Baby Birds are Here

I was heading out to the store and heard the familiar calls of fledgling Northern Cardinals. Glancing out the front window I could see 2 young birds but the adult male was also heading to the ground feeding another one. Three babies out there this year! I tried to get a shot through the screen but the sun being where it was made for a difficult exposure.



I had to slip out the front door and try for a better angle but the babies retreated deeper into the foliage while Dad continued to gather seeds to feed the kids.



Waiting above me for a turn at the sunflower seed was an adult Tutfted Titmouse. I have been hearing juveniles of that species out here, too.



No time to try for more shots. Next time.

Fun in the Backyard

Yesterday was chock full of yard work. Today I got to relax a bit so I decided once I heard the Titmice heading our way I would sit in the yard and see what I could see. It got pretty busy for an hour.

On the way out of the house I encountered the Titmice as they hit the feeders. This family lives in our yard a lot and I got photos and posted about the babies when they first arrived. They show little fear. Seems like they know me, even this younger bird hanging out at the peanut station.



I soon settled into my chair and watched. The younger Northern Parulas are having fun chasing the young Cardinals all over the yard. So many baby Cardinals this year. One of my favorite shots was of one of the adult Parula searching in the shade.



Even now and then, the baby Blue Jays would venture in to grab a shelled peanut.



Round and round they flew and ate and flew. It is always fun when they perch right next to me to see what I am up to. Usually so close I can't get a shot with the zoom, but sometimes...



Joining in on the feeding was a male Downy Woodpecker. He was circling the tree trunks so I had to wait for him to find a branch facing me for better views.



A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew in but too close for a focused shot. I was hoping the Parulas would settle down for me but they were zipping by like crazy. Finally, something slowed one of the younger birds down.



I still haven't ID'd the species of spider. I don't recognize them when I am out in the yard. I don't think the warbler really cares as it gulps it down. Protein. Yum.



I rigged the hose to drip out into the cement bird bath to create some inviting splashes. However, the Cardinals and Titmice preferred to sit on the faucet handle and sip from the leaking bits.



Speaking of Cardinals, I managed to capture them on the other bird bath as one of the first brood birds flew in (on left) to join the latest brood birds. You can tell the older bird by the more orange bill but it still shows black streaks so it is not yet an adult. When Northern Cardinals are first fledged they have black bills.



As I was trying for those Cardinal shots, I noticed a flicker of movement closer to my seat. I refocused my eyes and was totally surprised. A Black and White Warbler had dropped down to attend the party! It had its back to me and I feared I would be left with some boring pictures. Then I had one last chance before it flew off.



Yes! A great way to end this photo session. Just proves that you don't always have to make a trip to find some good birding. Birds are all around. You just need to look.

BirdCam Roundup

The BirdCam has been running again for quite some time but other bird trips and demands have kept me from doing more than scanning and deleting a bunch of the shots so here is a collection from the past month that I found interesting.

Most of the shots are of Mourning Doves, of course. They are usually jockeying for position so most of the shots end up blurry. This is a nice clear one.



For some unknown reason, every now and then the cam takes a shot that is a little to a lot of purple. Sometimes it makes for a nice duotone.



One bird species we see, and hear, everyday is the Tutfted Titmouse. However, they are so quick that it is hard to get a shot of them and when the camera snaps a shot of them they usually have their backs to the camera. Stopping to stare helped this time.



This Winter we have a new guest at the feeders. A Western Palm Warbler has been flying in once the seed level is a bit lower. This mix has a little bit of fruit in it but most others birds don't seem to like that. Usually we have a Catbird eating the fruit but I haven't seen it this year. Instead, the Palm Warbler seems to love it!



I stopped putting out whole peanuts to save money last Summer. As a result, our Blue Jays abandoned us. Two days after I started the peanuts again...



Finally, one of my favorite birds has been hitting the feeders. I banded this particular Carolina Wren when he first arrived in the yard a few years ago. He was a young bird at the time. He and his mate started living in a wind chime I hung by the front door. The wind chime has a watering can at the top and he moved in a couple days after it was put up.



Hoping to get another shot of the Indigo Bunting that has returned again this year. It should be there in between the hundreds of dove and squirrel shots I will discard.