Poor Vision, Great Eyes

For having such poor vision all my life, I've got some pretty good eyes!  As so often happens, I spot a bird or two perched atop the dead elm at the edge of our property.  Usually I have to zoom in and take a picture to upload on the computer before I know what it is.  Today, I spotted a tiny bird on the uppermost branch.  I figured I'd be learning a new bird, once I saw it up close--it never occurred to me that it would be a hummingbird.  I'm shocked that I even noticed it at that distance.

Regular Visitor or Resident?

I was pleased to see a cedar waxwing perched on a dead branch of one of the wild cherry trees--of course, I didn't know what it was from the distance, but, after it flew to the quaking aspen in the blueberry patch, I was able to identify it through the zoom of the camera.  Normally, I have to wait until I upload the picture, but it was close enough, that, once I knew what it was, I was able to see recognize it with the naked eye thanks to its colorful wax-wings.

I've seen them in the yard a few times since last year, and I have to wonder if they might not be nesting here.  That would be thrilling to me.  If not yet, once I have more fruiting shrubs and trees, I expect they might. :)

At It Again

Normally after the bluebirds fledglings have left the nest, within a few days, I clean out the old nest and wipe down the inside of the nest box (and around the entrance hole) with a bleach and water solution.  This year, with the house wren nesting across the yard, I put off the clean-up.  I figured after all the energy that it took to feed and care for the young, a little break would be welcomed.

However, after I noticed a photo I'd taken earlier in the week showed the male bird checking out the entrance hole again, I went out to clean the box a day or two later.  Since I was unsure what if the male bird would keep checking after finding the old, messy nest, I decided to leave the door open for 24 hours, hoping that would draw the attention of the pair if they were still in the area.  The next afternoon, I came back and closed the door...and waited to see what would happen. 

Again we were gone, but when I checked again within four days of cleaning it out, I found a completed nest!  :)  I'm pleased that they didn't go looking elsewhere.

 From the research I did online, it appears that once the house     wrens eggs are laid, they stop attacking other birds' nests..."as if a switch was flipped".  So, I'm hopeful that there will be nothing to interfere with the bluebirds having a fully successful second brood.

Nature Taking its Course, I Guess...

We have been busy and away too many weekends in a row lately.  I have not been able to keep as much of an eye on things as I'd like--not that I think I could've done much to change what appears to have happened.

I knew the bluebirds were back and had been feeding their young.  They were the first cavity nester to begin nesting in the meadow where I have several nest boxes.  Later, the tree swallows appeared--in bigger numbers than I've had before...although the last two years, I've found their nests and eggs abandoned.   I also had--what I thought was a Carolina wren.  I'd seen a pair late this winter/early spring, so, when I saw a wren at a distance, I assumed it was the Carolina; however, it was a house wren.  House wrens are notorious for piercing the eggs of other cavity nesters--and apparently open-nesting birds as well.

With that said, house wrens are native birds--I don't like their behavior, but I have welcomed nature to my yard.  It appears that only two of my bluebirds brood survived to fledge.  I always seem to miss them actually leaving the nest, but maybe some day I'll get it on video.

For now, here is the footage I got that shows the two babies getting fed by dad:

Got the Blues

After a long, exhausting, but phenomenal weekend away at workshops, I got home from work today with little energy to do much.  Considering it rained a lot last week and being gone, I feel like I'm falling behind in the yard.  That could've got me down, but I did get out in the woodland, got a little raking done (I plan to plant more trees in this newly raked and nearly tree-less section), and even got a chance to talk to the neighbor "over the fence"...but the best part was when I decided to check on the bluebird nestbox before heading in.  There, where last week I saw only three strands of grass and then nothing, was a completed nest! :)

How can I be down when our bluebird pair are back and setting up house again? :)

It's No Joke

From today:

Before...

...and After:

I realize they look virtually the same...but at the time I wanted an after photo--I had just planted some wild geranium that I divided to spread into the woodland section I'm working on.  However, they have yet to sprout and are covered with soil.  Don't ask me why I felt the need to take an after shot! 

Maybe in a few weeks, after it has leafed out, I'll have a more dramatic after photo.

Here is what is (honestly) in the ground scattered among the rocks:  

Staying in the Moment

I *just* saw a bald eagle flying by!  There I was at the computer reading what's new on Wildlife Gardeners, when I glanced out the window to my left, one room away; that is when I saw it.  Being such a large bird it was no mistaking it even across about two acres.  The tell-tale white on its head and tail let me immediately recognize what I was seeing.  I jumped from the chair and ran to the kitchen window to get a better view--I'm sure the cats started at my sudden movement.

At the window, I got a better view, and instead of running back for the camera, I just enjoyed the sight.  That is the longest and closest I've ever seen one.  Had I got the camera, I'd likely have missed it all.  Sorry no pics to share, but I feel I'm a better man for having seen it. :)