The Daily Bird, Day 10

Day 10 - April 28

Here's a quick recap. I discovered the nest on April 19. The next day on April 20, I spotted the first egg. The past few days have featured no real change, as I photographed 4 eggs on April 24. So, now it's just a waiting game for the hatching of the eggs. Typically, the eggs hatch at about 2 weeks so that will be about May 4. So for now it's just wait and watch. I do spot the robin on the nest... in fact she's there right this minute. She's not a big fan of the loud lawnmower, otherwise she's pretty content to remain on the nest and doesn't scare too easily.

The Daily Bird, Day 5

April 23 - The robin flew off for a brief bit allowing me to snap this updated egg photo... 3 eggs.

The Daily Bird, Day 2

April 20 - I spotted a bird in the nest this afternoon. It was a robin. The robin flew off so I decided to take another picture to see if there were any eggs. We have an egg! Typically, a robin will lay 3 to 5 eggs and the eggs hatch in about 2 weeks. So I should see some babies by May 4-8.

The Daily Bird, Day 1

April 19 - I found a fully built nest under my deck. No bird was present, but based on the shape and size of the nest, and the types of birds that are most prevalent around my yard, I guessed that it was either a robin or cardinal nest.

Labor Day

Here I sit enjoying a day off work, watching the U.S. Open whilst the butterflies periodically swoop by outside. Today, I saw the first spicebush swallowtail of the season.

Snow on Jan. 25

The beagle isn't much for snow. About 1.5 inches on the ground.

Frog at the House

I have a frog at my front step this evening. My dogs might go after it, so I hope it goes back to the lake soon.

Road work

I just went with my dogs down Hemlock Point Rd toward the bridge and the road is a mess as you head toward the right turn. I do like the paved extension and more room beyond the houses on the sideroad. Still, I won't be walking down toward the bridge any time soon.

Lawn

Would it be better to mow the lawn before tomorrow's rainfall, or wait until Sunday, after the cold front... a day where I have lots of stuff planned... or wait until MONDAY, a workday?

Check out this little guy... saw him yesterday morning

Snow in February 2012

It's been a crazy warm winter, but today we got treated to a fluffy snow fall. The flakes are so big, that I measured a few spots of 2.5 inches. It's really more like 1.5 or so. Anyway, a good show!

Friday the 13th- Nightmare at My House

Yesterday was a very unlucky day for several young robins and their parents. It turns out I had 2 nests of robins. There's the one that I have blogged here since late April, but there was another one discovered yesterday in the bushes near my electric meter.

My dog, Molly, discovered this second nest. Yeah, you can predict where this is going. The nest in the bushes was like 3 feet off the ground, and had 4 kids. I had noticed some rustling in these bushes recently, but wouldn't have guessed there was a nest. Well, Molly did... and she literally ate them out of house and home. She treated those helpless little birds as though they were squeaky toys. I managed to stop her from killing the 4th baby bird, but I had the ugly task of picking up the other 3.

In all the mayhem, the 3 kids in Nest 1 flopped out of their nest. Two of them ran off, the other I was able to put back. The 3rd bird in Nest 1 was gone this morning, so Nest 1 is officially empty.

The 4th baby, the one I "rescued", I put back into Nest 2 and relocated it to a higher spot. This picture is that bird. It did survive the night, something I didn't expect to see. I'm not optimistic that the baby will be able to survive and fly off in time because the parents seem to have left. All the parents were very aggressive during the mayhem yesterday, chirping up a storm and generally being intimidating in an attempt to protect their turf. They are around today, but I can tell there are still some very unhappy birds.

Robin's Nest - May 14

The babies have left the nest. Only 12 days since hatching and all 3 kids are out, hopping and flapping around somewhere. They aren't very good at flying, and they would probably still be in the nest if there hadn't been an incident yesterday.

Robin's Nest - May 10

The kids are looking good. Funny thing is that when I try to take their picture, they hear the 'click' and respond by stretching their necks up looking for food and making the softest little chirps you ever heard.

Birds Nest May 7

The birds are only 5 days old (arrived May 2), but now they actually look like birds.

Birds Nest May 3

All three babies were spotted a couple days ago. I'll take another photo this weekend. Hopefully their eyes will be opened by then.

Robin's Nest - May 2

The babies have arrived! Two of the 3 babies have emerged, with a crack in the third egg.

Robin's Nest, April 23

Managed to get a picture of mom on the nest. She flew away for a bit, and I saw 3 eggs again.

Robin's Nest, April 22

Checked the nest again this evening. Just 3 eggs in the nest. Today was nasty cool and rainy, so the mama might only lay 3 eggs. I estimate seeing babies in the first week of May.

Robin's Nest, April 21

I had suspected we might have a nesting going on, but now I know we do. Look, 3 eggs.