Birds and Eggs 24/7

Yesterday around noon our youngest granddaughter, 20-month-old Sydney, visited us. As they were leaving I thought I'd show her a surprise in the hanging flower basket on our front porch. When I lifted her up to peer in the basket, she saw something like this. (I actually took these pictures a hour or so after she left with our daughter Heidi.)

Hanging Basket of Million Bell Flowers with a Mourning Dove in the Middle (28-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Even though Sydney did not touch anything, she was close enough to incite the Mourning Dove to fly away briefly. So I lifted Sydney up again to see the next. Now she saw the following. 

Two Eggs in the Flower Nest  (28-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

So I'll keep you all updated on the progress of the mother and her offspring. 

Birds: Flight, Nest and Egg

During the past few days we have discovered that a Mourning Dove has set up camp in one of our hanging basket of flowers on our front porch. Amidst the Million Bell flowers, how many eggs can you find?

Hanging Basket of Million Bell Flowers with a Nest in the Middle (26-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

And here is a shot from more overhead showing clearly the one egg. I do want to check if there is another egg, but I don't want to disturb the mother too often. 

One Egg is in the Very Minimal Nest  (26-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

And if I do not get too close, I can capture the Mourning Dove on the nest.

Mourning Dove Sitting on the Nest (26-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Of course I still find other birds around our feeders. Here is a Common Grackle. 

Common Grackle (25-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

And rather as an unexpected prize, I captured one as it took off from the feeder.

Common Grackle in Flight from Bird Feeder  (25-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

So I'm still finding new animal photos that intrigue me. 

Birds and Bees

No, I am not writing about parents attempting to share with their pre-adolescent children about where babies come from. But I am talking about birds and bees (OK, really wasps).

A female House Sparrow checks out who is disturbing her peace.

Female House Sparrow (10-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

If this Blue Jay would just perch on the perch instead of the wire cage, maybe food could be found more easily!

Blue Jay on Feeder  (19-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Is this Blue Jay digesting a full meal or taking a time out to plan another strategy on how to best get the food?

Blue Jay on Shepherd's Crook (19-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

"Let's all take a break from eating and watch the neighbor!"

Three Female House Sparrows at the feeder (I) (20-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

"OK, the vote is in. One for watching the neighbor and two for getting more food!"

Three Female House Sparrows at Feeder (II)  (20-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Now we can look at the Paper Wasps that were hiding behind part of our pop-up tent camper. Do two nests mean they have lived there for two years, or did one nest get too old or too big?

Two Paper Wasp Nests  (20-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Let's try for a closer look.

Paper Wasps Climb Around on a Nest (20-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

As always, there are still animals and their antics to photograph which I have not yet captured. 

My Bird Friends Are Still Here

Yesterday late afternoon I was able to spend some good time with some of our children and their families out on the deck. So I also captured a few photos of my bird friends.

Robin Has the Worm (14-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

The Mourning Doves are still here in their usual quiet way, but an occasional squabble emerges among them. 

Two Mourning Doves  (14-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

And not least are the House Sparrows.

Male House Sparrow on TV Antenna  (14-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

Two Female House Sparrows (14-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

I have gotten a few photos of some Honey Bees on White Clover flowers, but they are not very good. So I'll keep trying and let you all see what I end up with. 

Observing My Bird Friends in Old and New Venues

Last evening when I was beginning to grill some brats, I heard a bird on the ridge of our house just singing away. I was surprised when I looked at the pictures to see that it was a robin! I am mainly used to seeing them hoping around on the ground and then taking short flights.

Robin on House Roof (3-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

The song was very nice, so please listen to the short clip I recorded below.

• MP4 Format (1.8 MB)
• WMV Format (1.7 MB)

In the spring and summer I am often not as regular with filling my feeder as during the winter. But the House Sparrows and House Finches still remember it. 

Male House Sparrow and Male House Finch  (3-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

And the Mourning Doves still like to scrounge on the ground for seeds under the feeder and to sint on the electric linve passing across our yard.

Mourning Dove on an Electric Wire (3-Jun-13; © Richard L. Bowman)

While these are not new birds, I'm still thrilled at seeing them around our yard.