Thanks, Curmudgeon! A lucky catch, for sure...

It has been ten days since I took that nest-making shot of the chickadee and I've been watching them come and go since then.

According to my bird info sites the pair together build the nest and then the female incubates the eggs. If my math is correct she is probably sitting on eggs now.

Today I saw what I assume was the male bring back a meal for his mate. The fact that he perched momentarily on a nearby branch before heading to the nest gave me the only chance of catching a BIF shot. They are fast!


Chickadee_24Apr2023_013 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

Thanks all for looking!

After some YouTube searching I found some videos of this that are more impressive than a still photo. This one reinforces the "flash to startle" theory. At the end the bird's efforts are rewarded with a big caterpillar meal!


https://www.google.com/search?q=mockingbird+wing+display&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRor_7zrP-AhWUFlkFHfNsBqoQ0pQJegQIBRAG&biw=1382&bih=766&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:50990d0a,vid:boZz0ECyYEQ


I'm going back to the library again this Friday and if the bird is still around I'll try to get a shot from the front this time, for a better photo.

Marshall

This Northern Mockingbird was scrambling around on a hedge in the parking lot of our local public library.

A search of my favorite bird site says that this wing display behavior is common but somewhat unexplained. Might be a territory thing to warn off other birds. Another said it was to startle up insects as it foraged on the ground.

MockingbirdWingDisplay_14Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Whatever its purpose it sure was fascinating to watch!


Marshall

It's funny the rabbit holes that Google leads one down! I was looking for a humorous beard photo to respond with and stumbled on this:

https://www.military.com/history/2022/06/14/military-reason-behind-amish-beard.html


Marshall

I've set up an outdoor wicker patio chair in front of the dead ash tree that has been the site of so much nest drama in the last year or so.

Early in the morning it is pleasant to sit there with a cup of coffee and my camera, waiting for something to happen.

A short distance to my left I noticed some recurring bird activity and was able to narrow it down to a cavity in a small tree, and ID'd it as a Carolina Chickadee.

ChickadeeAtNest_11Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

This doesn't look like a natural fluff; makes me wonder where the bird got it?


Marshall

That's unfortunate. I'm sure you've already tried all the printer hard resets, etc.

Marshall

Thanks all for your views and positive comments!

I had just ordered some extra ink cartridges for my Pro-100 printer, did a test print and it was horrible. Did some checking and think it's because the magenta is out. As luck would have it, magenta is not one that I ordered...

So, back to BHPhoto I go and think I just got under the wire due to their Passover store hours closing schedule. They really walk-the-walk when it comes to their religious beliefs. If you get an order in before 7:30 PM Wednesday it may work. Otherwise April 14th is when they open back up for business.

Marshall

I believe this Red-headed Woodpecker has staked out a nest hole in this tree for a brood this year.

There has been much activity recently in retrieving and relocating acorn pieces that are stashed in nearby trees, notably white oaks. This one has been stored for so long that it has a layer of green moss on it!

RHWPsAcornCache_02Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

Well, it's Spring now (03Apr2023) and sitting watching this nest hole I just had this Pileated Woodpecker land on a tree just behind it.

Very unexpected, we hear them and see a fly-by occasionally, but to be able to photograph one this close is special!

PileatedWoodpecker_02Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr



Marshall

We've had a lot of woodpecker activity in our front yard this spring and I've been closely watching in hopes to get some good nest shots again this year. There is a new nest hole in one white oak in our front yard that looks promising and has had lots of red-headed woodpecker activity around it already this year.


This morning I got in position on the hole side of the tree and waited. Finally a tufted titmouse landed on that tree.
154A1605 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


I thought it was just on a bug hunt when it went over, perched on the edge and looked in. Never went all the way in but took a good long look.
TitmouseStory_21Mar2023_028 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Then its mate showed up and sat there watching.
TitmouseStory_21Mar2023_010 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr



The mate never went to the hole and eventually flew away. The looker stayed a bit longer then also flew off.
TitmouseStory_21Mar2023_023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr



I went to Google and did some research and found some interesting things I didn't know. Tufted Titmice are cavity nesters, but don't have the ability to excavate their own cavities, relying on natural cavities or unused woodpecker nests. Here is a link to some titmouse (and chickadee) info:

https://avianreport.com/tufted-titmouse-nest-and-eggs/


So, turns out this pair was actively nest hunting. I'll be out there in the coming days to see how this turns out...


Marshall

It was only a #2 vs a #15 but this time a year ago was not a happy time for Kentucky BBN!

This year we did get past the first game...


Marshall

I believe just cropping out that blown sun would be an improvement. This is a quick and dirty photoshop workup from a screenshot of your download:

You might want to check out PhotoMechanic, a program favored by professional sports shooters and photojournalists to ingest an entire shoot of photos, cull out the duds, and prepare them for final editing for tasks such as eliminating backgrounds.

https://home.camerabits.com/tour-photo-mechanic/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAo-yfBhD_ARIsANr56g7zgur6SUyhoLyHP-n5W6vqIoL8yK5W-roMzU8MgkLh1uUcK-5__H0aApcXEALw_wcB


Marshall

Here is one of the recent shots as the heron flew the length of the dam.

GBHE24Feb2023_077A by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall