Yesterday, I decided to stay home and spend some quality time with the birds in my yard. I had been eagerly anticipating the hatching of the Eastern Bluebird chicks, hoping to observe the parents bringing food to their little ones. Throughout the day, I watched the female bluebird making frequent trips in and out of the birdhouse, though she wasn’t carrying food. The male made a few appearances at the entrance with a tiny morsel in his beak, so small I couldn’t identify it. Interestingly, he didn’t leave the food at the birdhouse but flew away with it. After chatting with my friend Mia, a fellow bird photographer, we suspect the chicks are beginning to hatch but not all at once. Hopefully, today will provide more clarity.
In addition to the bluebirds, I noticed two American Robins industriously building nests in my pine trees. One started its construction last week, and the other began just yesterday. I captured some great shots of the latter robin gathering nesting materials from my yard. There’s something heartwarming about watching these birds prepare for their families.
As if the bird activity wasn’t enough, a Box Turtle made an appearance, passing through my yard. This marks the second one I’ve seen this summer. The first one was spotted in the exact same spot back on June 25. Adding to my turtle encounters, a red-eared Slider laid eggs in my yard back in May. You can read more about that experience here. It seems my yard has become a hotspot for turtles!
Near my bird feeders, I also photographed a vibrant male Northern Cardinal, a serene Mourning Dove, and a cheerful House Finch. It was another fantastic morning spent on my deck, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Today, I’m staying home again to keep an eye on the bluebirds. With any luck, I’ll capture some photos of the parents feeding their chicks. Fingers crossed for another day full of delightful wildlife moments!