Today has been warm but rather dull and dreary with threatening, but non-appearing, rain most of the time.  Around 17:30 we gave in and put on the garden sprinklers and within ten minutes we were overwhelmed by the influx of birds, birds and more birds.  At one point we had the following species all in the garden together :

Baltimore Orioles (6 … that’s right, six)

Northern Flicker (2)

Song Sparr0w (2)

American Robins (8)

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker (2)

White-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Cardinal

Common Grackles

Blue Jay (2)

The Orioles were attracted by the sprinkler and then moved to the pond and waterfall before settling down in the Lilac tree.  the Flicker was gorging on ants in the lawn.

Some pictures … apologies for the quality – low light, long distance, hand held:

Baltimore Oriole

Two Baltimore Oriole beside the waterfall

Northern Flicker busy anting

Male Northern Cardinal