The Sheer Cutefulness of Kinglets

Getting back home from the mountains has been great. The temperature has dropped here at the coast and it has been comfortable with lots of sunshine and cool ocean breeze which is great walking weather. My blog administrator and birding friend Eve has not been feeling well for a few days so I decided to send her a photo to lift her spirits but didn't label the bird. LOL... She responded to the photo by saying "Well that little cutie would cheer anybody up! Who is he? I'd guess Kinglet just from the sheer cutefulness!"

Here is the photo that Eve guessed as a Kinglet from his "sheer cutefulness"! I love this new word describing these little fluttering balls of feathers. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula measures 4.25 inches long with a wingspan of 7.5 inches. 

These shots of the bird subjects were taken at the San Diego Botanic Garden. There were lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets fluttering around throughout the garden but I got most of the shots of the Kinglet and the Warbler from the parking lot right in front of my van. 

Another new visitor that I spotted at the Garden traveling with the Kinglet also has the "cutefulness" factor. This is the Townsend's Warbler. Setophaga townsendi measures

5 inches long with a wingspan of 8 inches.

Looking at all the bugs on the underleaves of this tree. There is a huge amount of insects for all the insect eating birds that visit this beautiful garden. 

All he has to do is stretch to get a bite to eat!

or just lean forward. 

 

Of course the hummingbirds always rate high on the "cutefulness" scale! A young male Anna's Hummingbird keeps alert. 

A female Anna's Hummingbird stops by a flower for a quick snack. 

Butterflies are always great subjects. They will brighten your mood.

This is an amazing flower. When it turns into a seed pod and ripens, it will explode like a gunshot and produce a silky cotton-like ball that covers the tiny seeds inside. Many birds, especially the hummingbirds will use it for their nest material.

 

Eye candy.

Have a super weekend everyone!