Showing His Face

Since spotting their nest (--I'm still so thrilled that I did!), I've yet to see the male or female oriole.  However, while standing on the bank opposite it, I've heard a harsh, warning "clicking" sound which I've assumed is the male warning me to stay away from his nest--or warning the female that I'm around.  This morning, I went out to close the bluebird's nest box that I'd cleaned out yesterday and let dry...even though the tree where the nest is was in shade at the time, I decided to check it out--and heard the now familiar warning call.  This time, I was able to spot the male oriole in the tree checking out what I was doing a little too near his nest (but clearly out of reach from my perspective).

Here is the first shot of (hopefully) many more to come:

Latest Attraction

I've been meaning to document the flowers of spring, the return of the bluebirds, and the little bit of work I've accomplished since well after the weather broke...but it took something new to get me to post.  While walking the yard, I spotted--pretty much, right there in front of me--a Baltimore oriole nest!

I've seen the birds here for a few years--I even got a shot of the male once or twice.  I strongly suspected that they were nesting here, but despite searching, I never spotted their nest.  Until last year, mid-winter, I spotted the remains of one in the bare branches of the huge black poplar.  So, to know the location of their nest now is thrilling to me.  I can stand on the edge of the field and be almost level with the nest which is in a tree in the mid-section of the ("three-tiered") property just a little downhill from the (planned) meadow.  Hopefully, I'll always have a clear shot of the nest...or at least get shots of the parents on the branch even if the nest becomes more obscured.

I'm looking forward to documenting the raising of another species of bird on the property! :)

Welcome Visitors

The other day I spotted an indigo bunting coming to the black oil sunflower seed that I'd scattered in the grass.  He was back again today.  Although, I've seen one here a couple times in the past, this is still a bird I had only seen in books while growing up.  I'm always happy to see him.

Today, I spotted what I think is a brown thrasher--I've yet to get a good look at him...and an in focus photo!  This, I believe I did see on occasion coming to the bird feeder I put up in the home I grew up in.  I'm thrilled to see one here as well.

Hopefully these welcome visitors may find suitable habitat here to nest and raise families.

Neither is a great photo, but they'll have to do for now, until I possibly get a more attractive shot to better document the biodiversity of our yard.

Signs of Spring

After getting home, despite the cooler weather the bright sunshine beckoned me outside.  Here are some of the sights from this afternoon.  There was even a little snow remaining in the shade.

Weird Weather

After our extended, frigid winter, spring finally seems to have arrived.  We were up in the 70s and even 80 this past weekend, but last night the temperatures dropped below freezing...and it began to snow.

This is what I woke up to this morning:

Late Arrival, Late Posting

With our unusually cold, snowy, and long winter, spring seems later than usual.  For whatever reason, this year I was not longing for spring, but enjoying the winter--maybe I just needed a break from yard work...or maybe I just accepted that I couldn't change the weather.  I know I am looking forward to the clean slate that winters always seem to bring to the yard.

Normally, come mid-February, I'm searching for signs of spring, scanning the wooded hillsides for that red haze that comes upon the maples as they awaken from their winter slumber.  Every year, I am on the lookout for the return of the red-wing blackbirds.  Despite not being in any rush this year, by mid-March, I was scanning the roadsides where I've seen them perch past springs.  This year, however, the first one I saw was in our own backyard! :)

The pictures aren't so great, but I finally got some shots of him a day or two after I first spotted him.

These were taken March 16, 2014:

Staking Claim

The male bluebird is back and staking claim to what appears to be the best nestbox on the property.  Each year, this particular box is used by a bluebird pair.  I'm thrilled to see it is likely they'll be nesting here again--I have to admit that I'd be quite disappointed if I had to go a year without them.

After spotting him last week, I went out and checked out the inside of the box where I saw several strands of grass had been added to the bottom already.  Today, I saw just a few more had been added.  Looking good. :)