Birds Nesting & Activities in the Garden, vol. 7

Thanks Margaret, I checked on the Mallard's nest this evening, but she has covered her eggs so carefully, I can only see a couple of them. There should be 5 eggs by now. Bruce, please keep us posted on your BB's progress. Marna, your Wren sure has been busy. My Titmouse was in a frenzy bringing nesting materials that one day. Thereafter, I have not seen it returned to that bird house. I am not sure if something didn't work out for the bird?

But look who is exploring the grain feeder on the backyard this early morning? The baby Dove! Look!

Wooohooo! First White-breasted Nuthatch fledgling!

So adorable...congrats Kim!!

beautiful shot of the nuthatch Kim!

Too cute.

I checked the chickadee box tonight and the nest is done. No eggs though.

Enjoyed the postings and pictures! ( Especially love the photo of the White-breasted Nuthatch fledgling!)
I have four nesting birds at this time, One Bluebird nest ( In the nestbox) , One Robin nest ( In the Hollie) One Mockingbird nest in one rose bush and one Thrush Nest in the other rose bush, Got a photo of the babies in the Mockingbird nest, But didn't get a good picture of the Thrush on it's nest because it's more hidden, But, I did try.

First picture is of the rose bushes they are nesting in ( Both are knock-out rose bushes) ~Thrush in the bush on the left - Mockingbird in the bush on the right

Next photo is a picture of the Mockingbird babies

3rd photo is a shot I tried to get of the Thrush, Could have gotten a better shot, But, I don't want to get too close and scare her off.

Thanks Rose, Bruce and Marna. Marna, hopefully you'll see the dee's eggs soon. Ooh look, my Redheaded Woodpecker brought his mate back to the seeds/nuts feeder. Hopefully they'll bring their young to eat like they did in the past years where their nest was within the garden boundary.

I also checked on the Mallard's nest late this evening. Momma Mallard wasn't there but she covered her eggs with lots of her down-feather.

Oh Iris, how sweet! Thanks for sharing those lovely photos. You just reminded me, I've a Brown Thrasher's nest to the sideyard in the Japanese Cleyera bush. The B.T.'s nest looks very much like your Thrush's nest which was constructed primarily by twigs.

Here the B.T. is seen on the cherry tree which is next to the J. Cleyera shrub.

So neat Lily_love, Don't get the RHW here so always nice to be able to see them in shared photos here!! .. Like the BT too! I really like the thrashers, They are not very skiddish here at all and a joy to watch, They are always picking through the gardens! The mockingbird is very skiddish if I'm even mildly close to the nest, but, The thrasher is not. The mockingbird does try and mob any hawk that comes around though, Got a picture of her going after White Hawk the other day ( White Hawk is an albino hawk thats been around my area for at least 5 years now)
Thanks for posting your photos.
.... I've been having quite a few new visitors this year, This is one of them, Would you happen to know what it is? .....

Wow, my best guess would be a Brown Headed Cowbird? But we need to enlist Marna and others' help here. Love, love that setting. Thank you Iris.

Iris and Lily you two really have it going on...nice shots all!!

Iris...that is a female Brown-headed Cowbird.

Thanks Lily_love and dellrose!

Iris, you're quite welcome. Sorry I stayed away for some time. I'm now back and was proud to announce that I've found more baby birds. I saw the Brown Thrasher was with one of its fledglings foraging on the ground earlier during the day. At day's end. I couldn't believe my fortune; I get to see Momma/Papa with the fledling once more time: #1 the Brown Thrasher with baby. #2 Papa Mallard cruising the territory, while Mamma Mallard is sitting on eggs.

Momma Mallard in her "home". Boys! I assumed that she begun her incubation on the 12th of the month when I was away. So in roughly 4 weeks we'll see some ducklings. Having had the unusual warm winter this year. This family was initiated 3 months earlier than last year. Note how perfectly she blends into the environment. I worked very close to her this weekend potting up my containers garden. She quietly watched the gardener at work, and didn't seem to mind me one I- ole- da. ^_^

HouseFinche fledgling being brought to the feeder; here daddy's (hidden on the other side of the feeder) feeding baby.

... And there are ten!!!

Meanwhile Alabama Ricky & Lucy are still seen at their own nest on a regular basic, so are the Blue Birds. The Nuthatches, however have vacated their nest the last few days.

Some of the Brown Thrashers are still actively building their own nest at present. Over the weekend, DH saw one with a big 'ole twig on its beak. I didn't have the camera then to capture the pix. This one was taken this morning after a pouring rain.

Those 10 eggs are a beautiful sight!!!!


I'm still envious of your tenants!

This girl was funny collecting coconut fiber. I did not see where she went though.

Last pix for this morning, one of the first Canadian Geese with goslings being seen locally. What's a joy!

Look what I just found! i've been away a couple of days, so not sure when they were born, but i think not too long ago.

Awww! Marna that little gal is cute picking on the coco fiber. Is that a Starling? I've seen some birds picking on some of my hanging baskets outdoor. But I don't know who were the culprits. lol

Bruce, how sweet!!! Congratulations! Someone please pass the cigars. lol Just kidding. I too have baby blues. I've heard little chirping noises coming from the Blue Birds' nest. But I've one that I can't open to look inside. :((

Congrats on the bluebirds!

That's a Grackle, Kim. I've seen blue jays and house sparrows stealing that fiber too.

Mamma and Papa BBs bringing home goodies! And I heard the babies chirping inside when I pass by the "home".

Lots been going on here!! Sorry I've been away, Been so busy and trying to get some photos inbetween doing normal work. How exciting to see all thats been going on !! Enjoyable photos too!! 10 eggs..wow!! congrats!!! and congrats to you too BCH521 on the new found family!!

Welcome back Iris, I learned of the news on your Mockingbird's nest mishap from the other thread. Nature is tough on those little ones! Yesterday, DH captured some pics. of the Canadian Geese with goslings that I first spotted (above). And geeze! The babies are growing really fast. And just now I saw another C.G. family with 6 new goslings passing by. I'll see if I can get some new pics. sometime today.

Yesterday I spotted a Cooper hawk by the BBs' nestbox. Geeze! Where were the crows when I needed 'em? For when the Crows are around, they keep the Hawks away from nestlings in the garden.

The Blue Birds pair usually come to fetch meallies in tandem in effort to keep others away from the feeder. Occassionally my Carolina Wren toughed- it- out for she/he has little Mouths to feed too. They're seen here sharing the protein-rich meals that they each carries home for their little babies.

here they are at 7 days, and 3 made it out of five. it's been cold here, so i am happy, and it gives us a chance at a 3 brood year.

Bruce, the 3 surviving chicks look good. Hope for best outcome and a successful 3- brood year. Mine brood perhaps getting close to fledgle anyday now? With that in mind. I try to offer mealies in an easy access feeder. Hope to see the parents bringing their fledglings here to feed;

Ofcourse, it didn't take very long before Moma Blue Bird finds the new feeder. :)

At the meantime, my Mallards pair are doing well. I often see the drake hanging around the vincinity while his parter sits on eggs. I also noticed too she only leave the nest in mid-day when the temp. is warm. But just now I noticed for the first time when she returns to the nest.

With her beau escorted her back to the pier. Then she flew from where she was with him back into the nest. How sweet a sight! No action pix. I wished I was quick enough to capture such scene!

Mallard drake hanging by the nesting site, here he's seen after he escorted his mate back to the nest at day ends yesterday.

Carolina Wrens have chosen this nest box this year. Boys, these guys/gals are really noisy in the morning hours. I saw some eggs in the nest box!

Blue Birds babies are getting close to fledge ... it will be anyday now.

Carolina Wrens fledglings?

It's all action where you are, isn't it, Kim? Wonderful events all round.

Thank you Margaret,

Spring is in full swing here. The birds especially are busy. These Brown Thrashers are seen showing their young foraging on the ground all around the garden. They're quite tame. Not like Northern Cardinal or Robins Grackles who took flight at first glance of human present.

Well, I will have to break the bad news. At first I must have been shocked, and in dennial ... when I didn't see Papa Blue Bird at the feeder fetching mealies for the chicks the first couple of days after I saw a Cooper Hawk near by the nest. Well, Papa Blue must have been taken by the Hawk. It has been since the 24th since I last seen Papa.

Moma Blue still faithfully coming/going to feed her babies. One brave single mother bird!

Kim, I'm so dreadfully sorry about Papa Blue.