Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as far northwestern South America, the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands.
Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision. Herons are capable of eating copious amounts of fish, on a daily basis. An adult heron can easily consume up to 1lb of fish per day.

Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones a feature all birds share.

American Avocet at the Marsh

This beautiful and graceful long-legged wader glides through shallow waters swishing its slender, upturned bill from side to side to catch aquatic invertebrates. It dons a sophisticated look for summer with a black-and-white body and a rusty head and neck. During the winter the head and neck turn a grayish white, but the bird loses none of its elegance as it forages along coastal waters or rests while standing on one leg.

The Peep and Mrs. Peep!

The Peep and Mrs. Peep!! Today The Peep showed up with Mrs. Peep. He has been singing nights for some time and it finally paid off! I saw two mockingbirds on the fence, assuming it was a mother and baby, and snapped two quick photos before they flew away. Upon review of the photos, I saw that it was not a mother and fledgling, but The Peep and a female mockingbird! The female came back shortly after and shortly after that they both came back and did courtship displays. The Peep sat higher than her on a stake and then flew, colliding with her, locking claws and wings until The Peep broke free and fanned out his tail on the fence while running like a fledgling. Mrs. Peep watched then The Peep flew back on a stake next to her and flew to different stakes. Mrs. Peep then flew away and The Peep followed. Then a while after The Peep sang a short, song of a call between a yellowlegs and a normal Peep call and flashed his wings while he dive into a tree. Gunner )The Peep and Mrs. Peep!! Today The Peep showed up with Mrs. Peep. He has been singing nights for some time and it finally paid off! I saw two mockingbirds on the fence, assuming it was a mother and baby, and snapped two quick photos before they flew away. Upon review of the photos, I saw that it was not a mother and fledgling, but The Peep and a female mockingbird! The female came back shortly after and shortly after that they both came back and did courtship displays. The Peep sat higher than her on a stake and then flew, colliding with her, locking claws and wings until The Peep broke free and fanned out his tail on the fence while running like a fledgling. Mrs. Peep watched then The Peep flew back on a stake next to her and flew to different stakes. Mrs. Peep then flew away and The Peep followed. Then a while after The Peep sang a short, song of a call between a yellowlegs and a normal Peep call and flashed his wings while he dive into a tree. Gunner (an older mockingbird who is like a father to The Peep), of course, was supervising all of this.

Out West Birds(Part 10)

Egyptian Goose

This is an amazing bird found only in or near water. It is a truly beautiful bird to look at. It is very protective of the baby chicks so please be careful and stay out of its reach.
The Egyptian goose is a member of the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. It is native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork.
This is a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings. Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses and plant stems. Occasionally, they will eat locusts, worms, or other small animals. Until the goslings are a few weeks old and strong enough to graze, they feed largely on small aquatic invertebrates, especially freshwater plankton.

Out West Birds(Part 9)

Out West Birds(Part 8)

New tenant

This was a BC Chickadee nest with two eggs…one got broken. The Chickadees looked but didn’t come back for other other egg and did not lay anymore. they were harrassed by House Sparrows and House Wrens. Today I saw a Carolina Wren visit with a mate. Not sure who is cleaning out the box.. a Wren I think. Will post more pics if someone moves in. 5-28-23

Out West Birds(Part 7)

Out West Birds(Part 6)

2nd Brood Attempt

With this year’s first brood now feeding themselves, I noticed the adults were active at the nest box. I have not checked until today, and found 5 eggs in the nest! 2nd attempt underway.
I do not know the date of the first egg, so I am estimating it to have been 5/23/2023.
This nest is built very tall, and the contents are a bit hard to photograph.

Out West Birds(Part 5)

Phoebe.

Out West Birds(Part 4)

Out West birds(Part 3)

Out West Birds(Part 2)

The first photo is Jackson, Wyoming.

Out West Birds(Part 1)

Out west birds.

Cardinal.

Wren eggs.

All 5 young hatched(for the wrens), at least four all that hatched fledged(estimated). We also had our phoebes hatch.

Growing up

I think I woke this little House Fnch up when I took a peek today… 5-25-23

Speckled Eggs

Two speckled eggs in what started out as a black capped chickadee nest. Either chickadee or wren eggs…not sure. 5-23-23 You can also see the eggs in a previous pic I posted titled “whose nest?” I missed them earlie r~ well hidden.

Tufted Titmouse Stays on Nest

This Tufted Titmouse stayed on her nest during my visit.

hatchlings

Lil hatchlings

Male Downy Woodpecker

Checkling out the nestbox

A pair of starlings was looking at the nestbox. Hoping someone claims it soon!

Female American Goldfinch

Female American Goldfinch visited this morning. I like her orange beak! 5-2–23

Muscovy Family

These cute duckies were sitting near a stop sign.

Partly Eaten Songbird Egg ID!? 🙁

Outside, I found this egg while a bluejay was in the middle of eating it. I’m sad that it was eaten by a blue jay, but that’s what blue jays love to eat. (When they can find it.) I don’t know what songbird egg this so please ID!

Cardinal ~ all in

Male Cardinal enjoying his bath ! 5-21-23

Whose nest?

A Black- Capped Chickadee started this nest in the Bluebird box back in April. You can see the moss base. House Sparrows and House Wrens tried to take it over. I don’t know which bird has added all this extra material on top…any ideas? No eggs visible. 5-21-23

Bluebonnet’s Fledgling

I have been watching Bluebonnet (Yes, all mockingbirds besides The Peep and The Adversary must have Texas names) gather nesting material, and I have heard her baby calling from the nest. Yesterday her baby fledged from the nest.

New visitor

Don’t recognize this bird ~ had speckled breast. 5-20-23

Ruby-Throated Hummer

Full House

Looks like a healthy clutch of hatchlings. Think number five is in there somewhere!! 5-18-23

ID Please!

Sharing

There are two nests in this wreath. One on the top and one tucked into the wreath mid lower left with brand new hatchlings in it as of yesterday. This mama has been pretty much solo…I haven’t seen any male coming to feed her. Today a male shows up in the top nest with a new lady in tow. Seems a bit odd a new family would start in the top nest while new babies just hatched yesterday in the side nest! 5-18-23

ID please!

New Visitor

New visitor over the last couple of days ~ believe it is a Gray Catbird. 5-17-23

Fledglings

American Goldfinch

Handsome Goldfinch stopped by this evening. 5-17-23

Hatchlings

Looks like three of the five hatched today ~ 5-17-23. Think I see two eggs left. Eggs laid May 1st-5th.

Global Big Day Birds.

Global Big Day Birds.

2023 Baby Birds (Part 2)

2023 Baby Birds (So far)

The First Baby Mockingbird of The Year!

This baby mockingbird was eating suet and then he jumped down to look for strawberries. After he left, his mother came and ate suet. I was curious who this female mockingbird was and it turned out that she is The Peep’s mother! We believe that The Peep’s father died due to his absence when The Peep was a fledgling. This means that this baby is The Peep’s half-brother!

Winner

This bird which I believe is a House Wren is moving into the Bluebird nest box..with a chickadee nest in it with no eggs. This bird took out alot of nesting material and appears to be adding her own..5-15-23

Cleaning out

This House Wren ? is removing nesting material from the bird box that the Black-Cpapped Chickadees built a nest in. The House Sparrows tried to take over the Chickadees. When the House Sparrows lost interest the Chickadees started to visit their nest again…but now the Wren seems to want to take over. 5=15=23

hummers new nest

this is jus after i discovered i have a hummingbird in my patio..before she laid the eggs.

Turkeys.

Male Ruby- Throat

Male Ruby-Throat visited this morning. Female visited yesterday. 5-14-23

Hummer ~ Titmouse

The Tufted Titmice have been going wild for the bird bath over the last few days. First hummer of the year showed up 5-9-23…but today was the first pic of the season.

Unwelcome takeover

The BC chickadee built a nest and the House sparrows started to takeover as you can see in this picture. The HS finally left after a fight and the Chickadees are thinking about reclaiming their nest.

4 Baby Cardinals about 1 week

4 Baby Cardinals

Out of the box

A black capped caring for its nest

Fallen Nest ID needed!

Found this fallen nest under a Pine tree. We had some bad storms so it probably blew down then. It’s made out of pine needles and too small to be a mockingbird nest. Any ideas?

Time’s up!

3-day-old Eastern Bluebird babies, still hugging an unhatched egg.

Nest Box Cameras

YouTube Channel

Mourning Dove Sitting on Eggs

This is the second time in 3 years that a pair of mourning doves nested in this old hanging planter. The location is just outside the glass patio door underneath the eaves of a 3-story condo building. This picture was taken on day14 of incubation.

Songbird nest ID!

Looking

This bird is very red…lousy picture. It is checking out the previously used nest in the top of the wreath. I don’t think it’s a male HF because it actually sat and the nest and wiggled around like females do. I’ll try to get a better pic . Is it another type of finch?? 5-7-23

Black Capped Chickadee?

On April 21 the BC Chickadee started building a nest in the Bluebird box. I keep looking but only see lots of nesting material. My husband says he sees an eye/eyes. Look where the piece of straw is hanging down on the right as you look at the pics. Do I have hatchlings? I read chickadees “cover up” the hatchlings when leaving the nest to protect them from predators and to keep the eggs from cooling off.

Flock of Blue Jays

A flock of Blue Jays landed in my yard this morning. Look closely and you’ll spot them in the chinese Lilac tree.
5-7-23

Mama House Finch

Mama House Finch on five eggs. Not the best lighting..taken from inside by house through a window. 5-6-23

Poor, poor Gunners!

Poor, poor Gunners! Why do all my nests get eaten?

Nests.

Sorry for the bad photos. None of them were the best.

Nests update.

Baby Cardinal

First baby cardinal of the year! I think it’s a female.

Mrs. Sparrow feeding her baby

Robins ~ Finches

American Goldfinches showed up today ~ mated pair I hope. Cute little Robins foraging about. Four House finch eggs in nest number two. Am quite certain number five is there today…will check later in day. also going to check BC chickadee in birdhouse for eggs…lots of fluffly nesting material ~ that nest sure looks comfy!

Cowbird egg in House Finch nest located in front porch wreath

Baby Dove at Sunset

Eye see you

In response to Texas Bird Family inquiry. Picture of HF fledging the day he finally flew away ~ eyes wide open!

5-1-23

Titmouse attempting to use my hair for her nest

While sitting on my deck watching the birds visit my feeders, a small Tufted Titmouse decided my hair would be a perfect addition to her nest. She (the smaller of the pair) hopped on my arm, up my shoulder, onto my head, and tried to pull out tufts of my hair. She worked at it for about 3 full minutes. Sadly, I don’t think she was successful!

Mourning Dove Nest at Chase Bank

Mourning Dove nest at Chase Bank

More photos of the mockingbird nest

Northern Mockingbird Nest

Mrs. Gunner has a well-built cozy nest. I can’t wait for the eggs to hatch!

New nest and egg

This new house finch nest was built in the same wreath in a different spot while the two reluctant fledgings
were still in the nest in the top of the wreath! First egg today 5-1-23

Still waiting….

Last of the HF fledgings still hanging in..not quite ready yet…perhaps tomorrow. Poor little guy looks kind of forlorn all alone. I did see mama drop by at least once to feed him. 4-30-23

Last fledging

Lonely HF fledging chirpping for his mom. His sibling fledged this morning about 8 am. Saw one of the parents visit the nest earlier. Am sure this fella will be gone shortly! 4-30-23

Bluebird nestlings and a Titmice birthmarks

Photo #1 – April 18, 2023
This is a Tufted Titmouse on our umbrella pole; Its nest is in there. Last year, we had Titmice raise a successful brood of 6 in there, and looks like they’re going to nest again! The thing about this specific Titmouse is that, if you look closely, it has a black mark underneath its left eye. While this could just be something that smudged its feathers, I believe it is a permanent birthmark-like mark. The female from last year (photo #5) had a mark like this beside her right eye, so I think this is one of her offspring that inherited the birthmark. What do you think?

Lucky 7

At the Army Corps of Engineers Berlin Lake, a parking lot where I placed nest-boxes revealed a eastern bluebird nest that had 7 eggs in it. Parents were above on telephone wires.

Sitting Dove

Dove sitting in a Red Cedar tree. She allowed me to approach. My photo is not great but it was a lovely encounter. She never moved.

Black- Capped Chickadee Nest

Black-Capped Chickadde nest in Bluebird box started exactly one week ago today ~ 4-28-23

Cozy Mockingbird Eggs

Second visit from the same day as my other post. Mrs. Gunner does a great job at incubating and flipping her eggs. I wonder when her eggs will hatch.

Mrs. Gunner’s Nest

Mrs. Gunner. isn’t very protective. She sits on a perch or sign when I check her eggs and flies back after I have left her nest. She seems to like being famous on eBird and NestWatch!

Nest Condo

This is indeed a different female house finch building a new nest in the lower part of the wreath. As she was building her new nest this AM the male and female house finches flew to feed the fledgings on the nest in the top of the wreath. 4-28-23

Nest number 2

A pair of House Finches had been checking out the wreath for the past few days that already has two fledgings in a nest on the top of the wreath. The female starting her nest today on the lower part of the wreath on the side. I think this is a different pair of House finches~ not the parents of the two reluctant fledgings in the top nest. I say this because I’ve seen two pairs of House Finches in my yard at the same time. 4-27-23

Mourning Dove Babies

Mourning Doves built a nest on our front porch pillar and successfully raised two.

House Finch and Cowbird

House finches built a nest. Looks like a cowbird found it.

Robin’s Nest

Photo of a Robin nest being built on a nesting platform my husband built and mounted for them.

Phoebe Building nest.

Eastern Bluebird Hatchlings

Another visit to the mockingbird nest

Mrs. Gunner does a great job at sitting on her eggs, but she isn’t protective like mockingbirds are supposed to be. She flies away if we are anywhere near the nest.

Shorebird ID needed!

We saw this bird at Galveston Bay, then we saw around 50 at a park. Any idea what they are? They are a bit smaller than a curlew and make mewing sounds.

Unknown Sparrow Nests!!

Two sparrow nests found in a field, ID needed!

Bluebird EGGSTRAVAGANZA!

Very excited — and surprised — to find 6 Bluebird eggs in the nest box today! Now this is what you call a Bluebird Eggstravaganza! This is far beyond my Eggspectations for this wonderful Bluebird pair!

Bohemian Waxwing

Northern Mockingbird Nest

We were looking for nests, I didn’t think that we should check this nest because it was an old nest from last year, it turned out that Mrs. Gunner built a new nest on top of an old nest! We have seen the pair around those trees. I wonder when the eggs will hatch.

House Finch fledgings

These fledgings don’t seem in a hurry to leave. Mama was chattering on the nest at them as if to wake them up for a feeding. 4-26-26