Laurie Hillyer Photography

Laurie Hillyer Photography I am an amateur photographer who takes pictures as a hobby. I love to photograph my backyard birds and other wildlife in my yard.

My favorites are hummingbirds, hawks and bobcats. I am not selling any of my pictures but please feel free to share them!

09/08/2026

Today a female Nuttall's Woodpecker came by for some nectar. I don't see her very often. Yesterday a male was here many times. The way you tell the difference is by the color on the top of their head. The red feathers on top are the males and the solid black feathers on top are the females. I'm so glad their beaks fit in those saucer feeders. They seem to prefer them over the orange feeders. I had several of both out today and she chose the saucer feeder.

If you like birds, I have a lot more pictures and videos of them on my page. Please feel free to come by and take a look around.

Nuttall's woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a small, non-migratory bird native almost exclusively to California's oak woodlands and riparian areas, extending slightly into Baja California. Measuring about 7.5 inches long, it features black-and-white barred upperparts, a striped face, and a distinct red crown patch on males.

Look who was just hiding up in my tree. I believe this is the same Immature Coopers Hawk that has been hanging around he...
09/07/2026

Look who was just hiding up in my tree. I believe this is the same Immature Coopers Hawk that has been hanging around here for a while now. I had to get on my knees to be able to take these pictures.

09/07/2026

A male Allen's hummingbird enjoying some nectar while watching out for predators or other territorial hummingbirds. This was taken when there was a break in the rain.

If you like hummingbirds, I have a lot more pictures and videos of them on my page. Please feel free to come by and take a look around.

In early spring, a narrow strip of scrub and chaparral along the Pacific Coast starts buzzing with the sights and sounds of the coppery and green Allen's Hummingbird. Males flash their brilliant reddish orange throat and put on an elaborate show for the females, swinging in pendulous arcs before climbing high into the sky and diving back down with a sharp squeal made by their tails. These early migrants mostly spend the winter in Mexico, but some stay in southern California year-round.
This description is from the "All About Birds" website.

09/07/2026

This is another quick video of the male Costa's hummingbird that is currently guarding the feeder on my front porch. I think he is getting used to me being outside now.

If you like hummingbirds, I have a lot more pictures and videos of them on my page. Please feel free to come by and take a look around.

Costa's Hummingbirds hover above flowers to take nectar and catch small flying insects in midair. Males defend territories during the breeding season around prominent perches and nectar sources. They pick 3–4 favorite perches within their territory, usually a dead twig in a palo verde, acacia, or ironwood, and sing a thin high-pitched whistle to proclaim ownership and keep intruders out. Males perform a looping dive display to entice females to mate with them and also to threaten intruding hummingbirds. They fly straight towards the female, make several loops around her and then fly straight up into the air, returning in a broad U-shaped dive. During the dive they sing a high-pitched whistle. They continue to loop around and perform dives for the female without pause, sometimes for up to 4 minutes, but usually the display lasts for about 35 seconds. If that was not enough to attract the female’s attention, they also hover directly in front of her with their gorget flared. Males typically mate with more than one female and do not help care for the young. Birds breeding in the Sonoran Desert leave the area in the summer and fall, heading towards the coast and areas with abundant flowers. Males and females defend patches of flowers during the nonbreeding season, but they often move around to take advantage of blooming plants. Although they defend nectar sources they are not as aggressive and are subordinate to larger hummingbirds.
This description is from the "All About Birds" website.

09/07/2026

A very wet male Nuttall's Woodpecker trying to stay dry and drink some nectar in the rain. I feel so bad for the birds when it rains.

If you like birds, I have a lot more pictures and videos of them on my page. Please feel free to come by and take a look around.

Nuttall's woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a small, non-migratory bird native almost exclusively to California's oak woodlands and riparian areas, extending slightly into Baja California. Measuring about 7.5 inches long, it features black-and-white barred upperparts, a striped face, and a distinct red crown patch on males.

09/07/2026

Two beautiful Goldfinches taking bathes in one of the birdbath fountains on another gloomy and rainy day.

If you like birds, I have a lot more pictures and videos of them on my page. Please feel free to come by and take a look around.

A goldfinch is a small, active bird with bright yellow feathers that symbolizes joy, hope, and renewal.

I took these pictures a year ago. I put the descriptions under each picture like I have been doing. Sorry, I forgot to p...
09/07/2026

I took these pictures a year ago. I put the descriptions under each picture like I have been doing. Sorry, I forgot to put the descriptions under each picture. If you have any questions on any of these pictures, please let me know. Thank you for understanding.

"These are a few of todays visitors."

I took this picture a year ago."A male Allen's hummingbird enjoying some nectar."
09/07/2026

I took this picture a year ago.

"A male Allen's hummingbird enjoying some nectar."

I posted this a year ago. I have a lot more pictures of this hawk taking a bath in a small bowl of water. "A soaking wet...
09/07/2026

I posted this a year ago. I have a lot more pictures of this hawk taking a bath in a small bowl of water.

"A soaking wet, vocal Immature Coopers Hawk. This was right after it took a long bath in a small bowl of water."

It's time for some of todays memories. I took this picture 2 years ago. I love these little birds!"A Bushtit in a rose b...
09/07/2026

It's time for some of todays memories.

I took this picture 2 years ago. I love these little birds!

"A Bushtit in a rose bush."

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