As it turns out,
Chuck seems to be a girl! The mottled back forehead is starting to lighten up and making room for the characteristical grey and red of the females. The males have an all red head cap. I am still amazed at how quickly birds are growing and maturing.
We got a good amount of rain
the other day, so here are some birds with rain drop jewelry.
(Common Grackle, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove)
MoDo faces
The Mourning Doves in my yard seem to absolutely love the camera. This can be funny fr stuff like these portraits but it can also be a bit bothersome because they can hog a feeder and prevent other birds to get to it. Also in quite an aggressive fashion, as I have witnessed. I am currently considering to set up a mock camera feeder just for them. With a box, a box and a little hand mirror. I’ll let you know if it works.
We got rain yesterday,
and the birds didn’t stop coming, so here is a gallery of feathered wet mops :D
(Robin, Grackle, Cardinal, Blue Jay)
The smallsies
are slowly returning from their baby break. I have seen Goldfinches, Nuthatches and Chickadees more frequently in the last couple of days. They all look a bit rough around the edges, molting and parenthood are taking their toll.
The penguin babies are here!
Well, technically, they are Blue Jays, but their face markings always remind me of penuins somehow :D They have started to come to the bird bath too, so the livestream should be fun today. I’ve had a lot of work and not enough time to go through the many photos I’ve taken but I will post some more this weekend. Have a wonderful Saturday!
Mourning Doves
are so good with the couple photos. I swear they know what they are doing. They can be quite aggressive but always come across so serene in their photos.
Power stance.
I know it is a repetitive pose, but I love it because they all have so much individual character.
(MoDo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue jay, Grackle)
Video: Wilhelm von Grack at the pool
It looks like baby bird season has officially begun. Earlier today, this tiny Grackle showed up, I think the parents just parked it at the pool while they were searching for food. It must have felt good for him to take a bath after spending weeks in a nest with his siblings. We named him Wilhelm von Grack. I will get nothing done in the next few weeks, this bird bath is just way too entertaining :D
The baby birds are coming!
When I set up the feeders this morning, Momma Robin was scolding me in an unusual way. Well, she had a reason - her baby has fledged. And it is the tiniest Robin I have ever seen out of a nest. He can’t even fly yet. This is normal for a Robin fledgling. The parents are leading him around the yard while looking for food, and feed him. The lawn needs to be mowed but I think that can wait another day. Those tail feathers!
Feeder activity is down
as you might have noticed too, and that is because everybody is busy building nests or taking care of offspring. The birds do make quick trips to grab beaks full of goodies for the babies. Grackles are especially talented when it comes to taking large quantities :D While it is always odd to have less activity after the spring migration rush, it frees up time, at least for me. I have used it to get my veggie garden in shape, and things are looking very good this year.
