All About Pocket Knives

Interesting saga Skip. In my experience with several different breeds, there won’t be much, if any “flight training”. The juveniles somehow just decide it’s time to go, and they fly. Often just a short distance the first time or two, but then they’re off. Unlikely they will return to the nest, but they will probably stay around the area and the parents may still feed them for a few days. Keep us posted.

Ken

You're gonna miss them when they fledge. But it is sure fun to watch them. I've enjoyed your photos and enthusiasm.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 9:09 pm Interesting…..

Thank you, Ken.
Updates will be forthcoming.

doglegg wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 10:41 pm You're…..

Thank you, Floyd.
I do enjoy watching them.

***** UPDATE *****
Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Picture #1.
As Of 8:00 A.M., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got As Close As I Could To The Nest.
ALL THREE Not-So “Little Ones” Are VERY Much Alive And Kicking. They Continue To Get BIGGER By The Day.
I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Not-So “Little Ones.”
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

***** UPDATE *****
Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Picture #2 And Picture #3.
As Of 11:30 A.M., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got As Close As I Could To The Nest.
ALL THREE Not-So “Little Ones” Are VERY Active. In Fact, ALL THREE Were Out Of The Nest.
I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Not-So “Little Ones.”
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

***** UPDATE *****
Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Picture #4 And Picture #5.
As Of 5:00 P.M., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Somewhere.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got As Close As I Could To The Nest.
ALL THREE Were Out Of The Nest. One Managed To Get Under My Deck. One Was Perched On A Rock.
I Could Not Locate The Third Bird. I’m Sure The Parents Knew Where It Was.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 3:10 pm ***** UPDATE *****
Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
As Of 8:00 a.m., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got As Close As I Could To The Nest.
ALL THREE Not-So “Little Ones” Are VERY Much Alive And Kicking. They Continue To Get BIGGER By The Day.
I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Not-So “Little Ones.”
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

Your babies are growing up.

doglegg wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 3:21 pm Your…..

It seems like they just got bigger overnight.
Soon, they’ll be out on their own.

I greatly enjoy the photos you fellas post here.

An Indigo Bunting has been hanging around the past couple of days. This is a first, as far as I know.
A Red-Eyed Vireo and a Wood Pewee visited. A Rose-Breasted Grosbeak was a one-day visitor.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 4:13 pm I…..

Garry, on behalf of myself, I thank you.

***** I’ve updated my last post on the Steller’s Jays (Cyanocitta Stelleri). *****

***** UPDATE *****
Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
As Of 12:00 P.M. Today, 19 Hours Have Lapsed Since My Last Update.
Mama, Papa, And The Three Offspring Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri),
Have Not Returned To The Nest. I Am Pretty Sure That The Parents And
The Offspring Are Still In The Area. The Parents Should Soon Be Making
Their Normal Food Visits. But, Barring Any “Spectacular” Return Of Any
Or All Of The Offspring, I Will Say That This Is My Last Update Or Post
Regarding The Three “Little Ones.”
Picture #1, The Empty Nest.

I Really Thought I Was Done Posting Anything About Mama, Papa, And The
Three Offspring Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri). I Was Partially Correct.
I Didn’t Think I Would Be Posting Anything About The Nest Itself. At Around
12:30 P.M. Today, A Nest Sitter Arrived To Occupy The Recently Vacated Nest.
It Is A Juvenile Ground Squirrel.
Picture #2, The Nest Sitter In The Nest.
Picture #3, The Nest Sitter Out Of The Nest.

I saw this Barred Owl perched, and he did a 180 to check me out. I struggle mightily to turn my head half that far!

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:16 pm I saw this Barred Owl perched, and he did a 180 to check me out. I struggle mightily to turn my head half that far!

Ike did you know that Barred owls can turn their heads a full 360°? ........once in their life. By the way, congrats on a great pic.

doglegg wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 8:12 pm

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:16 pm I saw this Barred Owl perched, and he did a 180 to check me out. I struggle mightily to turn my head half that far!

Ike did you know that Barred owls can turn their heads a full 360°? ........once in their life. By the way, congrats on a great pic.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:16 pm I…..

Ike, that’s a FANTASTIC lking bird!
Ike, that’s a FANTASTIC picture!

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Jun 28, 2026 4:32 pm

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:16 pm I…..

Ike, that’s a FANTASTIC lking bird!
Ike, that’s a FANTASTIC picture!

Thanks, right place at right time

I took this very poor photo the other day of a raptor, couldn't get close so had my phone on full zoom, when he flew off he had a very noticeable wing span.

Unusual visitor. Initially, I was sure my Merlin app. had made an error. It was identifying something I had barely ever heard of let alone seen-a Eurasian Collard Dove. My bird book showed this specie as being limited to southern Florida. But further explanations revealed this dove was spreading north and west. It is expected that one day it will inhabit every state.

Have identified three vireos this month: Warbling, Red-Eye, and White-Eye.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo.
Northern House Wren This is becoming a bit more frequent so I can no longer assume every Wren is the Carolina.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 8:03 pm Unusual visitor. Initially, I was sure my Merlin app. had made an error. It was identifying something I had barely ever heard of let alone seen-a Eurasian Collard Dove. My bird book showed this specie as being limited to southern Florida. But further explanations revealed this dove was spreading north and west. It is expected that one day it will inhabit every state.

Have identified three vireos this month: Warbling, Red-Eye, and White-Eye.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo.
Northern House Wren This is becoming a bit more frequent so I can no longer assume every Wren is the Carolina.

We have the Collard Dove occasionally here in central Texas.

Ray

Catbird on our shed roof. They're not a shy bird, often scratching in the leaf litter 15' from where I sit. Love the black Mohawk ghey sport!

Eurasian collared dove have become fairly common here, so much so there is concern about them displacing our native mourning dove’s habitat. We already have a substantial population of whitewing dove that have migrated in from south Texas. When I was a kid we used to visit family in south Texas for whitewing dove hunts. The last few years here in north Texas it’s not unusual to have all three in your bag after a hunt. (There is no season and no limit on Eurasian collared dove since they are classified an invasive species).

Took pictures in the pasture yesterday of one of our most beautiful summer visitors, the Scissortail Flycatcher.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 10:24 pm Eurasian collared dove have become fairly common here, so much so there is concern about them displacing our native mourning dove’s habitat. We already have a substantial population of whitewing dove that have migrated in from south Texas. When I was a kid we used to visit family in south Texas for whitewing dove hunts. The last few years here in north Texas it’s not unusual to have all three in your bag after a hunt. (There is no season and no limit on Eurasian collared dove since they are classified an invasive species).

Took pictures in the pasture yesterday of one of our most beautiful summer visitors, the Scissortail Flycatcher.

Ken

That 2nd pic is stunning!

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 8:03 pm Unusual visitor. Initially, I was sure my Merlin app. had made an error. It was identifying something I had barely ever heard of let alone seen-a Eurasian Collard Dove. My bird book showed this specie as being limited to southern Florida. But further explanations revealed this dove was spreading north and west. It is expected that one day it will inhabit every state.

Have identified three vireos this month: Warbling, Red-Eye, and White-Eye.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo.
Northern House Wren This is becoming a bit more frequent so I can no longer assume every Wren is the Carolina.

We have those Eurasian collard doves down here as well. Good catch on the warblers. Right now we are enjoying the painted buntings.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 10:24 pm Eurasian collared dove have become fairly common here, so much so there is concern about them displacing our native mourning dove’s habitat. We already have a substantial population of whitewing dove that have migrated in from south Texas. When I was a kid we used to visit family in south Texas for whitewing dove hunts. The last few years here in north Texas it’s not unusual to have all three in your bag after a hunt. (There is no season and no limit on Eurasian collared dove since they are classified an invasive species).

Took pictures in the pasture yesterday of one of our most beautiful summer visitors, the Scissortail Flycatcher.

Ken

We also have Inca doves around here. Love your Scissortail pics

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 10:24 pm Took pictures in the pasture yesterday of one of our most beautiful summer visitors, the Scissortail Flycatcher.
Ken

I'm not at all familiar with the Scissortail Flycatcher.
What a beautiful bird and a great photograph.

Thanks for the compliments but I didn’t take the second picture. My photography skills aren’t that good and neither is my camera! I got it from the internet. I was in my truck and stopped to open a gate when I saw the bird sitting on the fence about 15 feet away. It sat there while I took pictures but I couldn’t get it to turn around and show its colorful breast and underwings before it flew off. I got several pictures but had to resort to the internet for one showing its colors.

It is a beautiful bird, and plentiful here every summer, perched on fence wires while hunting for insects. Periodically it swoops down, sometimes appearing to hover in midair with tail forked out, and grabs an insect. Then returns to its perch with its catch and eats it. It’s a reliable summer resident in Texas and Oklahoma (it’s the Oklahoma state bird).

A couple of years ago a pair built their nest in a hanging basket on our porch. We had to watch to see that neither bird was on the nest so we could water the plant. If you got too close to the nest when they were nearby they would attack you! They successfully raised a brood there but never have returned even though we have baskets hanging there every year.

Ken