The Bluebirds are Back!

I was out in the yard taking pictures when I spotted a pair of birds on the wires. It was getting near dusk and they were backlit against the sky, but even with my naked eye, I felt pretty sure they were bluebirds. Thanks to the pictures, I was able to verify that they really are back. Looks like a pair to me.

I don't normally post blurry pictures, but the two of them sitting so close together just looked so special--too bad the auto focus "chose" to focus on the background.

Tree Swallow With Feather

I finally set up the camcorder on a tripod to catch the tree swallows feeding their young. Much to my surprise, it seems they are still building their nest--feathering there nest literally.

Enjoy:

Recognizing What One Has

Today, I was weeding and moving rocks for a planned stone patio when I spotted a familiar leaf. A tiny dogwood seedling caught my eye. On closer examination, I recognized it as a pagoda dogwood/alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). We have a few in the yard, and I find seedlings periodically--great for me, because I want to add them to the hedgerow and woodland.

I dug "the little guy" up and planted him in a pot for now until I find the right place for it.

Since at least last year if not two years now, I've been meaning to do a series of post entitled "Ever Vigilant" in which I post about spotting seedling multiflora rose and other invasives and nipping them in the bud...as well as spotting the natives that I want to save and possibly move. This is the closest I've come to that. :)

Chipping Sparrow

Great thing about zoom lenses: once I get an image uploaded, I can see clearly what was just "a bird" in the field to the naked eye.

I've Waited Long Enough

After the disappointment and sadness of discovering at least one of the bluebird fledglings had died, I'd left the nestbox open. Yesterday, I finally cleaned it out with a bleach and water solution. After rinsing it and letting it dry out, I finally closed it up again...just a little hopeful that we'll have another bluebird pair...and a successful brood.

I think the male bluebird was in mourning (as was I, I think)...He had been sitting atop the nestbox for a couple of days after losing his young--and possibly the female...I hadn't seen her the whole time he was hanging out. I'm hoping she took the surviving young somewhere else and will return. At least there is a clean home ready and waiting for them if they decide to try again.



Cleaned out and sterilized.


Closed up. The entrance hole looks enticing.

Checking Out Those Shelves

I happened to be walking by as a bird was checking out the shelves I'd put up last year in hopes of attracting barn swallows. I didn't get a very good look, but it could've been a phoebe.

I was planning on adding at least one more shelf a lot closer to the eave, but it started to rain. After typing the above, I realized the rain stopped a while ago, so there was no reason not to put up at least one shelf--so I did. I had a second one all ready to go, until the wood split, so I only put one up for now.

Here's hoping that the shelves get some use. I'm still hoping to have barn swallows some day, but another phoebe would be nice.



The newest shelf installed closer to the eave.




It seems the shelves I put of last year may have too much space above it to be attractive to nesting birds.

Maybe I Should Look Out the Window More Often

This evening, I went to the sun porch to get something and happened to spot (I think) two deer right in the back yard. I went right back in to get the camera and ran to the window. By that time there was only one in sight. I took the pictures through the window so as not to scare him off.

I wonder what else I've missed over the past few years. :)