Dear Jeni and Mary,
On Monday, 7/22,
Sharon Watson and Linda and her son Corey Ellingson were out here to look at the Say's Phoebe that is nesting on top of a light fixture on the second story of my house above the east deck.
Today, Wednesday, I sat on that east deck and took this video of the soon to be fledglings getting a lovely bug. I think those babies are out of here soon.
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| 4 babies, really! |
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| Adult Say's Phoebe on the ground. Really, there in the grass. |
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| Having lunch on July 14th. |
Then I took to the yard. I wandered around and looked at the old tree that has been at the back of the yard since I moved here 24.5 years ago. The back of it has several large dead branches on it that have large nesting holes in it. I wonder who. Maybe the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker?
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| Sapsucker holes in one of the Maples. Yes one of the ones Jim dared to 'trim'. |
Sharon and Corey toured the property and told me what was a possibility and what they heard and saw (that I had never heard or seen). My birding universe is expanding. According to Sharon I must get up earlier. Sigh. Those of you related to me know that is not my favorite thing to do.
Anyway, while they were here we saw the Say's and had a good look at an Eastern Wood Peewee. (I would never have identified it alone) We saw a Cooper's Hawk flying down the lane and overhead. We also heard Red Eyed Vireo's for about 1/2 hour as we walked down the lane, and I was shown the holes made by a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker in my Maple trees. After they left I wandered out to the meadow and annoyed a Bobolink until it came up to shoo me away. (no camera with me of course) All yard firsts for me. I figure anything within sight of my house is my yard.
I was told I had many Clay colored Sparrows which I have never 'officially' seen, but probably looked at many times. I think I have a picture of one from this morning as well.
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| So is this a Clay Colored Sparrow? |
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| How about this one? It is perched by the pond. |
Finally a nice Robin posed for me. I had to put the picture up even though the back-lighting makes ID impossible, for me anyway.
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| And a Robin. It was just a nice picture. |
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteGlad you took a video of the Say's Phoebe family. Nestlings look like they are exercising their wings and some preening going on too! It will be a BIG day very soon for the little ones. Hope the family stays for a while after they successfully fledge before heading south.
Yes on the Clay-colored Sparrow image.
Also must have been fun walking around your meadow. I'll bet you have more than just the Bobolink out there:) Next year when migrates are arriving in May and Singing their song, put on a pair of tall rubber boots and see what you can find by sight and or sound.
Good Birding and thanks for sharing your family of New Lifers with us!!!
Sharon
Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteGlad you took a video of the Say's Phoebe family. Nestlings look like they are exercising their wings and some preening going on too! It will be a BIG day very soon for the little ones. Hope the family stays for a while after they successfully fledge before heading south.
Yes on the Clay-colored Sparrow image.
Also must have been fun walking around your meadow. I'll bet you have more than just the Bobolink out there:) Next year when migrates are arriving in May and Singing their song, put on a pair of tall rubber boots and see what you can find by sight and or sound.
Good Birding and thanks for sharing your family of New Lifers with us!!!
Sharon