Dear Readers,
A sunny and bright Canada Day didn’t fail to provide a beautiful bird treat in our garden when a pair of Brown Thrashers appeared and spent sometime, together, foraging for insects and grubs in the grass.
They are not usually found in places near to human habitation, so we felt very privileged to get a good sighting of them.
With their rufous brown feathers, long tails and their piercing yellow eyes, they were quite spectacular to see, and it was made even more-so being that there was a pair of them.
They are usually quite difficult to see, since they are continually on the move and like to stay well hidden in the brush, providing just fleeting glimpses of themselves to any watching person, or predator. We were very lucky that they came out into the open grass in their search for food.
Whilst watching them, I got a chance to see the Bluebird going to and fro, between its nesting box and the trees and bushes, from where it was getting insects to feed its young.
Its nearby neighbourly rival, the House Wren, has finished using its nesting box, for now, having hopefully raised its family who have fledged and flown. I have yet to see any of the Wren’s young in all the years they have been coming here and using our nesting boxes.
The Robins seem to be the only ones nesting around here who have their young, who then can be seen to be still in the area, at least for a short while anyway. I suppose they have to leave once they get too competitive with the grown-ups for the food supply that our garden provides for them all.
Our other feeder birds are still around and keeping us entertained, such as, the Goldfinches, Housefinches, Tree Sparrows, Red Winged Blackbirds, Red and White breasted Nuthatches, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Song and Tree Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Chickadees and others. However, the little Ruby Throated Hummingbirds seem to be conspicuous by their daytime absence from our feeder, but do, just before dusk, make a very brief appearance.
Maybe when they too have hatched their young, they will visit us on a bit more of a regular basis. That remains to be seen, of course, but in the meantime we can only enjoy what is in sight, at the time, and have to take advantage of every possible opportunity to do so, which I hope all of you are doing and getting great enjoyment from doing, too.
Stay safe and well,
Cheers,
John Baldwin
