Our Two Nests!

Here at Bird Watcher's Digest we're intently watching two different—vastly different—birds' nests. One of them has growing nestlings approaching their fledging date. The other nest is still being built.

Our soon-to-fledge nest is a red-shouldered hawk effort, complete with three age-disparate nestlings. Here's a short video clip to show how this nest looks today (Thursday, June 21).



And here is a longer clip of the second nest, which a ruby-throated hummingbird female is busy building right outside my office window at BWD.



Both of these clips were taken with my iPhone 4s camera using a Macguyver'd iPhone camera adapter and my spotting scope.

It's really nice to be able to watch this all unfolding from my workplace. A distraction that makes working inside a tad more enjoyable.

Postcard from the Edge of Winter

Can I just say that we miss you Boys of Summer? It's just not the same around here without you, as the days get shorter and the air gets cooler.

Have a nice winter, but don't forget to come back home, OK?

In the Doghouse

One recent morning I spent a few blissful hours in the Doghouse.

I don't mean the doghouse--like I did something wrong--I'm there often enough.
No, I mean the Doghouse photo blind that I got for Christmas last year.

Before the summer sun got the temps high enough to bake a pie, I set the blind up near the garden on the north side of the house. This garden is in full bloom these days, thanks to the green thumbs of Farmer McZickefoose. While I was futzing around with the blind, three different ruby-throated hummingbirds came by to slurp some nectar. That was a good sign.

I set up the blind in a strategic place and waited. Here are a few of the images I got.

Female ruby-throated hummingbird up to her lores in a salvia flower.

Male ruby-throated hummingbird at rest. Note how 'molty' he looks.

He keeps one eye on the hole in the blind as he probes the blossoms.

The Mad Hummingbird.