Nesting Cavity Drama!

 

So today from upstairs I saw a pair of super-cute Carolina chickadees hollowing out a cavity in a dead tree, to make a nest there.  That’s how they do.  I’m trying not to get too excited and scare them off, which has happened before with several pairs of nesting birds.  I try to be cool, but.......

Everything is going fine, until a bluebird shows up!  Ooooooooooh a cavity, nice!  I want this.  This is mine now.  A bluebird is like 3-4 times the size of a chickadee, so the chickadees are upset, but there is nothing they can do.  A bluebird also wants a cavity for a nest, and isn’t bothered by the ethics of taking a chickadee cavity!

Then, just when it was looking terrible for the chickadees, a robin comes by and drives off the bluebird!  Why??????? No idea.  A robin doesn’t want a cavity.  Maybe it just hates bluebirds.  But now the bluebird has moved on and the chickadees are back to work on their nest!

I was watching through the screen so pics were not happening.  It was pretty exciting to watch!  

Back again!

 Hello again!  It's been quite some time.  I continued to bird in NYC, even visited some cool places, but didn't have energy to keep up this blog, so it went dormant.  

Then as you already know the pandemic hit, and life changed.  Now I've been living in my brother's cabin for almost a year, and I'm feeling ready to engage with this blog again.  I got a super cute new camera and I'm learning how to use it, and spring is just about here!

One of two phoebes who has been a regular

Yellow-bellied sapsucker has been a regular

Eastern bluebird by neighbor's house

I might do some after-the-fact posts just so I don't forget cool stuff, but for now I'll just start with today.  In the morning I spent some time on the deck, and in addition to the regular cuties, there were some new migrants!  I saw 3 golden-crowned kinglets, and one blue-headed vireo.  I didn't manage good pictures of any of them.  I did get a whole bunch of crappy pics of the kinglets, but I'm guessing nobody particularly needs those.  The regulars were more cooperative, everyone in their springtime spiffiest costume.  

I went out again after lunch, and saw most of them again.  And then later I heard a knock, knock, knock that wasn't coming from the door.  I went to check it out with a bit of dread in my heart, and sure enough, a pileated flew off, having pecked into the post of the back patio!  Oof.  I mean, I love seeing them, but pecking is for trees!  That made it a 5 woodpecker day for me - two flickers, the yellow-bellied sapsucker who chased off the downy, the red-bellied, and the vandal.

It was wonderful to see the migrants, hopefully I will get better with my camera and share some great moments!  :-) 

Spring Migration is ON! :-)

I made it to the park today, taking advantage of the break from rain.  And I'm so glad I did!  It was one of those birds-everywhere days that are such treasures.  My first official greeter was this black-throated blue who waited through a lot of out-of-focus pictures to give me a little over-the-shoulder flirting.

black-throated blue warbler

 Several warblers declined to be photographed, and then this cuckoo popped up for no particular reason.  And then disappeared and reappeared several time.  Thanks Buddy!

yellow-billed cuckoo

 The adults are not my favorites, but goslings are irresistibly adorable.

Canada goose

 Orioles!  They were fast and gorgeous!

Baltimore oriole

 There were 2 pairs of orioles flirting it up.  It looks like a great place for a nest to me, but of course I'm not an oriole.

Baltimore oriole

 Tanager in the sun!

scarlet tanager

 I saw an ovenbird who left frustratingly quickly, and this waterthrush was waiting for me as I searched for the ovenbird.

waterthrush

 Mystery thrush.  Probably either hermit (I did see one of those for-pretty-sure) or a grey-cheeked (others reported these).  I'm still not great at figuring out thrushes.

Tomorrow maybe I'll make it to turtle pond where apparently it was awesome also!  :-)

A day with a pretty good walk and lots of balcony time

I love this balcony.  Like, I mean, I **love** it.  Did I show you the balcony yet?  I mean, not the actual balcony, but the view?  It's incredible!

Oh, yeah, and there are sometimes birds here, too.

rufous-tailed hummingbird

blue-grey tanager

roadside hawk

Eventually we managed to go for a walk, down the nature trail.  It was not super-birdy, but we did find the one I was hoping for!  Oh, and we also saw a mystery hummingbird that I *think* was a purple-crowned fairy.  :-)

golden-naped woodpecker

agouti

black-hooded antshrike

chestnut-backed antbird

This is the luckiest trail ever - 4-leaf clover everywhere!  :-)

More balcony time.  Another sloth.  This place is amazing.

Back in Costa Rica!

We woke up in beautiful Costa Rica!  Well, because we flew here last night.  But we landed after dark, so our first really good look at the country was in the morning sun.  Out the airport hotel window at a blue-grey tanager by the pool area!  What a great beginning!

We had a good breakfast and started the long ride to the hotel, stopping at crocodile bridge and at someone's yard where these macaws were chowing down.

scarlet macaw

Then on the way in to the hotel we also saw one squirrel monkey and some aracari, and then headed to our room.  WOW!  What an incredible room!  I mean, the room is exactly as expected (we've been here before) but the balcony - it's *so* *incredible*!!!  While I was exploring it, our friends came out onto their balcony so we were chatting.  And I happened to notice we had company!

sloth

This was getting better and better!

I did spend a couple of hours on the balcony while Jack napped, and had my first look at this yellow warbler who was a regular.

yellow warbler

And got to see these honey creepers, who we didn't see here again.

What a joy to be back!

red-legged honey creeper

A day at the beach

Last full day in Costa Rica!  I spent the morning on the balcony, and the afternoon at the beach.  It was pretty great!

In the morning there were the usual suspects.

green heron

 This giant moth flew around for a while, it was surprisingly loud.

 One of the wrens got over its shyness and posed on the railing.

rufous-naped wren

Off to the beach!  I packed up a bag (forgetting my swim shirt, more sunblock, and bug spray) and headed off.  As soon as I got onto the beach I looked left, and there were 2 open chairs with sweet, glorious shade - umbrella *and* trees!  I plopped myself down and settled in for a wonderful afternoon.  I read until I got hot, and then I either ran into the water for a dip (it was wonderful) or ran to the bar for a daiquiri and a refill on my icy cold water.  A couple of times I scooted my chair back further under the trees for excellent shade as the sun moved.  This was the kind of beach afternoon that vacation dreams are made of!

 I left the beach in time to do my shopping (the vendors I wanted stuff from said they left about 4), made my purchases, and headed back to the room.  Just in time to see the monkeys in the tree right outside, a whole pile of them, crossing from tree to tree.  So I got out my camera and sat on the balcony (have I mentioned how much I love our balcony?) and watched the monkeys do their thing.  There were at least 3 or 4 with little monkey babies on their backs, it was so cute!  :-)

Oh, and here is the green iguana, the pond boss.

A few new visitors today

Another day mostly on the balcony, with all of the usual suspects plus a few new visitors.  I know I should probably go walking and see some other stuff, but it's so hot I just have no energy for that whatsoever.  Luckily, I love this balcony!

cinnamon hummingbird  

variegated squirrel 

streak-backed oriole

streak-backed oriole