More 2022 Backyard Birds

Here are a few more photos taken in our backyard this spring.  I tried to get some new species to go with interesting photos from our most common birds in the Kansas City area.  We are still waiting for the Hummingbirds to arrive in numbers.  We keep the feeder full of fresh food.

Blue Jays are plentiful but they are so nervous that they don't sit still very long.

Bluebirds are among my favorites.

Black-capped Chickadee

A Nuttall Woodpecker

Female Cardinal

A Mourning Dove stretching its wings.

Red Winged Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole

A snoozing dove

Why did you wake me up?

Turkey Vulture 

2022 Baltimore Orioles in the Kansas City Area

The Baltimore Orioles are back for 2022. Unfortunately, they are on their way to other places and will be gone soon. Feeders need to be orange/red to catch their eye. Sliced oranges, grape jelly, mealworms, and even hummingbird syrup are their favorites.

Grape jelly is still dripping out of his mouth/

Eating grape jelly

2022 Backyard Birds - 4/28/2022

These photos were actually taken last Saturday, the day before Easter.  I would expect that I will have more posts this spring as birds pass through our neighborhood.  My goal is to get migrating birds that are only here a few days each year.  We are so lucky to have a large park bordering our backyard.

Okay, this isn't a bird.  This is Miles, our favorite neighborhood cat.  He likes birds too.

This is the glamor shot without a mouth full of food.

I added this extra photo to show how sloppy birds are when they eat at  a feeder.  Five seeds hit the ground for the one in his mouth.  Not a problem since we have roving herds of wild turkeys who pick up the dropped seeds.  Sometimes, the deer get there before the turkeys.

This Bluebird got some protein to go with the seeds.

Female and male Cardinals share the feeder box.

Carl's Midwest Soccer Tournament - 3/27/2022

My cousin, Myrt Carlson's grandson, Carl Wilson, played in a soccer tournament last Sunday at the Scheels Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kansas.  His mom, Sonya Wilson accompanied him on his adventure.  It was also an adventure for Sigrid and me to attend the game.  This was our first live soccer game other than seeing the US Women's team play years ago at Arrowhead Stadium.  All of the members of this branch of my family tree live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The tournament ran from Friday through Sunday and had teams from a number of midwestern cities.  Carl's team took second place so there was much to celebrate on the way back home.  The weather was nice but a bit chilly and windy.  The photos below are from the first of two games that Carl's team played on Sunday.  They won this game 1 - 0.

Carl wears the Number 36 jersey.

The Scheels Complex is one of the best in the midwest

Half time

The post game celebration

A team photo with everyone wearing their Silver Medals.

Carl and Sigrid.

John, Carl, and Sigrid

Carl and mom Sonya