My photos are totally blurred and out of focus but still a thrill to see this pair of barn swallows swoop and swirl on the front porch early one morning.
Barn Swallows
Nesting Wrens
Nesting Wrens are the new occupants among the Petunias and Inpatients.Continue Reading
That’s Not a Hummingbird it is a Baltimore Oriole
But just as exciting to see! Imagine our surprise to see a beautiful Baltimore Oriole on this dreary morning on the hummingbird feeder. We don’t remember ever seeing an Oriole in our yard.
Thundersnow and Winter Robins
Both unusual occurrences around my neck of the woods.
This was a very heavy snow that was not only accompanied by thunder and lightening but also weighed down all of the evergreens and bushes. The hydrangea bush above, reminds me of coral.
The Eastern Red Bud branches arched to the ground.
I don’t think the branches on my evergreens will ever stand tall again.
a bit over Raiders head
Then a delightful surprise…
I noticed a red flash outside the window and was surprised to see a Robin.
Soon more Robins.
They filled the branches of both the Red Bud on the front lawn and a tree at the curbs edge.
So many I lost count.
A special joy to take my mind off my aching arms and wrists.
Erin’s Chickens
Just Hatched Mourning Doves still in the Nest
and I thought my children grew up before my eyes…
every day these baby doves are significantly bigger and more mature.
I think there is just one day between the two nestlings.This is the older one.
Both can be seen in this photo
Mama/Papa bird flies in and cautiously looks at me as babies are tucked down into the nest…
but babies quickly pop up to eat whatever is in the adult birds throat
a face only a mother could love
a series of shots beginning when the male and female began building the nest
1. Male perched just above nesting area
2. Male tucking nesting material around female
3. sitting on nest
4. sitting on nest
5. Adult dove
6. First spotting of eggs… looks like one is hatches
7. Adult caring for eggs
8. nesting
9. first glimpse of hatchlings
10. Unattractive little doves
11. alien-like
12. getting cuter and more recognizable
13. snuggled together
14. feeding
15. growing
16. quickly changing
2. Male tucking nesting material around female
3. sitting on nest
4. sitting on nest
5. Adult dove
6. First spotting of eggs… looks like one is hatches
7. Adult caring for eggs
8. nesting
9. first glimpse of hatchlings
10. Unattractive little doves
11. alien-like
12. getting cuter and more recognizable
13. snuggled together
14. feeding
15. growing
16. quickly changing
I expect the chicks will be learning to fly soon and I won’t have too many more dove posts. Then I will be moving onto different subject matter for Outdoor Wednesday.
Mourning Dove Hatchlings
Under mama (or papa’s wing)
I was planning on adding just verse 4 to this postbut because this psalm is my favorite I had to post all of the verses.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Nesting Mourning Doves
Backyard Birds, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay and Sparrows
Here are just a few of the visitors we’ve had at the feeder this week.
Tufted titmouse
Blue Jay
sparrows
I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture of the chickadees or cardinals ~they are more skiddish and quickly flew off.
And…
even with the chilly, rainy weather, there is another bloom on the Angel Trumpet
Coopers Hawk and Other Backyard Birds
What a surprise to find this feathered fellow perched on the edge of our picnic table on the patio just outside the back door. I think it is an immature Cooper’s Hawk. The bird remained for a long time until it made a swooping dash under a nearby bush as a group of starlings gathered and began diving at it. I was fearful that it was injured and hoped it would survive.
My husband was excited to observe this bird so closely as he loves birds of prey ~ his favorite being the Red-tailed Hawk.
From Wikipedia: Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from Canada to Mexico. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female. The Birds found east of the Mississippi River tend to be larger on average than the birds found to the west.
You can read more about the Cooper’s Hawk here.
~o0O0o~
I guess he wasn’t injured… two days after I began this post draft, the hawk returned to the edge of the picnic table, about two feet from the back French doors. I noticed because my dog was barking frantically at him on the other side of the glass. The hawk swiveled his head and looked directly at the dog totally unruffled.
(Maybe he is pointing out the patio post that is in need of repair… or the bench that is in need of pressure washing… or the debris that is in need of being removed… or the items on the picnic table that are in need of being spray painted…)
Along with the usual Robin’s, Blue Jays, Purple Finches, Doves, Mockingbirds and Starlings are my favorite birds. This petite female hummingbird returned the day after I set out the feeders.
Along with the usual Robin’s, Blue Jays, Purple Finches, Doves, Mockingbirds and Starlings are my favorite birds. This petite female hummingbird returned the day after I set out the feeders.
Other feeder visitors include the Gold Finch which is the New Jersey State bird (as well as many other states). I didn’t get a picture of them yet this year, so I am sharing one from last year. 