All About Pocket Knives

Neat pictures, Ken & Mel!

Seems the little eaglets aren't so little any more! ---> http://www.aswp.org/pages/hays-nest
Certainly look strong and healthy. They should be on the wing soon.
And while I was watching, lunch arrived!!

I am glad both have survived and look like they arer doing fine.

Stopped by to check on the bluebirds again this afternoon. Mama is still on the job! No babies hatched yet - incubation is 12-14 days so should be any day now.

Ken

Just seems like an odd place to park - that's our church building. I live in the parsonage, so this shot was taken from my kitchen window, looking out the back of the house.

Two out of five so far. You can see the blue.

Ken

A flicker. The book says they probably eat more ants than any other North American bird. We get quite a few ants that seem to like the edge of the sidewalk to nest.
Time for breakfast!

Ken, pretty is the first word that comes to mind, maybe amazing might be a better word.
Steve, I learned something. Wish a few would come over and take care of the fire ants in my yard. Beautiful bird.

Steve, Your Flicker brought to mind that during migration I used to see scores of Flickers in Grant Park, Chicago, next to the lake.

We have Flickers here in winter. They widened the entry hole on a couple of my bluebird boxes one year. I cut and drilled some sheet metal plates to fit over the holes - and that was the end of that. Haven’t seen them eating any fire ants though.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 12:02 am Two out of five so far. You can see the blue.

Ken

Ken is that the second brood? I peeked in on one of my houses a week or so ago and the were getting real big, and I think from the amount of blue birds on the power line every afternoon they have left the nest. I may try to peek in after a bit. The hummers have raised their babies evidently, they are flying, fighting and eating to beat the band.

Yes that’s the second brood. First brood also was 5 eggs but one didn’t hatch. After the first brood fledges the nest I clean out the box and throw away the first nest. They immediately started building a new nest. I try to clean out the old nests because it gets rid of any pest insects (lice, mites, blowflies, etc) that may be present. More important though is that the parents will build a new nest on top of the old one anyway, which puts the new nest nearer the entry hole, within easier reach of predators.

Ken

A Robin considers what he might find in a freshly cut field.

An amazing coincidence. Earlier this afternoon I responded to Steve's posting about Flickers. Haven't seen one a lifetime ago. Just a few minutes ago I stepped outside and about 20 feet away was a Northern Flicker, my first in decades. It flew away before I could grab a photo of it. It made my day.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 7:38 pm An amazing coincidence. Earlier this afternoon I responded to Steve's posting about Flickers. Haven't seen one a lifetime ago. Just a few minutes ago I stepped outside and about 20 feet away was a Northern Flicker, my first in decades. It flew away before I could grab a photo of it. It made my day.

Nice!!

Very nice photos, and birds, fellows. I especially like the Flicker photos, Steve. It is funny just how localized populations can be. For many years I lived in a subdivision about ten miles from my present home. We often had Flickers in our back yard there. I have lived in my current home for over twenty years, and never seen a Flicker here.

The Thrashers in the brushy area behind our home have fledged a brood of at least two, maybe three. They look a bit untidy and do not fly very smoothly. The Red-bellied Woodpeckers have also fledged a brood. They are very active in our oaks.

Mel, though the first photo is in shade, enlarged one sees the bird clearly, nicely highlighted. Really draws me in. Exceptional shot.

Nice shots Mel. First time I’ve been mooned by a woodpecker.

Ken

Mel your photo's are always impressive and those last two are no exception. I look forward to your pics. Thanks.

I see flickers quite often, more than the redheaded woodpeckers and pileated woodpeckers, but not near as many as the red bellied, hairys, nuthaches and downys. This pair of tree swallows was messing around yestiddy afternoon as I was working in the yard. She was sitting resting and he had loving on his mind.
These little heathens are getting plentiful

Thanks for the kind words, Fellows. Doglegg, you do not get see the nine out of ten photos where the bird is just an obscure shadow or out of focus blob!

Homer, I like swallows, all kinds, but they are some of the hardest birds to photograph, for me. Here are some swallows nesting under a bridge. My camera was pointed almost straight up, so the concrete plane at the bottom of the photos is vertical and the concrete plane at the top is horizontal.

Cool, Mel

Very fine shot Mel. Very interesting.

Well the Eaglets are now grown Juveniles.. Mom/Dad did good.. Looks like they are itching to strike out on their own.. They should fledge some time this month.. Wish them all the best.. Was fun to watch them grow..
John

It would be very cool to see them make their exit from the nest. Yes, the parents did very well indeed. It has been a fascinating watch.