Friday, May 10, 2013

Day 9


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I peeked in on the bluebird babies again yesterday. Should be day 9. They should fledge day 16-21. I won't be looking in again but will try to capture a picture of them outside the box or peeking out of the box.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Red Headed Woodpecker


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Although I have red-bellied, downy, hairy, northern flicker, and yellow bellied sapsucker woodpeckers in my yard and even and occasional pileated woodpecker, I've never had a red headed woodpecker.  However, a couple of miles away in a swampy area, I often see red headed woodpeckers nesting.  You have to stop along the road and really look hard, but yes, you can see them.  How exciting!

I even got the red headed woodpecker at the entrence to his/her nest.  I saw the bird go in and waited for an out shot but the bird didn't come back out before I had to go.

Red Shouldered Hawk


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I posted the shot above as my daily.  I actually meant to post this one which I think is a bit better.


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Seen on the route between our house and the boys' school.  Posting a 'friend' of his for tomorrow's picture too.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

It's Getting Crowded in Here!


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This is day 6 or 7.  So I don't confuse us, let's just say it's 7.  They aren't looking anywhere near as bald anymore:-)  Mom and dad were very vocal overhead as I looked in today.  Any day now they should open their eyes.  I'll check back in again in a couple of days.  I would love to have one of those open mouth shots, but they instinctively are still when I look in.

Here's the dad.


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Here's the mom.


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The tulip popular nearby is blooming and very pretty too.


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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Peony


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A peony bloom after a hard rain.  This is such a different variety than I grew up with, but I think it's quite pretty.



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Monday, May 6, 2013

Growing


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I managed to get a quick shot of the babies today.  There was a 10 minute window of sunshine before the heavy rains hit, and I boogied over to the box quick. Notice that the wing tips are starting to form and there is more 'hair' on their heads.  All 5 appear to be doing well.  I heard mom and dad overhead as I was 'visiting'.  I'll keep you posted with more pics as they get bigger.


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Project Feederwatch Summary 2012-2013 Count Period

I just finished entering my 2012-2013 Project Feederwatch data.  If you didn't participate this year, please consider participating next year.  I'll be signing up Donnie's yard as my count site for the 2013-2014 count period.  I expect to see similar results there, and it will be interesting to compare the data from both count sites.  Counting will start again in November.

My maximum species counted for a week was 13, and my maximum number of birds counted for a week was 32.  This year I started spotting and reporting ruby crowned kinglets which I didn't know or report in prior count years.  It's always exciting to get a new high count for a given species or to add new species that I can identify correctly.

Personal Count Summary for 2012-2013 : 27592


Species Maximum number observed during count period
Avg group size when seen

Avg group size per count period
Alphabetic | Taxonomic
Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr
13 20 27 4 11 18 25 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 5 12 19 26 2

Mourning Dove

0

0

1

1

0

2

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

2

2

0

0

3

0

1.9

0.7

Red-bellied Woodpecker

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1.1

0.7

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

1.0

0.1

Downy Woodpecker

2

0

1

1

1

1

2

0

1

1

0

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

2

1.2

1.0

Hairy Woodpecker

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.0

Northern Flicker

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.0

Blue Jay

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

1.0

0.1

Black-capped Chickadee

2

2

2

0

1

1

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

1.4

0.7

Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.1

Tufted Titmouse

0

2

2

2

2

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

1

3

3

3

0

2

2.3

2.1

Red-breasted Nuthatch

2

1

1

2

1

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

1.1

0.8

White-breasted Nuthatch

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1.2

0.3

Brown Creeper

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.2

Carolina Wren

0

0

2

2

1

0

1

0

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

2

1

1

2

0

1

1.4

0.9

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

1

1

0

1

0

1

1.2

0.3

Eastern Bluebird

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1.0

0.0

Hermit Thrush

1

0

1

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

1.0

0.4

American Robin

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.1

Pine Warbler

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1.0

0.2

Yellow-rumped Warbler

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

1

1.0

0.2

Dark-eyed Junco

3

0

1

2

2

0

0

0

0

2

2

1

0

2

2

0

1

2

1

0

0

1.8

1.0

Northern Cardinal

2

1

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

2

0

1

2

0

1.3

0.6

Pine Siskin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

4

15

3

11

6

0

5

10

6.3

2.7

American Goldfinch

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

5

0

4

3

2

3

1

3

1

2.8

1.2

Total species observed

8

4

12

8

6

7

7

3

4

7

10

13

8

10

11

13

13

8

13

7

12

Total individuals observed

14

6

15

12

8

10

10

4

5

11

14

17

13

17

32

19

29

18

16

17

23
Click on a column heading to re-order table. For example, click on "Average group size when seen" to order table by group size.



I know the table isn't showing up correctly.  It's the best I can do.  Sorry.