It is that time of year when migrants and seasonal residents appear, nests are being built, and chicks can be found. Here are a few photos that have captured these signs of Spring in the past week.

Uncommon and secretive, the Yellow-breasted Chat was once seen as a member of the Wood Warbler family. DNA studies show it to be an earlier breakoff from the Warbler family. I've seldom seen this species until the past two weeks when I've seen it on at least three occasions and heard it on several more. Frequenting thickets and brushy patches, it was calling and singing from up in trees in sunny areas.

Though Great Egrets are fairly common, year-round residents here, our survey of the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach discovered 17 Great Egret nests in a stand of California sycamore trees with adults ferrying back and forth, often carrying nesting materials to enhance their nests.

House Wrens have been very active, singing and nest-building almost everywhere I have birded. This pair of House Wrens found a hole in the frame of the door on a steel container up in Big Canyon, Newport Beach. We watched for about 20 minutes as both birds flew out and returned carrying nesting materials before disappearing through the hole in the container's gate, only to reappear after a few minutes to seek more materials.

Our survey at the UCI Preserve on May 3 found many signs of breeding including several Americans Coots herding or feeding their brightly colored chicks. The chicks are capable swimmers, but the parents continue to feed them at this early age. We departed somewhat concerned for one chick which seemed to have something wrapped around one of its legs, preventing it from joining its parent and sibling on the pond. Nature is not always kind. I hope the chick was able to free itself.

Recent sightings of young have included owlets, song sparrows, goslings, grebes, finches, herons and ducklings, and I expect to see more offspring in the coming weeks. The voluminous rains this spring have resulted in huge plant growth and is showing signs of large populations of gnats, mosquitos, and other insects. I've also seen lots of squirrels and other rodents that may end up as prey for our raptors, coyotes, and even domestic dogs and cats.

jak
.

It is that time of year when migrants and seasonal residents appear, nests are being built, and chicks can be found. Here are a few photos that have captured these signs of Spring in the past week.

Uncommon and secretive, the Yellow-breasted Chat was once seen as a member of the Wood Warbler family. DNA studies show it to be an earlier breakoff from the Warbler family. I've seldom seen this species until the past two weeks when I've seen it on at least three occasions and heard it on several more. Frequenting thickets and brushy patches, it was calling and singing from up in trees in sunny areas.

Though Great Egrets are fairly common, year-round residents here, our survey of the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach discovered 17 Great Egret nests in a stand of California sycamore trees with adults ferrying back and forth, often carrying nesting materials to enhance their nests.

House Wrens have been very active, singing and nest-building almost everywhere I have birded. This pair of House Wrens found a hole in the frame of the door on a steel container up in Big Canyon, Newport Beach. We watched for about 20 minutes as both birds flew out and returned carrying nesting materials before disappearing through the hole in the container's gate, only to reappear after a few minutes to seek more materials.

Our survey at the UCI Preserve on May 3 found many signs of breeding including several Americans Coots herding or feeding their brightly colored chicks. The chicks are capable swimmers, but the parents continue to feed them at this early age. We departed somewhat concerned for one chick which seemed to have something wrapped around one of its legs, preventing it from joining its parent and sibling on the pond. Nature is not always kind. I hope the chick was able to free itself.

Recent sightings of young have included owlets, song sparrows, goslings, grebes, finches, herons and ducklings, and I expect to see more offspring in the coming weeks. The voluminous rains this spring have resulted in huge plant growth and is showing signs of large populations of gnats, mosquitos, and other insects. I've also seen lots of squirrels and other rodents that may end up as prey for our raptors, coyotes, and even domestic dogs and cats.

jak
.