Juvenile White-winged Dove

My youngest boy was wrapping up his birthday party when I walked out back and was surprised by a seemingly tame young White-winged Dove. It danged near walked right up to me! So I ran back in to get the camera in hopes of getting some shots. Mission accomplished.

It did seem a little skittish when I came back out but if I slowed my pace it relaxed and continued foraging through the leaf litter. It even stopped right in front of me to catch a few rays for a couple minutes.



It then continued walking around and would occasionally display the kind of alert that adults show when figuring out the possible dangers nearby. A sudden stop and a tail pump upward into the air.



I sat in a chair on the back patio and fired away, taking nearly 300 shots, and enjoyed a close encounter while I could.



You can tell the younger birds by the tan feather edges. A lovely little bird.



Who knows, maybe we now have a family that will stay year-round.

Summer Tanager at Moss Park

We headed out to Moss Park for the annual Cub Scout camping trip. Moss park is pretty reliable for several bird species such as Great-crested Flycatcher, Crows, White-eyed Vireos, and the ever present Sandhill Cranes which try to beg for food throughout the day.

As night closed in on us there was a sound I was not familiar with. It took quite a while to zero in on the bird but it finally flew to a new tree and in the gloom I could just make it out. A Summer Tanager! I had only seen them across the marsh at Split Oak Mitigation in the past but this one was right over the campsite.

I vowed to find it again in the morning when the light was better. Sure enough, it was still flying about, this time making the more familiar song calls I am used to. Still, it was hard to find high up in the pines. Even though the calls are quite loud, they seem to come from different spots all at the same time.

Finally, I spotted it at the very top of a pine 30 yards from the tent.



It remained in that spot for a long time allowing my to get some passable ID shots.



Hard to believe it is so hard to locate such a brightly colored bird among the dark green needles of the trees. Easy to love to beautiful calls as it forages high above.

Storm Blows Through

Hopefully, this Jay didn't choke on this large peanut!



Juvenile White-wing Dove stopped by again today. Nice to see him still around.



Then the storm rolled through while we were out getting set up for camping. Much easier for the Mourning Doves to feed when the rain is falling and fewer dangers are about.



Can't wait to see what shows up on the cam after we return from our Scouting event!

Another Day at the Feeder

At least there is a new bird out there today. I will always spare you the 500 shots of Mourning Dove adults.

As for the new bird, a Common Grackle stopped by for a moment.



However, I will still show off baby pictures. The juvenile Mourning Dove is back today.



From time to time I do get some cute pictures of the hungry squirrels. Still need to share those, too.



This is probably the routine for a while. Baby birds should be right around the corner and then migration begins to gear up in a couple months.

Feeding Time

Time to grab a quick bite before the squirrels raid everything. First up, the Jays swoop in to make a choice from the peanuts.



In case the other Jays forgot food was there, this Jay sends out the breakfast call from the feeder.



The main course was already taken but there was still tasty morsels to sift through.



Good to see the young Mourning Dove is still making it through the days and hawk alerts.



Even though this is a bit washed out, I like the way the photo shows off the eye coloration on one of our White-winged Doves.



Another day of frenzied feeding in the backyard!

Of Doves and Love

A lot of doves this week. But some good shots so I thought I would share as not much else is going on.

Here, a really good shot of a White-winged Dove posing for the cam.



"Touch one more seed and I WILL smack you!"



Things are not always so contentious at the tray. Sometimes they all share.



But this male seems to enjoy having the space to himself. "Mine. Allllll mine..."



We also got a great shot of the juvenile Mourning Dove today. Interesting observation: When this young bird was feeding all alone, there were several adult doves all around in the trees and on other structures close by. They seemed to be just watching out for this new life as it fed.



For those adverse to PDA, turn away now! The Northern Cardinals are making out when they think no one is watching.



Hopefully, the new babies will stop by in the near future.

Meanwhile, Back at the Tray Feeder...

One of the shots I have been trying to capture, even on my DSLR, is the Jays grabbing peanuts from the tray feeder. The BirdCam got one fair shot today.



Fun to watch the Jays pick up each peanut, one by one, to seemingly weight them for the perfect shell to carry away. Once they judge them all they fly off to a close branch and break into it and feed. The squirrels have been raiding them first lately but the Jays are finally back in charge.

The White-winged Doves are still around. Longest for my personal records.



Still a ton of squirrel shots to wade through but every now and then there is a particularly cute one.



One other shot of note: We now have a new Mourning Dove in the yard. Though just a back shot, it confirms a young bird.



Young Mourning Doves have tan edges to their feathers that smooth out as they age. Nice to see that some doves have been successful with breeding this year.

Its a Bird, Its a plane,...OK, not a Bird.

Here are some shot from near the house of the launch of Atlantis on mission STS 132.



We have a pretty good view even from Orlando and we try to catch every launch we can.



Only a couple more to go. Going to miss this amazing sight.

Who Invited Dracula?

Never know who might turn up on the BirdCam. Even in broad daylight it seems the vampires lurk! Bluh!!



I don't get a ton of Grackles in the yard until it is Spring breeding season. That is the spookiest shot I have seen in a while.

Even the Northern Cardinal looks a bit sinister today.



The White-winged Dove is watching its back. And the roof. And the trees...



Scary!

Someone Lost a Bird, We Enjoy

We headed to the back yard to let the oldest snip some garlic chives for use in the weekend Scout camp out. He was halfway down the back steps as I got to the door and I had to issue a whispered, yet urgent, "Don't move!"

Why? Because there on the tray feeder was a brightly colored bird. Rather large. Never saw THAT in the yard before. I quickly backed into the hallway and made a break for the camera. It was still there when I returned. My son was just feet away from it.



My brain clicked into action and 'Cockatiel' (Nymphicus hollandicus) popped into place but I still couldn't fully comprehend what I was seeing and photographing. I snapped away like crazy. What a beautiful bird!



It eventually flew of calling. Now I know what that sound I heard yesterday was.



Certainly this was an escapee but from where? It continued to circle the house for the rest of the day. Maybe it belongs to someone nearby. I will have to ask around. Weird.

Random BirdCam Visitors

Just a few quick shots from the BirdCam from the last few days.

The squirrels have now figured out how to perch. Then eat, and eat, and eat...



They eventually get full and head off, making room for the feathered critters. Like my favorite yellow House Finch.



Momma Cardinal still stops by but I hear baby calling so they don't get to stay too long this time of year. Not with that begging mouth to feed.



The jays are now hitting this feeder more. In fact, they are returning to the yard in larger numbers. Must be baby time for them, too.



I think my time watching this side of the house is about over. Migration is through and there shouldn't be any real surprises. I guess I will shift back to the hanging tray feeder out back. Though I will have to sift out more dove and squirrel shots.