We’ve had a family of northern flickers visiting the yard lately. Since we seem to have plenty of ants these days, I imagine that is one of the reasons. 🙂 They are just so cute with their stripes and polka dots. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
Yesterday, I counted six pairs of baby robins being fed by their parents in my yard. Magical. Click on pictures to enlarge.
We went by to check on the young kestrels the other day and arrived just in time to see one of the parents delivering breakfast. Click on pictures to enlarge.
We went to see the boys and the nest was empty (I don’t know if they are boys, but I feel they are, so that’s what I’m saying). We figured it was getting close to that time since the last time we were there one of them was sitting in a nearby tree. Here they are on top of some irrigation equipment in a corn field across from the nest. Notice the parent down the way keeping watch. Click on pictures to enlarge.
There are three nests of starlings (that I know of) in our yard and our neighbor’s. I can see the openings in the trees and have been waiting for a glimpse of the chicks. I finally was able to see them yesterday. I also watched a woodpecker feed her/his young. The robins are doing quite well also. Very nice! Click on pictures to enlarge.
We checked in on several nests today and wandered around the state park for a while. Parents incubating and feeding everywhere. Lovely day! Click on pictures to enlarge.
After some pretty incredible storms, I was happy to see everyone here OK. Click on picture to enlarge.
What a wonderful day to be out and get our first look at 2009 goslings! Click on pictures to enlarge.
When I visited the nest this morning, there was a juvenile eagle on a tree nearby. One of the parents was calling out and seemed very disturbed. I assumed he/she was calling for the other to come and run off the intruder. I didn’t see the eaglet and was a bit worried. I hoped she/he was keeping his/her head down in case of trouble (I’ve seen the young ones do this when the parents seem agitated). So, we went back later this afternoon. Not only was everything fine, we discovered there are two eaglets in the nest! Click on pictures to enlarge.
