Birds, again - 2023

[maeve]

Bluebirds have five blue eggs, and two nest boxes have been claimed by tree swallows. The house wren is back, eagles and osprey wheeling and calling overhead, and someone- Crow? Bluejay? - dropped a pilfered robin's sky blue egg.  Barred and Great Horned owls hoot their own lullabies most nights.

[maeve]

Male and female Baltimore orioles arrived back home today.  I ran inside to get their grape jelly and orange halves, and they were feeding within 20 minutes or so. Yesterday I clomped out to the back porch in my short boots, hanging clean laundry on the wood drying racks before commencing garden work, when who stopped by but a nesting phoebe, wondering who was making all that noise overhead,  He lit on the lower rail and studied me for a moment before getting back to work building the muddy nest beneath the porch.

Hope all goes well for rags  and Megan. At least you'll have some ramblings to read when you stop by again!

[meganl]

Love reading about all your feathered visitors. They brighten the day.

Rags hope your op went well and you are on the pathto recovery.

Down visiting Roy not great weather for getting out and about but hopefully better today.

[maeve]

Thanks for your posts, Megan. Hello to Roy! Happy Birthday in advance!

[meganl]

Thanks lass I will be heading north so driving most of my birthday

[maeve]

We'll be thinking about you, Megan.

This morning Tree swallows are flying about twittering, Tufted titmouse is whistling endlessly, Barred owls (3) are hooting in the distance, crows are harassing some feathered neighbor, and our local osprey just cruised by at tree level scanning the ground as it passed.

[maeve]

Anticipating a hard frost last evening, I headed out in the afternoon to cover as many young and otherwise vulnerable plants as possible. Upon opening the front door I was immediately greeted by a male Ruby-throated hummingbird who flew forward as if to come inside- not a good idea for his well-being. I said "Oops!" and he reversed direction. Why was he there? The feeder in the grape arbor was getting low on nectar. They come to a window to state their need, and I reckon that's what he was doing.

The day before he or another of the resident hummer males suddenly appeared in the rose arbor garden, as I watered deeply to protect plants from the coming freeze. He wanted a bath, and proceeded to have a proper wash-up in the part of the hose stream that suited his needs. I stayed still until he had completed his ablutions and groomed himself, before he flew off to a sunny twig to dry.

Magic!

[meganl]

Maeve love your description of the humming bird I could see it back peddling like fury when you spoke. Asfor the shower service they really have you well trained.

It reminded of a visit to one of dad's friends when I was about four. They had a large alsatian dog it was quite scary but when we were out for a walk in the woods I disappeared for a short time only to reappear with my arm over the dogs back only to whisper as only a young child can in a voice that could be heard at the back row of the carnagie hall that we were now best friend since we went pee pee at the same tree.

That night auntie Betty warned us we might get an early call in the morning. Sure enough at sunrise we were awakened by frantic tapping at the window. I opened the curtains and there was a red squirrel demanding his breakfast. Aunty Betty gave me a biscuit to hand over i had to take a nibble first to checking was fresh. I don't speak squirrel but I knew I was being scolded for my cheak.

[maeve]

Such a lovely quiet whisper you had, Megan !   I can imagine the scene.

Your squirrel story reminded of a hanging, woven squirrel "nest" I saw on a German manufacturing site.  Around here we sometimes feel we must fend the greys off with a whip and stool.  You'd have loved the nestful of red squirrels we found in a swallow bird box.  Their mum had disappeared completely a week past, so we took them to a wildlife rehabber.

Always lovely to hear from you!

[maeve]

Planting a replacement Mandarin Lights azalea, I realized the tiny squeaky-metal sounds I was hearing were coming from the nestbox mounted on a pole in the bed. The tree swallows have hatched their clutch of eggs! I kept digging and the parents kept swooping in to feed the children.

[meganl]

At this time of year ikeep the bedroom window closed at night. I am usually awake by six am but the nesting sparrows don't talk to each other they shout and squabble at the first glimpse of light. They really are the most anti social neighbours.

Had to go into town yesterday so rewarded my self with a tub of ice cream and drove to the viewpoint overlooking the loch and across to the ring of brodgar. There I spent a happy hour watching a curlew foraging among the wild grasses and flowers I am so glad I was taught to gain pleasure from the little things.

[maeve]

Megan, we think ice cream is Good Food!

Rain and heat here, so trying to get plants in the ground in short work period.

Warm regards to all!

[ragdall]

Megan, watching a curlew foraging sounds like a lovely outing. The Long-billed Curlews began arriving here April 6th, and the females are already gathering in preparation for heading back to Oregon and California.
The ladies leave first and the males remain behind to care for and protect the young birds until they are able to make the journey south too.

Maeve I hope that your weather and working conditions have improved.

[maeve]

Rags, I loved your description of the Long-billed curlews. Weather went from weeks of rain and snails to very hot and humid with slugs and snails consuming plants by the second.

[ragdall]

Hello Maeve,
Too bad slugs and snails are not a cash crop?

Sadly, I've seen no further reports about the curlew migration. I suspect that some are already enjoying life in Oregon and California. I haven't seen a hummingbird for a couple of weeks. Dark-eyed Juncos returned to my backyard this week with numerous juvenile birds in tow. The crow parents have successfully taught their young one to forage for itself and it is flying very well. They come every day and try to get my attention, hoping I will throw out something for them to eat. They have become part of the "reducing food waste" in the landfill project.