While working in the garden in early February, I started hearing a light tapping sound along the back fence. A few years ago, I hung mirrors there to break up the space and to reflect the garden. Now the mirrors are attracting a pair of birds.
This little darling, an American female Bushtit, fell in love with her reflection.
Eventually, a second bird joined her, and between them they remained enamored with their reflections. I tried to capture video, but not wanting to scare them away, I couldn’t get close enough. I did take a number of photos, though, by hiding behind a nearby tree.
After a few days, they began flying between two of the mirrors and later ventured into the garden to gather seeds. Sated, they soon returned to the mirrors.
While I rested on the back steps, a stunning California scrub jay came to the water fountain for a long drink. This photo isn’t as clear as the others, but it makes me happy, so I’m sharing it with you. I watched the jay bob up and down in the water, and willed him to stay, but alas, just as quickly, he was off.
I’m making a point of looking for and documenting feathered visitors to the garden, with two water fountains as an added draw. We had heavy rain in January and an average amount the month following, but now we’re at the start of a heat wave, in March if you can believe it, with a heat advisory beginning Monday and lasting for six days. It seems that winter has come to a screeching halt, bypassing spring and heading straight for our too-hot summer. It’s concerning and disorienting.
Other visitors include this California Towhee,
A pair of Lesser Goldfinch
and Anna’s Hummingbirds.
This male hummingbird stood watch on the trellis below the feeder and chased off his perceived competitors. Eventually, a female got her turn.
Just this week, I spotted a mourning dove (no pics), and the crows are ever-present along the drive but rarely in the back garden. I love them all.
How about you? Do you have a favorite fine-feathered friend?
Gardening Nirvana 
Hummingbirds! The goldfinches! The scrub jay! I only know them from books, and here they are in your garden. Then those adorable little bushtits. I wonder what they found so fascinating about their reflection? We have magpie larks (smaller than magpies) that see their reflection, especially in the mirrors of cars. However, they attack the image, thinking it is a rival. Your little ones didn’t seem to be doing that.
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Anne, I’m happy to hear you enjoyed seeing these feathered visitors. One of the things I love about travel is seeing different birds.
These bushtits were happy to engage their reflection, but perhaps since they’re female, they lacked the aggression of a competitive male. They’ve moved on since and I miss them.
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I love hearing the birds returning to my garden but yours seem especially entertaining!
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They’re such a gift, aren’t they? This love affair with the mirrors is new this year. I hope they come back next spring.
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The bush-tits are esp. adorable! Birds really make a garden more alive. When our landscape is nearly barren in winter, feeding birds adds life that I am so grateful for. 💕
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Eliza, I’m glad you can feed the wintering birds. I’m sure that’s delightful. Birds, butterflies, and even the occasional damselfly are welcome.
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I love Bushtits especially they are so sweet, travelling in big flocks in winter. Did you know their scientific name is Psaltriparous minimus…it means little one born singing – isn’t that a beautiful name? I am glad you have water out for them in the coming heat wave.
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I didn’t know either of those things. Thank you for enlightening me. It is a beautiful name. I love learning new and interesting things.
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What beauties you have in your backyard. The birds look both familiar and unfamiliar, with the jay and hummingbird being variations on a theme. So sorry to read about the heat advisory. When will we, as a species, wise up?
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It’s hard to imagine we’ll learn until it’s too late. I’m sad for our children and for all that come after. It never should have gone this far.
But back to the birds. I love them in all their forms, and I’m delighted they enjoy our garden.
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There might be a silver lining. With Iran, Trump and Co. might have finally bitten off more than they can chew. Perhaps the voting public will finally wake up. But what a price!
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The mirror is a good idea.
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Thank you. I’ve seen them used in garden design for years, but only recently thought to haunt the thrift stores for good finds. I love what they add to the garden, not the least of which is visiting birds.
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I love pictures of birds. It’s the only way I get to see them clearly and these are adorable. Maybe the mirror makes them thing they have company? As for a too hot summer. We are going from freezing temps to mid 80’s in one week! Flat crazy and for our altitude and the time of year it’s unheard of. It’s going to be a hard summer. You really are good at sneaking those photos.
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Hello, MH. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the feathered visitors up close. I think you’re right about them thinking they have company. That beats the alternative of a male bird repeatedly attacking its image in the window. Poor little things.
I’m sorry to hear about your dreadful weather. It’s going to be a long summer for many of us. Oy!
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Those bushtits are just so sweet! I enjoy watching and listening to the birds too. We currently have thrushes pecking big holes in our lawn to find bugs. I forgive them for the mess simply because they are so pretty!
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They’re easily forgivable, these feathered visitors.
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Lovely photos Alys. I wish I could fall in love with my reflection these days 🫣 I do love a blackbird. I love their song and the way they run across the ground like little wind up toys although that, and their nests closed to the ground, make them vulnerable.
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It’s always a treat hearing from you, Lynn. I hope you are mananging your days as best you can.
I love your description of the blackbird. Birds are a gift to our sense of well being.
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What sweet little visitors! I bet your garden nirvana is known in the bird world and they recommend it to each other :-)
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That’s so sweet. I like to think the garden attracts lots of beneficial visitors.
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