Sights and Sounds of Summer 2024
Our somewhat peaceful surroundings have been full of human noise lately. Street crews, roof installers, lawn crews, driveway sealers, moving vans, ice cream trucks - you name it, they've been here! What amazes me is how the birds and other critters do their best to carry on.
6-9-24 Eastern Bluebird female
6-23-24 Eastern Bluebird nest
6-23-24 Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum 'Shawnee Brave'
We think the second brood of Eastern Bluebirds fledged on 6/10/24. Roofers were here all day on 6/11/24. The adult pair were soon back watching the box, waiting on housekeeping service! As soon as we confirmed the box was empty, we swapped it out for the clean one on 6/13/24. The female wasted no time building a new nest with cypress needles first, then pine needles from trees across the street. The nest cradled the first egg on 6/19/24.
6-22-24 Eastern Bluebird female to lay egg
6-22-24 Eastern Bluebird female to lay egg
6-23-24 Five Eastern Bluebird eggs
Here is the female on the morning of 6/23/24 as she goes in to lay the fifth egg. It's wonderful to see these birds work together to raise their young. Depending on the heat and timing, this third brood should fledge around 7/11/24.
Last week, on 6/20/24, I had been at a friend's house in the morning. When I returned, I went to check the phoebe nest, knowing they would probably fledge that day. Well, the nest was on the ground! I was a bit concerned, but later saw an adult taking food to one of the young. Perhaps the chicks were rambunctious and raring to take off from the edge, toppling the nest.
6-20-24 Eastern Phoebe
6-20-24 Eastern Phoebe fledgling
The chick was definitely a new fledgling! I watched it fly a good 35 feet to another tree.
6-24-24 Eastern Phoebe immature
An immature bird from the first brood was seen at the dripper bath, then in this hydrangea on 6/24/24.
6-13-24 Common Grackle juvenile with brown eyes
1-5-23 Pair of Common Grackles
Young birds will often come to the bubbler for a drink when it's hot. Common Grackle chicks are a bit smaller than the adults and have brown eyes, as opposed to the yellow eyes of adult birds.
6-16-24 Northern Cardinal juvenile
6-16-24 Northern Cardinal juvenile with adult
Finally, young Northern Cardinals are coming out of cover to be seen. Their bills are still dark, and eventually will turn bright orange.
6-12-24 Northern Flicker
6-12-24 Northern Flicker, exposing yellow feather shafts
One species that loves to make a big splash is the Northern Flicker. The yellow shafts of its tail feathers are easily seen in the second photo. The Western subspecies of Northern Flickers have red shafts. They will hybridize in the area where the two meet. Read more here:
6-17-24 Blue Jay
6-17-24 Blue Jay
This Blue Jay and the flicker have earned their vigorous baths. It's hard work to defend territories and raise chicks in the good old summertime.
6-24-24 Eastern Bluebirds immature waits at dripper
6-24-24 Eastern Bluebirds at dripper
An immature, speckled Eastern Bluebird from the second brood is still tagging along with the adult male.
6-22-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
6-18-24 ( Lonicera sempervirens)
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are seen every day, sometimes at the feeders, sometimes at flowers, like the Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). This is a female, though males are seen, too.
6-24-24 Gray Catbird
6-25-24 Gray Catbird
This Gray Catbird has been heard calling and finally stopped in at the bubbler for #71 for the year. They can be very stealthy, but it's been hot! Birds need fresh, cool water.
6-24-24 Doe in garden at 99.7 degrees
On 6/24/24, the hottest day so far at 99.7 degrees, this doe ventured into the garden to browse. This doe may have just one fawn. There is another doe that has two. On two mornings, I've watched the five of them leave the swampy thicket after having spent the night bedded down in dry leaves.
6-27-24 Blue Dasher on Canna
Today, I watched two Blue Dashers chasing each other in the water garden. This one is displaying in an 'obelisk' position. They're usually seen here in July.
TAKE CARE ~ STAY COOL!