HOME BIRDS
Friendly & Fearless - The young nuthatches are priceless with their nasally muffled calls. Yesterday I had one lined up for a picture when it disappeared. I looked up, and it was sitting on the end of my lens. Later, one landed on the fencepost 30 cm from my shoulder.
An Elusive Bird - In the shadows or behind a leaf seems to be the only way I see the Warbling Vireo. One of these days ...
Growing up Quickly - It didn't take long for this juvenile Towhee to start getting some orange feathers.
Another Successful Year - It's always fun to have a yard full of playful young hummers. The adults disappeared about 2 weeks ago.
New Feeder Birds - For the first year the Bandtail Pigeons have discovered my seed feeders. Unfortunately, the feeders were meant for little birds so they're just picking up the scraps.
Junco City - With the addition of quite a few young ones, there's no shortage of Juncos around the yard.
June 16 - It was very kind of some acquaintances to invite me over to their home to visit their hawk nest. It was in the crotch of a giant maple, and it was the first Redtail nest I'd ever seen.
Hello Hawklet - How old do you think it is? 3 - 4 weeks?
A Pair or 3? - My friends said they saw a 3rd one that seemed a bit younger.
June 23 - A Week Later
My, how they have grown!
Ready to Fly? Looks like someone is ready for flying lessons.
June 23 - More Homebirds
Welcome Back - After a hiatus of 3 years, I put a nest box up for the swallows. They moved in immediately and I think they are on their 2nd family.
The trill of my resident Orange-crowned Warblers is one of the most frequent sounds in my yard.
June 23
Legacy Marsh
I hadn't taken any pictures of a Willow Flycatcher this year so it was a good excuse to visit Legacy Marsh.
One of the first birds I saw was a female cowbird. Despite my distaste for her habit of brood parasitism, I decided to post her photo. She looks innocent enough but she's searching for another nest to make a deposit.
Last year I caught the Marsh Wrens when they were barely fledged. I was a week late this year, but they were in the same bush.
The female Western Tanagers like me, but the males seem to keep their distance.
After an hour trying to take pictures of Willows that were too far away, I found one waiting for me right by the car.
It was most cooperative, allowing for all the images I wanted.
June 25 - Shakespeare Returns
The telltale chirps of an annoyed robin betrayed the early morning presence of a silent visitor.
A day earlier I had wondered if Shakespeare the Barred Owl would be visiting us this year.
As usual, Shakespeare was camped in the forest trying to catch a few zed's.
June 26 - Mt. Washington
Sun, snow, crisp mountain air, and non-stinging mosquitoes. (The mosquitoes will be hungry soon.) It's always worth a visit or 2 every year. Unfortunately, there was too much snow on the trails to lug my camera up to Lake Helen MacKenzie, so we enjoyed a peaceful and relaxed stroll around Paradise Meadows instead. I was surprised not to see any Gray Jays even as were stopped for a picnic, but I was even more surprised to see about 10 Spotted Sandpipers as I had never seen them there in the past. The only other birds were Robins, Juncos, Winter Wrens, Brown creeper, Northern Flicker, Towhees, Band-tailed Pigeons, White-crowned Sparrows, Turkey Vultures, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
When I post flowers, you know I didn't see many birds.
Cleaning House - Without the benefit of indoor plumbing, the Red-breasted Sapsuckers have to take care of the waste the old-fashioned way.
Teamwork - One takes the stuff out while the other takes the stuff in.
June 27/06
Buttertubs Marsh
A Tale of Romance, Chivalry, and Intimacy
It was a peaceful late spring morning at Buttertubs. The lily pads were stunning with their gorgeous blooms, and love was in the air.
Mr. P.B. Grebe was in the mood and decided to propose to his favorite lady.
He promised to love, honor, obey, and build her a nest. She graciously accepted.
They were settled down on their comfortable floating nest when a young suitor challenged Mr. P. B. for Mrs. P. B.'s wing.
True to his vow, "Til death do us part," Mr. P. B. was prepared to defend his bride.
Displaying the poise and power of a veteran, Mr. P. B. was brilliant in meeting the challenge.
Before long, the young suitor was defeated and sent packing.
To the victor goes the ... hmmmmm ....
Yes, it was a peaceful late spring morning at Buttertubs ...
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