufted Titmouse is quite a character to watch. This one found its favorite sunflower seed to carry away and crack open.

We frequently hear the Nuthatches before we see them. They have such a distinctive sound signaling for us to look for their dark gray and white bodies. 

The state bird of Virginia, Cardinals can be especially noticeable in the wintertime. Dogwood trees seem to be some of their favorites for berries - when they can't find sunflower seeds.

Hummingbirds love to visit our flowers and hanging baskets around the house and we love to watch them. The males have the shiny red throats. After breeding season they head south to Central America.

Our cherry trees attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings as the cherries ripen. It’s amazing to watch them pass the cherries from bird to bird in their annual ritual.

Song Sparrows are a special delight to hear singing across the meadows.