A Day Of Young Ones

Field Sparrow. Nancy noticed the wing-bars, I noticed the longish tail. I've been hearing this one but today finally got eyes on the pair. My recent recording. 

Note: Most of these can be enlarged, but not the Field Sparrow, being a distance shot.

Mr. Bluebird and junior.

Mrs. Bluebird was not particularly happy about me and my camera, but I figure she ought to know me by now. Here she feeds the kid hogging the doorway, but then pushes under to feed another one (or two?). 

The missus again.  

Note: I usually shoot through the kitchen window, but today was outside, a few feet closer to the Bluebirds.

Young Oriole. 

Young Red-winged Blackbird. 

 White-breasted Nuthatch, I'm sure the one on the right must be a kid. 

Mrs. B. stocking up at the sushi bar. 

 Couldn't resist adding this handsome fellow!

Finally, this is the first year we've seen the new generation of Hairy Woodpeckers at our feed-zone. Brother and sister perhaps?  Of course that's Mr. Oriole in the middle.

Note: This was originally a single shot but I sort of scrunched it up a bit.

Weekend Birds

June 14, 2015

I awoke to the sound of what I believe to be a Pileated Woodpecker drumming, so I put out the recorder. He/she didn't do it after that of course, but I think I captured the "fast wuk" sound. 
 

Speaking of sounds, I believe this to be the Field Sparrow, who I'd not heard in some  years until a few days ago.

Back to this morning, I was watching what I presume to be a young Hairy Woodpecker (didn't seem very street-wise) who made this sound. 

 Hairy Woodpecker

Today's big project was editing some slow-motion footage at the feeder, where the Red-headed Woodpecker has been visiting.

Here's the Youtube link. And another (more of the same).

 Red-headed Woodpecker
JPG from the same series the animated GIFs were made from in the previous post.

Animations

Bluebird Semaphore. Conducting a symphony? 

Or maybe trying to get me to put more worms out!
More of this Bluebird on youtube: 
https://youtu.be/zytOD6aBs0E and https://youtu.be/2AFUts1V2_4

 Catbird goes for suet? News to me!

 That little bandit, the Common Yellowthroat.

Last but not least, the oh-so-impressive Red-headed Woodpecker. 

I spent some time waiting for this guy.

Being animated, these are all GIFs. 

Should I do a post with better quality JPG stills of these? 

June 9, 2015 (all)

Early Bird Gets Worm

A couple of lucky shots here. It's amazing to me how they can reach like this without falling in but I suppose a judicious flap here and there helps defy gravity. 

This would be her ladyship. We're hoping their eggs hatch any day.

Friday June 5 2015

I don't see other birds doing this single-wing flap. I call it Bluebird semaphore. 

I've seen them both do it but I think himself does it more.

Wednesday June 3 2015

May 5 2015

After months of nothing, such that we let the house wrens move into the BB house, a pair of Bluebirds showed up on Saturday (just before Memorial Day US holiday), showing interest in occupying.

I removed the house wren nest (with 6 eggs) and the BBs immediately took over.

Of course the Wrens weren't too happy, but now I know they're BB egg destroyers I'm rather less fond of them. Either way, shortly after that I saw that they were moving into a 'wren house' I'd mounted under our deck years ago (but never seemed to be occupied).

Their nest with eggs was still somewhat intact so I carefully put it in a milk jug and hung it under the wren house. They noticed it right away and appeared to be reworking it when we left for our weekend.

Coming home today I'm glad to report that the Bluebirds are still around.

The wrens, however, appear to have abandoned the milk-jug nest for the wren house where I assume they've started over.  

 A composite of 3 shots. Male left and right, female is the middle two.
Eastern Bluebirds.
June 7 2015.