Pass Out the Cigars, We Are Parents!

                                                        Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                    Great Blue Heron
                                                                "Silent Sentinel Series"

                                                      Great-tailed Grackles(parent on left)

                                                                Male Baltimore Oriole

                                                                   Green Heron

                                                                       Great Egret

Red Eared Slider

                                                                           

Great Egret in Flight

                                                                 

                                                               Red-bellied Woodpecker

                                                       Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker

                                                                      Great Egret

                                                                   Juvenile Mallard

                                                                     Eastern Kingbird

                                                             Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
                                                                       Yellow Form

                                                               Fledgling Green Heron


June 6 through June 9, 2016 photos

mean temperature average 71-83 degrees F/0650-0945 hrs./partly cloudy/10 mph S winds

The past several days were worth their weight in gold.  There are plenty of young birds on the east
side of the lake, as well as Boomer Creek.  An educated guess regarding youngsters is one hundred
to one hundred twenty birds, and that is a very conservative estimate.  Everywhere one turns, the
sounds of food demands is heard.  All one must do is look around and it isn't hard to see the bird
that belongs to the voice being heard.

The most prevalent fledges at the moment are those of the woodpecker family, which I had a grave
concern about over the winter, due to the European Starlings that tend to kill woodpeckers and take
over their cavities.  I'm certain that some of this did occur, but there are good numbers of young
woodpeckers this year.  It is a pleasure to report three Red-bellied Woodpeckers and six Taiga Northern Flickers on Boomer Creek alone, and that is without venturing into the wooded area.

Great Egrets have emerged from the rookery and are fishing on the main part of the lake.  All of
these shots were obtained over a two day period with many more to follow as these birds are used
to me as a permanent fixture.

It is generally hard to find an Eastern Kingbird that will look you in the eye, but it can be done, as
photographed here.

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail followed me at the creek until I photographed it, and it gave me
the perfect scenery for that.  Butterflies have their time with my lens, too.

The best news I saved for last.  We are parents again with young Green Herons!  Pictures for the
second youngster, who fledged this morning will be coming soon.  Congratulations to Green Heron
family #1!