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Amerikanvihervarpunen (Spinus pinus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Can't Resist When They Pose
I need to stop looking out the window when there are chores to be done. Could not resist, the light and pose were perfect.
Mitä
Idänkirkupöllönen (Megascops asio)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
First part of the story
Kissy Face In The Owl Box
At 4am this morning Frick went in the box & Frack followed him. They trilled a little to each other and had a little kissy face session. Then Frick left and again Frack followed him. I believe Frick keeps trying to convince Frack to stay in this box and lay eggs but she is not having it.
minute & 1/2 video can be viewed here: https://www.kapturedbykala.com/Birds/i-HJgZdf4
2nd part of the story:
this goes with the photo above
What? I Do What I Want!
At 7:03 this morning I found Frack, defiantly back in the squirrel box in my backyard. The lady has a mind of her own. I didn't crop so tightly this time so you can see that the squirrels have chewed the top of this box in addition to the opening.
Mitä
Lehmäturpiaali (Molothrus ater)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Under The Feeder
I looked out my window & saw her under the bird feeder. She was trying to keep warm and eat at the same time. The feeder above her was crowded with a bunch of male cowbirds. She had plenty of food all to herself on the ground that was spilling as the guys fought over the seeds above her.
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Amerikantuulihaukka (Falco sparverius)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
How Do They Do This?
I've seen kestrels perched like this several times & it amazes me every time. High at the top tip of a bare twig. I guess they have a good view from there. Sure makes them easier to spot from a distance.
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Purppuraturpiaali (Quiscalus quiscula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Grackle Wars
Lots of drama in the hood.
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Idänkirkupöllönen (Megascops asio)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Frack Makes Her Own Choices
This is Frack. She decided to spend Saturday in my backyard owl box. The one I have not cleaned out in 3 years because it is impossible to access. I gave it to the squirrels who have raised a lot of babies in there and filled it with squirrel crap. You can see how badly chewed it is. No camera in there. My front yard owl house is nice & clean with fresh bedding, no squirrel crap and a camera inside. Screech owls will drive you nuts, totally unpredictable. She only stayed that one day. As you can see from her expression here, she is the Queen & nobody tells her what to do.
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Alasuku YamatotipulaHavainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Still Here
I'm tired of them....my cats are not. This one has stripes on its wings.
Mitä
Lehmäturpiaali (Molothrus ater)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Cowbird Finds The Fountain
He got a drink then looked straight at me in the window. See? I did it. Only took a couple of days for the birds to get used to the new fountain.
Kuvat / Äänet
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Alaheimo EmpidinaeHavainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Photo 1:
Bug Lifer View 1
This is my first dance fly. I thought it was a robber fly but I was wrong. I could only get it identified to the sub-family level. It was in flowers I had in a pot in my front yard. A tiny little thing.
Photo 2:
Bug Lifer View 2
Dance flies get their name because the males swarm & dance in the air to attract females. They will catch a small insect, wrap it in silk and offer it as a nuptial gift. Then the females choose the male with the most delicious looking offering. Some males try to get away with offering an empty ball of silk. Those males probably don't have much success.
Photo 3:
Bug Lifer View 3
Dance flies are predators and known for eating mosquitos. But they also drink nectar. So they are good pollinators as they find both prey and nectar on flowers.
Mitä
Kalifornianjuoksukäki (Geococcyx californianus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
The Mournful Cry
Male roadrunners have a song they use both to attract a mate & to let other males know he has claimed this territory. It sounds so sad. And a bit like a dove. He is doing it in this photo. It is how I know this is a male. You can hear the song here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Roadrunner/sounds
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Amerikanvihervarpunen (Spinus pinus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Pine Siskin Prefers The Top
The tiny siskin seems to prefer the water bubbling up at the top of my fountain.
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Pihapunavarpunen (Haemorhous mexicanus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
He Has Been Singing Up A Storm
I'd been hearing him singing loudly up and down my street but never could spot him way up in the treetops. Then he got hungry & turned up right outside my window.
Mitä
Purppuraturpiaali (Quiscalus quiscula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Colorful Grackle With Googly Eyes
They are so beautiful when the sun hits them, but those googly eyes crack me up.
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Punaolkaturpiaali (Agelaius phoeniceus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
She Was Thirsty
Got a new fountain. It took a couple of days but the first bird brave enough to use it was this pretty girl.
Kuvat / Äänet
Mitä
Kyyhkyhaukka (Accipiter cooperii)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
I spotted a small hawk in the shadows of a tree while at the lake. Small size plus rounded tail tip & big head makes it a male coopers. The orange eyes are halfway between changing from a juvenile's yellow to an adults red.
Photo 2:
A Different Perspective
He turned just as I was taking the shot. Kept this one because I thought eye looked very cool.
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Iso-Orava (Sciurus niger)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Sup?
Very chill squirrel relaxing in the sunshine as it watched me.
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Amerikanhuuhkaja (Bubo virginianus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Baby Owl Yawn
When I stopped by a half hour after my family portrait, it apparently was nap time. The older baby was out of sight down in the nest. Mom was asleep and the smaller baby was in the middle of a yawn. Took one shot and left them alone the rest of that day.
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Purppuraturpiaali (Quiscalus quiscula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Diva
There is always one.
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Amerikanhuuhkaja (Bubo virginianus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Typical Family Portrait
The week after I saw a baby in the nest, I checked back & there were two this time. So, I got a family portrait. Always that one child who refuses to pose. I was a good distance away & this is a highly cropped shot.
Mitä
Ruostehiirihaukka (Buteo lineatus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
I Smell Squirrel
The squirrel left right after I took a photo of it in the nest. I was looking at wildflowers under the nest when I heard a sound & looked up. 6 minutes after the squirrel had left, a hawk was back in the nest. Wise decision on the squirrel's part to leave.
observation of the squirrel in the nest can be seen here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/201808631
Mitä
Iso-Orava (Sciurus niger)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Squirrel With A Death Wish
I don't know what that squirrel is thinking. That is an active red-shouldered hawk nest and squirrel is on their menu. No eggs or babies yet, they are still working together to build up the nest. Both hawks were around but not right at the nest when I saw this. No encounter while I was there.
Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Coming Up The Slant
When I looked over the railing, I saw her coming up towards me. Spring signals the start of turtle nesting season.
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Morsiosorsa (Aix sponsa)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
A More Subtle Beauty
Not as flashy as the male but still quite the beauty.
Kuvat / Äänet
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Oliivimerimetso (Nannopterum brasilianum)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Cormorant Mating Season
This was the first time I'd seen cormorants mating. I thought they migrated elsewhere before they raised babies.
Mitä
Amerikanvihervarpunen (Spinus pinus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Sunflower Seeds are Siskin Snacks
I was surprised, thought it would go for the smaller seeds.
Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
The Sun Feels Good
It's Spring & the turtles are out & enjoying the sun.
Mitä
Aitokirsikkäät (Suku Tipula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
My Cats Favorite Time Of Year
My cats are thrilled that every time I open a door, snacks fly in.
2 females, id on bugguide here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2336384
Mitä
Purppuraturpiaali (Quiscalus quiscula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Sharing Discussion
They were not in agreement on how to divvy up the booty.
Mitä
Amerikanhuuhkaja (Bubo virginianus)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
Peek-a-Boo Owls
Lots of cuteness here. Mom & baby both have one eye on me. Just this one shot, I moved on quickly so I would not disturb them. Highly cropped shot too, didn't want to get too close.
Mitä
Purppuraturpiaali (Quiscalus quiscula)Havainnoija
kalamurphykingKuvaus
A Flock Of Common Grackles Visited My Yard
When the sun hits these birds just right, they have beautiful colors.