Four is always better than one...

I really need to apologize to everyone for being such a behind on visiting every one's blog. The weather has certainly played a huge part in my being indoors or out. I thought I had the perfect plan when I penciled in events for my June calendar. A few days busy and a few days not.. and then the rains came and poured and showered and poured and hailed... and things got canceled and then rescheduled... so now my once neatly scheduled calendar is one big cross out and re-penciled page of days filled with too many gotta dos!! I have had these pictures ready to post for about a week now and I am just now getting around to it!! I miss reading every one's posts and after this weekend I will have more time to catch up!! Sorry.
In April I was shown where a male Pileated Woodpecker was working on a nest. It was shared with me, that he has been a resident of this acreage for several years but had never been seen with a mate. I visited his nest every time I came to this particular area and would watch him work and work to create his digs in this sycamore tree. He literally spent days cleaning out the cavity and enlarging the knot hole and making another hole above the knot hole. Click to enlarge!
Several times that I visited, I would hear him before I actually got to his nest sight...calling and calling..a very terradactyl-like sound. Several other birders had told me he has created a nest before but with no success in attracting a mate....but early in May, a very pretty little female Pileated WP arrived and must have been very impressed with all his hard work, because she decided to stay!! It took several visits before I actually saw her and getting both Pileateds in a photo was not to be ... prior to her nesting! They were both extremely skittish and would scream off into the forest at the slightest noise of anyone passing near by.
It wasn't until the young were born and started popping their little heads out of the nest holes that I even tried to capture a shot...and even then my attempts did not turn out very good!


I was able to crop one photo enough to get a better look at Dad...but it was the little ones who captured my heart when I saw them for the first time!!
Each had taken one of the nest holes as their little port holes to the world and began exploring what was going on outside that sycamore!!


I never attempted to get close to their nest..and most of my observations were made with binoculars..and my 300 mm lens just wasn't powerful enough to get a good sharp image..but I felt thrilled that I was even able to witness all four birds during the same visit!! The babies did fledged last week. I haven't been back to see if they are still around but I'm crossing my fingers that they are and that they continue to call this acreage home, because as all birders know when it comes to those hard to find birds, four is always better than one.

What's that clicking noise....

I definitely interrupted his song and caught his attention with the clicking of my camera...but only for a moment then he was back to singing and enjoying the view.

The Great Crested Flycatcher, with his signature cinnamon wings and tail and that bright yellow belly...enjoying the afternoon sun.

Old Hat, New Hat for the Gnats..an update

Posing for photos seems to be "old hat" for these two adult Gnatcatchers, they have "been there done that" before..it was


the two new Gnatcatchers who chose to make their debut, together, but.. very high in the top of the tree! It was great to see that all four birds were doing well..but getting a close up picture of the new babies will have to come another day!

The Morning walk....

One of Saturdays many bird sightings was a visit from this young Orchard Oriole! I was told he was a first spring male, recognized by the black bib down to his chest. He certainly had a lot to say...so early in the morning. What a nice way to start a morning walk!

In my neck of the woods!

Recently when looking through my photo library..I noticed that many of the pictures I have taken in the last few weeks.. kind of have a theme...a weird neck theme! Uck!! Was I subconsciously thinking 'neck' because I've had a pain in mine due to trying to catch a glimpse of those tree-top warblers? I'm not sure, but tom the turkey was the first "neck pix"... That little pony tail hanging from the bottom of his neck is his beard!! What a crazy place for a beard!!

...and then there was this little deer who was carrying a radio-collar around its neck.. she was successfully ignoring me as I was peeking at her.... ah ..neck!!

And what about these Cormorants? They seem to twist, bend and contort their long necks in their quest to preen and or maybe show their respect to the perched bird on the left?? I thought the one in the middle was going to fall off the log as he twisted and turned his neck..

...and then there are those wonderful Red-eyed Vireos who bend their little necks and belt out those crystal-clear sharp notes... which seem to hang in the air forever..

...and why is Mr Oriole tilting his head and looking at me with that puzzled look?? ah..maybe because I am trying to imitate part of his song and he JUST can't believe that anyone could make such horrible sounds?? I've, now, become the pain in the neck!! Some birds, like the Green Heron, only share that they have those long colorful necks when they want to look down into the water for lunch!!

and speaking of stick out their neck...here is one of our little Black-capped Chickadees getting ready to fly the coop!! He sat there teetering for about 20 minutes before Mom and Dad coaxed him out for his first flight. Isn't he just adorable..with his messed up hair do and that open mouth look on his face? He flew into the nearest tree, to be with Mom, Dad and Bro and I'm just hoping that the family does well and...dare I say, stays in my neck of the woods!

The Chat, Gnat, Cat and Kit post!!

What a delight to finally see this Yellow-Breasted Chat! They say he is the largest warbler with quite a big bill and a long tail!! His call is quite amusing..he makes several different sounds, similar to a mocking bird or a thrasher. I heard him in the brushy tangles...and it was several minutes before he decided to make his appearance. I had seen pictures of him in my bird guides but I don't think I was ready for how big he was compared to all the other tiny warblers I had seen this Spring!
Quite a handsome fellow with that bright lemony upper belly and throat!

On the way home I was happy to see the Gnatcatcher carrying a worm to the nest. I believe it is Mr G ...but I wasn't able to see any little tiny mouths stretching to get that worm..so maybe it was for the Mrs... I stared and stared trying to see...
but when I saw the look I was getting...I decided it was best to move on ;-0
Some times it just fun to watch an animal or a bird deal with the little problems of the day.. this poor Gray Catbird couldn't decide which leaf to choose..he had several in his bill before he finally settled on this one..I did wonder what the criteria was..
...and this cute little Red Fox kit was just too tired to move, as I walked near by...that good ole log and that sun just felt too good to give up! He kept me in his sights but by the time I left he had a good case of the yawns...hmmm, I wonder where Mom was?

A few extra shots!!

Ninja want-to-be

Cardinal want-to-be