Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly feasting on nectar of Bull Thistle Flower. {Bull Thistle Plant in Yard - Part 1}

Last year summer one wild plant grew near  our patio door admist  Mint plants, It was tiny with five six leaves, I didn't think much and  left it in the ground, it survived harsh winter and by spring it started to grow taller with beautiful  thorny leaves. Google search based on the  leaf description yielded me result of  Bull Thistle Plant. (Cirsium vulgare) In the month of May it started showing signs of bloom and by first week of June beautiful purple thistle flowers started blooming all over the plant. On July 4th  one beautiful Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly came in search of nectar,  it stayed around flowers for few minutes and that gave me good chance to capture images through Patio glass door. Butterfly images are taken around  11.15 a.m., it was very bright sunny day, glass door acted as a nice filter. I am glad to share these images with you. I will have one more post coming up with American Gold finch images taken while enjoying Bull Thistle seeds. They take several rounds to eat thistle seeds and today one female finch started collected white silky texture material from seeds to use in her nest. Now Thistle bloom is ending, plant is drying and collapsing. Today I removed two dried stems. I am glad that I left this Bull Thistle plant to grow, it was great joy to see it growing and frequented by Gold finches, butterflies, bees and insects.

Simple flower arrangement with Bull Thistle flowers.

Bumble Bee sipping nectar from Bull Thistle Flower.

Dried Bull Thistle flower head.

Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly

Bull Thistle plant is full of spines.

Opened dried Thistle flower head with  silky fiber.

Female American gold  Finch  picking up Bull Thistle seeds.

Happy New Year 2013...Sunset of 31st December. Morning time backyard bird watch on first day of the New year. First time sighting of European Starling in the backyard.

New year Greetings to all my followers, readers and visitors. I wish  you all a very  Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and successful  New year ahead.

During the peak winter time when nature is resting, one
 single beautiful  light pink Gerbera Daisy bloomed in the pot.

On the last day of the year I spent few moments watching the setting sun, it was beautiful Sunset with mix of Grey and  orange clouds. I watched it until bright orange glow vanished and horizon turned all grey. Our first day of the year  started with cloudy, cold and rainy weather. Morning time few birds came to eat seeds from the bird feeder. For the first time I spotted European Starling, also known as Common Starling (sturnus vulgaris). As soon as they landed over lawn they found suet feeder and made few rounds to eat. I could take few pictures through window glass. One more surprise was Squirrel, with her acrobatic stretching skills she made her first entry to the bird feeder. In just two attempts she drained all seeds and by evening she broke two resting hooks of the bird feeder, now I need to buy new  Squirrel proof bird feeder. Enjoy the images taken on the first day of the year.

Common Starling with beautiful black and brown body
  covered with brilliant white spots.

European Starling in NC backyard.

Squirrel skillfully got hold of bird feeder, behind is the suet box.

Squirrel makes second attempt to grab bird feeder.

KharuTai

On the first day of the year I cooked Mix Dal with Black Urad Dal, Quinoa and Masoor. This two whistle pressure pan Dal does not use any powdered spices instead I used whole cloves, shahijeera, black pepper and bay leaf. I will blog Dal recipe in the next blog post.

 Happy Healthy 2013...

Images and video of female American GoldFinch eating boxwood basil seeds, Amaranth/Thotakura Seeds and Black-Eyed susan flower seeds.

Since last few days one pair of American goldfinch is visiting my patio garden to pick  seeds from  boxwood basil plant and Amaranth plant (thotakura/Maathachi bhaji). Both the plants are placed close to my patio door and I am able to see them from living room through patio glass door. Every day these birds make two or  three rounds to pick seeds, they smartly cling to the plant from different directions.  It was fun to observe this pair of American goldfinch while picking seeds. After picking Amaranth and basil seeds, they will jump over to black-eyed susan flowers. Enjoy few pictures of male and female American Goldfinch and one Video of female goldfinch  captured while picking boxwood basil seeds.

Female GoldFinch clinging to Amaranth plant for picking seeds.

Male yellow Finch is beautifully clinging to Amaranth plant.

Video of American GoldFinch picking BoxWood Basil Seeds.

Female goldfinch is  gripping  over black-eyed susan flower to pick seeds.

 American GoldFinch (Carduelis tristis) Eastern Goldfinch / Wild Canary

Female American goldFinch sitting amid  boxwood basil bloom.

Male American goldFinch

Maathchi bhaji

Boxwood Basil Plant before blooming.

Amaranth / Thotakura - Green leafy vegetable

House Finches enjoying bath in the backyard. Two short videos of female and male House finches and some Spring time captured sparrow images.

Today morning I had wonderful time watching female and male house finches bathing in the small clay pot saucer that I have placed in the  patio for birds to drink water. I  watched them from patio glass door. I could take few pictures and took a very short few seconds video as female juvenile house finches enjoyed  splashing water. Later one single male house finch came, took bath and flew away. Quickly one more thirsty male finch came to drink water.  Enjoy few sparrow  images and  two short videos of House finches.

 

Chipping Sparrow - captured during early spring time.

Chidiya

Male house Finch

Male House Finch - Spring time capture.

Thanks for watching....