A few things I’ve seen in recent days.
The snow melted in a hurry once it got started and now everything says Spring! Including today, the howling winds.
Tag Archives: western bluebird
This female Western Bluebird stopped by here recently. She probably raised a batch or two of youngsters in one of our nest boxes this summer.
Lots of birds have successfully nested on our hillside this year – American Robins, Say’s Phoebes, Western and Mountain Bluebirds, House Wrens, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, Bullock’s Orioles and more. The biggest highlight has been our Nice Nests kestrel box hosting its first successful nest of American Kestrels. Four birds were raised and got out of the box and were standing around on branches up until a few days ago. That is the branchling stage. Now they are out doing flying and hunting lessons. I hope they stay here and work on our rodent population. And I hope they return next year. We have another kestrel box that hasn’t been used yet!
The wild currants are ripe
Serviceberries
Kestrel nest box
All four baby kestrels
Western Bluebird with a Bullock’s Oriole flying by
Western Bluebird
Calliope Hummingbird
Bullock’s Oriole
Two baby kestrels take in the last light of the day
Western Meadowlark
We live in this house because it has an incredible view from the river valley to the high peaks of the Pasayten Wilderness. Besides that, there is no practical reason to live here.
Additionally, their are pretty good small views – wildflowers and birds too. This year, the flowers are all coming fast and furious – early with bountiful foliage and intense colors. Without some late spring rains, in a month from now we will be facing brown, crinkly hillsides. So we enjoy the colors and scents now.
Western Bluebirds are using this nest box
Every year I need to remember the name of this flower.
Cat’s ear lillies. Funny name for a beautiful flower
Groundsel
Groundsel is about the same color as balsamroot and has replaced it on our hillside, keeping the yellow theme for a little while longer
Larkspur adds a bit of blue
I think this is an Erigeron sp. but I could not tell you which one
Bitterroot. A perennial favorite. Lewisia rediviva
This Phacelia is much reduced compared to last year when it grew vigorously and everywhere.
SW Trip part 7
I had hopes of seeing California Condors at the Grand Canyon but it turns out that they stay down in the canyon til the weather is consistently warm. It’s a good thing I saw one last year at Big Sur.
The most common bird we saw was Common Raven. Lots of them. They begged in the parking lots. They were somewhat menacing. I wonder if they ever scare small children.
Western Scrub Jay
Juniper Titmouse
Common Raven
Common Raven
Raven soaring over the canyon
Common Raven looking threatening
Western Bluebird – such a beautiful little bird
My Everyday Photos 