red necked grebe new babe

Ann & I were very lucky to have spotted this tiny new red necked grebe on its moms back. It dad kept nudging at her to say "come on out" I want to see you. Absolutely stunning.

Toronto with Ann

Spent a couple days with my good friend Ann in Toronto. Sunday was a rainy morning. But that didn't stop us. It made for some fun shooting. Fog over the water and around the bluffs was amazing. Ann took this shot of me when the rain was just pouring down. It was fun. Made for beautiful water drops on flowers. And very wet birds.

Update on robing family just before fledging

This family had all the comforts of home in the dog kennel. A roof over their heads, walls were no predator could get in and a full course meal every time it was chow time.Their own personal guard dogs until they got near their time to fly. Always an old guy who could care a less actually, keeping them more company than guarding them. Then they had a private room til they all fledged for safety. They had lots of people watching over them and kept the place talking about the little robins nest in the corner kennel at the back.

 Here they are chillin out on a hot day

 A parent bringing a yummy meal. If your a bird that is!!!!

 Feeding time at the kennel.

 Sometimes the parent fed through the fence instead of coming in.But they still got that mouthful of good yummy protein.

One already fledged the other 2 not far away.

Chipping Sparrows and the BIG baby

As I watched this chipping sparrow nest I noticed that one mouth was quite a bite bigger than the others. As it grew. It was just as I thought. A brown headed cowbird had laid one of her eggs in this nest. Mom & dad chipping sparrow were feeding like crazy to feed this baby along with 3 of their own. This is common practice with cowbirds. Who are twice the size of a chipping sparrow. I have seen song sparrows struggle to feed these gentle giant babies before. And like a true mom. They give it there all.

As you can see below this little or not so little nestling barely fits in the nest. Good news is though. They all fledged successfully.

momma robin and new family June 5

These robins have nested in a dog kennel. Everyone is watching over them carefully here. This is a big event. The mirror has become a bit of a challenge for dad. He either thinks its another male or he is noticing how very handsome he is. Or a bit of both.

 The nest with 4 perfect blue eggs awaiting their debut

 3 babes hatched out on the 5th of June and Mom is seen here sitting on them while dad is out gathering food.

 I took these very fast when mom went off. One left to go. Arent these the most amazing little beings.

mom n babes

Spring is a time for new life. Not always an easy time for the birds. I had a pair of merlins here and she was sitting on eggs and all of a sudden they were both gone. Have not heard or seen them since. A mystery. We do have a residen great horned owl in the area. I am not sure if it got the nest one night or what the scoop is. But it was nearing the end for her and getting close to hatch time. So it was a very upsetting event in any case to loose them. I have a baltimore oriole in a beautiful nest on the corner and a flicker on the other corner. Life is everywhere. The air is full of moms feeding hungry wee nestlings and now fledglings as well. A job that never ends from morning til night fall.

 A black capped chickadee in her new home

 A tree swallow building her nest

 A northern flicker in her nest cavity

 Unfortunatly not all endings are good ones. We had a very heavy rainfall with high winds and a big branch came loose and hung up on another tree in our yard. Below it at my feet I found a tiny little blue egg. Then another the next day that was cracked open to yeild this tiny life inside. It had perished. So sad.Not deep enough blue to be a robin. Possibly a starling but not sure.

 Hockey night in Canada. This starling family must be true blue Canadians. Pretty unique house made of hockey sticks. Looks like they even won the grey cup!!

 Mom and dad Canada geese with their gosslings on the lake

 Another nest that was taken down unfortunatly when a house was being renovated. They moved it to a nest box they made but the parents did not go back to it. Why cant people just wait the short time of nesting. So many other things can be done during that time. Let them live. I am not sure what these would have been. He thought eastern phobees were seen near it.

 A baby of the furry kind. A baby muskrat appeared through a culvert from the lake one day up the street after our torrential rains. What a cutie. He found a wonderful area of food.

 Momma killdeer sits on her eggs. With all the bad weather we have had I am wondering if they are still good. She has been sitting for a while. Hopefully a late clutch.

 A warm day brings her off for a short time. I am shooting at 600 mm.

 Hard to tell but the male who was just doing the broken wing display then jumped on another female. One minute protecting his family and the next. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Broken wing display. before he was tempted.

 He was quite a way from the nest actually. Possibly the hatching time is getting close.

 Morning dove feeding her clutch of nestlings. Looks like 2

 Tender moments.