The baby Bluejay

In the past week or so we have noticed more Bluejays coming in to feed. In the family group of Bluejays we noticed that three or four of them were at different stages of growth. Several times we had tried to capture them on camera. They are very elusive, if we made any movement at all they would scatter to the grape vines that are growing in the trees around our area. As soon as we would get the camera out they would not come near enough to allow us to take a picture.

Finally, we had the camera set and hidden so they would not notice, one in particular come into the feeding system, allowing us to capture the bald headed baby. The wonders of life happening from the viewing point of our porch. AMAZING!

Catbird

While sitting on the porch, we watched a catbird come to the fountain and take a bath in the water. The catbird dipped in the water several times, splashing the water and shaking its wings up over its head, the show in front of us was quite amazing to see. Soon after the bathing display we watched the catbird soaking wet, fly over to the grass clippings we had in a pile. It laid out spreading its whole body out to be sunned.  The show that happens from our porch is so amazing!

Downy Woodpecker

The things we see out our window never cease to amaze me! I was making the morning coffee and looked out the window and notice a Downy Woodpecker going into the birdhouse we had placed on the post just above the door of the porch. Wondered how long they had been nesting there?  I got my cup of coffee and went to the porch the Downy Woodpecker flew over to the tree for the crunchy peanut butter we had put there. Soon it was joined by a baby looking to be fed. 

Snapping Turtle

We have been planting and working in our garden for a while now. Yesterday we had planted cucumber seeds in a 2 x 2 box.  Today we went to work in the garden, and guess what had come up? A Snapping Turtle laying her eggs in the same box we had planted the cucumbers. We were careful not to disturb her, we were able to get the camera and get a couple of photos of her. She is the second Snapping Turtle to visit us this week. The first one laid her eggs at the end of our driveway. Both of the Turtles were about the same size, we think they came from the swap that is across the road from us.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

We have had at least four of the rose-breasted grosbeaks in eating sunflower seeds. They seem friendly and not to worried about us walking around on the porch. We hope they stay with us.

The baby House Sparrows have arrived with their parents. Six or seven it was hard to count looked like two families. They were peeping and fluttering their little wings calling for food from Mom and Dad. What a site to see.

Bird On A Mission!

One afternoon while sitting on the porch, we observed a Morning Dove sitting in the feeder tray on top of the feeder system, by the fountain. Eating and not paying attention to anything except the seed. A Sparrow flew in and landed on the vine next to the feeder system to check things out. The Sparrow flew to the feeder system and was looking at the Morning Dove in the tray. He hopped down the vine that is attached to the system head first.  I was thinking to myself  "No way! he's not going to do what I am thinking". Well, he sure did, he pecked a feather out of the Morning Dove's butt and flew off. That was just the nesting material he needed. The Morning Dove looked around stunned. What just happened? I've been mugged!

Bluebirds

We are so pleased that a pair of bluebirds have taken a box in the lawn next to the grapes near the porch. We have been able to observe them taking in nesting material and guarding the area. The female hangs out in the nest box door way, we hope there are eggs.

Weekly Bird viewing

 Week of May 17 -23, 2014
 Every day we put out crunchy peanut butter, and grape jelly. Every other day I put out unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds, and mixed bird seed.  The list of visitors to our feeding area is growing and we have observed some taking over the bird houses we have put up, and bathing in the fountain. We hope to see many babies soon.

1 Barn Swallow     2 Bluebird 2 Great Blue Heron 4 Blue jay  1 Bobolink 3 Cardinal  1 Carolina Wren 3 Catbird 4 Chickadee  1 Chirpping Sparrow  3 Cowbirds  3 Grackle 3 Crows  6 Downy Woodpecker 8 Canadian Geese  6 Goldfinch 1 Grouse  3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 House Finch  4 House Sparrow  3 House Wren 3 Hummingbird 2 Indigo Bunting  2 Junco 6 Morning Dove 4 Oriel  1 Pleated Woodpecker  2 Purple Finch  1 Raven  1 Red bellied Woodpecker  3 Red-winged Blackbird  6 Robin 6 Rose breasted Grosbeak  2 Song Sparrow  2 Titmouse  3 Towhee  2 Turkey Vulture  4 Tree Swallow  1 White Breasted Nuthatch  2 White Crown Sparrow  2 Yellow Warbler 2 Chipmunks  3 Squirrels - Gray  1 Squirrels - Red  1 Deer  6 Rabbit  Oriel coming in for the grape jelly.

Robins on the porch

http://www.pinterest.com/BirdAirportCafe/

On May 20, 2014 We started with Mom and Dad Robin building a nest on the porch, then 4 small blue eggs. We were very surprised they all hatched. Mom and Dad Robin were very busy feeding the newly hatched babies with worms and grape jelly.  They were very protective of the babies, we watched them chase away the Blue jays, Chipmunks, and Squirrels. Flying with precision and pecking the crap out of them across the lawn, what a show! The nest was so crowded, stepping on each other and aggressive about food, we watched the young knock Mom from her side of the nest perch. They knocked her down to the floor of the porch with worms still in her beak, stunned she took a moment, then back to the nest to feed. Today, we were lucky enough to see the babies leave the nest. Mom took each one to the wooded area by feeding and coaxing each one with worms and hopping across the yard. From the nest, to the porch rail, to the fountain, and then the lawn, chirping and flapping their little wings.   Amazing nature happening just outside our door!

The Hawk and Dove

In our backyard on April 27, 2014, we came in the house in the afternoon and noticed something floating in the air outside the back door, What is that? It was gray feathers. Paul went quickly to the window, an seen a Sharp Shinned Hawk dive into the door of the dog house after a Morning Dove.  I went for the camera and starting clicking shots of the Hawk with the Dove clutched in his feet pulling the Dove out of the dog house. The Hawk was not able to fly because he was not much bigger than the Dove. Wings open and Dove struggling to get away. Wow! I thought I was capturing it all on camera. I thought that the action was going to go on for awhile, I decided to put the bigger lens on, and get close up shots. I placed the camera on the tripod found the flash message of “NO CHIP IN CAMERA”. What a disappointment! Although, we didn’t capture the kill, the Hawk stayed for an hour and a half, so we were able to get the camera set up, and captured pictures of the Hawks’ meal.  It was an amazing site to see, just outside our window in the back yard.