We could hear a high-pitched bird sound outside our window after dark so we had to investigate. After some trial and error I finally got a fuzzy photo of the baby Barred Owl.
I recorded the sound and it sounds just like other recordings of a baby Barred Owl screech that I found. Listen here:
It’s amazing how fast the temps change on the Oregon Coast; even in the Spring. I believe it depends on which way the wind blows. (Maybe that’s obvious to a meteorologist. hahaha)
We had a long, wet spring and it seems like the wildlife cycle is a little late. That’s not a scientific fact; just a feeling.
The wild berries also seem a little late. I love the Salmonberries when they are a little over-ripe like this one. And I think they are the prettiest when red rather than the earlier school bus orange. I’ve found that the Salmonberries that get more sun aren’t as sweet; no matter how ripe they are. So look for a bush that is mostly shaded during the day.
This little mama merganser is proficient at raising a brood. I don’t know how many she started out with but I’ve seen her with 7 ducklings for over a week now.
Here’s a video to show how they are progressing in their fishing abilities:
“Eagle!” my content advisor (as he likes to go by) calls out. I look out the window in time to see the adult eagle swoop down to the river. Fumbling with my camera, I watch it land briefly on the rocks, pick something out of the river and continue flying upriver.
Keeping my eye on him I get my lens cap off, turn on the camera and get out the door onto our deck overlooking the Alsea River near the Oregon Coast. He landed! The “eagle has landed”; to borrow a phrase from my childhood.
I hear another eagle chirp every minute or so; like a juvenile keeping in close contact with a parent who has food. And, sure enough…here comes the kid with a hollow leg.
Then another adult flew in to greet the two!
It happened too quick to get a photo of all 3 eagles together. The camera doesn’t always win when I have to make a split-second choice between watching wildlife and photographing it. The two adults flew off together and the young one stayed on the rock. I couldn’t tell if the parent finished eating or left something for Junior.
Bald Eagles get their adult plumage in about 5 years. This one looks like it is beginning to get its white head feathers.
I apologize for the lack of focus on some of these but they are timid little guys.
The cardinal is one of my favorite birds because of the male’s bright red color.
The Blue Jays in Texas look quite different from the Stellar Jays I’m use to west of the Rockies.
The squirrels don’t look any different from my point of view though.
This little Mockingbird might have left the nest too early.
It mostly hopped across the yard a few jumps then flapped his wings in that quivering kind of way that baby birds use.
When I saw the chicks coming out on the Martin house deck I knew the fledge was close. It was early morning and the windows were dripping with dew. I went out on the deck to take some photos and the camera lens kept fogging up. Combine that with the breeze blowing the branches in front of the bird house and it took a while before I could get a photo. These are not Martins. Maybe starlings?
We were gone for a couple days and didn’t see the chicks again. But something stinky must have happened inside.
I’m not giving them their cleaning deposit back!
A male Rufous hummingbird finally found our feeder today. He guards it ruthlessly.
Rufous hummers are very territorial. He is chasing off 5 or 6 other hummers.
Everybody likes the salmonberries – especially the Robins
The crawdad is almost the bottom of the food chain around here. They are the scavengers who feed on dead fish flesh. The diving ducks eat the crawdads – unless we eat them first.
The mallards are enjoying all the fresh green moss growing on the river bottom and banks of the Alsea.
The new growth of spring is such a vibrant green!
I heard the croak and went looking for a big frog. He’s pretty loud for his size!
Then I saw this Great Blue Heron land on the dock. So I had to see if I could sneak up on him.
If he sees me he will fly away.
Uh oh
