Good pickings

On June 25, 2021June 16, 2021 By Mike and Christy1 Comment

Sometimes right side-up and sometimes right side-down there was work to be done.

Wishing you good pickings and a wonderful weekend.

Seen and heard

On June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 By Mike and Christy1 Comment

In the forest just up the road we have heard the calling of an Ovenbird for the last two summers without successfully seeing one. Their frequent calling had us looking in trees and forest floor but to no avail. This year we have gotten lucky and finally seen and actually gotten of a photograph of these little forest swelling warblers. Who would think such a little bird, and in this case can sweet looking bird, could make such a racket.

Fluffed-up

On June 23, 2021June 15, 2021 By Mike and ChristyLeave a comment

A fine looking Hawk all fluffed and looking sharp and perhaps a little bit full of himself as he had just finished mating a female just a few fence posts down the road.

Robin, post or both?

On June 22, 2021June 22, 2021 By Mike and Christy1 Comment

The alert posture of this Robin Seemed to make him a perfect addition to this old fence post. It was one of those times when out-birding the bird we thought we saw on the fence post, especially ecially old posts, actually was a bird.

It’s summer

On June 21, 2021June 15, 2021 By Mike and Christy3 Comments

His announcement was short, to the point and well received.

Summer is here one and all.

Never a dull moment

On June 18, 2021June 19, 2021 By Mike and Christy7 Comments

Once the Yellow-headed Blackbirds have moved back into a little marsh we frequently visit we can count on there never bing a dull moment. Males perched high on last summers cattails singing their beautiful squawky-squueky song with all their heart.

They sit and wait for just the right moment. A moment of silence when all can hear and then let out that wonderful tune.

Some guys sing away with a subtle yet elegant pose while other are a bit more dramatic. This guy below was really belting it out and just caught himself from falling off his perch.

Watching and hearing these guys is a true treat of spring and now that summer is approaching and this years cattails have grown tall, nests built , and eggs have been laid the marsh will defiantly quiet down-and that’s a shame.

Have a great weekend.

Chestnut-Backed Chickadee

On June 13, 2021May 26, 2021 By Mike and Christy2 Comments

Hearing the Chickadees calling in the trees above our heads we expected to look up and see either a black-capped or mountain chickadee as we had seen them earlier this day. However to our surprise we we greeted by this little Chestnut-Backed Chickadee looking down at us and hunting insects just above our heads.

The all about birds website starts their description of this bird by calling them handsome and I would have to whole heartedly agree with that.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/id

Those Blue eyes.

On June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 By Mike and Christy3 Comments

A Double-crested Cormorant heading our way as they foraged in some shallow water of a temporary pond.

Love the blue eyes these of birds. Heck, we find the eyes of cormorants fascinating wether they are blue, green or red eyes. Watching them swim through the water with bodies riding low, diving and then swallowing their catch with a single gulp is something we always love to observe.