Birders' Nest

[Kalevala]

Looks like an interesting article, but I couldn't read it as a non-subscriber.

Many years ago, I was given a couple of pet rabbits. They both expired, I believe, after eating some Lily of the Valley plants. The wild rabbits seem to know to leave it alone, so they have to have some method of deciding what to avoid.

Sorry about that (forgot about the NYT's restrictions.  I think that they allow "X" number of articles a month, but not sure).

And so sorry to hear about your pet rabbits.    I expect that they were used to living in a house and/or a hutch and being fed rabbit food and/or vegetables and greens and alas didn't know what to do when being released into a yard; I suspect that they just saw it as "greens" [My guess anyway].  Probably the same reason that the local wild rabbits (which you were trying to be kind to) didn't recognize the rabbit food that you had provided to them and thus didn't eat it.

In any event, you have a kind heart--which is a good thing. 

The article was basically about how animals of the same species learn from each other as to what foods are safe for them to eat.

K

[Jo498]

I have heard a story about a horse (owned by acquaintances of my mother) that died because it ate poisonous yew twigs. I'd also have expected a horse to be smart enough not to do this, get sick maybe but stop in time before getting seriously poisoned.
When I was a kid there was a large yew hedge more or less right next to kindergarten that I passed everyday* and I was always a bit afraid after I had learned that it was poisonous. IIRC the red berries aren't that bad but the seeds and needles.

*these things that were normal in the late 1970s but seem exceptional today: 5 yo children walking on their own 500 m or so to kindergarten passing dangerous plants

[Iota]

I love woodpeckers! They are lovely, and so interesting to watch as well; I saw this Red-headed Woodpecker listen to the tree as he hunted for what was in it:

I was completely enchanted by this!

Wow, fantastic pic!

[Elgarian Redux]

Today a dunnock emerged from the bushes, followed by another - rather an unruly specimen, this latter. It took me a few minutes to realise that it was a young dunnock, and that we must have a nest somewhere in the garden (or maybe in next door's).

The youngster was making a nuisance of him/herself, and when the parent bird found something to eat, it became clear why. The youngster was being fed!

The camera was across the room. I grabbed it and returned to the kitchen window. They disappeared into the bushes. I waited. Adult bird reappeared. Youngster followed. I focused my camera. Their antics were so fidgety and quick that although I was clicking and clicking the shutter, I couldn't persuade myself that I was photographing anything other than some sort of dance that the camera would record as a mere feathery blur.

I almost didn't bother to look at what I'd got, but my wife persuaded me to check. Very sensible. So I uploaded them to the computer and found this. Hey!

[Iota]

Today a dunnock emerged from the bushes, followed by another - rather an unruly specimen, this latter. It took me a few minutes to realise that it was a young dunnock, and that we must have a nest somewhere in the garden (or maybe in next door's).

The youngster was making a nuisance of him/herself, and when the parent bird found something to eat, it became clear why. The youngster was being fed!

The camera was across the room. I grabbed it and returned to the kitchen window. They disappeared into the bushes. I waited. Adult bird reappeared. Youngster followed. I focused my camera. Their antics were so fidgety and quick that although I was clicking and clicking the shutter, I couldn't persuade myself that I was photographing anything other than some sort of dance that the camera would record as a mere feathery blur.

I almost didn't bother to look at what I'd got, but my wife persuaded me to check. Very sensible. So I uploaded them to the computer and found this. Hey!

Brilliant, Elgarian! What a great pic! Takes you right into the heart of the drama. 

[Kalevala]

Today a dunnock emerged from the bushes, followed by another - rather an unruly specimen, this latter. It took me a few minutes to realise that it was a young dunnock, and that we must have a nest somewhere in the garden (or maybe in next door's).

The youngster was making a nuisance of him/herself, and when the parent bird found something to eat, it became clear why. The youngster was being fed!

The camera was across the room. I grabbed it and returned to the kitchen window. They disappeared into the bushes. I waited. Adult bird reappeared. Youngster followed. I focused my camera. Their antics were so fidgety and quick that although I was clicking and clicking the shutter, I couldn't persuade myself that I was photographing anything other than some sort of dance that the camera would record as a mere feathery blur.

I almost didn't bother to look at what I'd got, but my wife persuaded me to check. Very sensible. So I uploaded them to the computer and found this. Hey!

Don't all youngsters make a nuisance of themselves? 

K

[Elgarian Redux]

Brilliant, Elgarian! What a great pic! Takes you right into the heart of the drama. 

What staggered me was that it was really pure chance that I got anything at all - I just clicked and clicked and clicked - and one of them hit the bullseye!

[Elgarian Redux]

Don't all youngsters make a nuisance of themselves? 

K

I betcha this young fella plays Led Zeppelin loud at 1 am.

[Kalevala]

I betcha this young fella plays Led Zeppelin loud at 1 am.

Well, at least they have good taste in music....   

K

[Iota]

What staggered me was that it was really pure chance that I got anything at all - I just clicked and clicked and clicked - and one of them hit the bullseye!

Yes I think that scattershot approach is not uncommon in digital photography these days, more is more etc. It can certainly produce results sometimes, as indeed your excellent photo demonstrates.

[owlice]

I was out wildlifeing this week; got home yesterday. Here are a few things I saw:


Barn Swallow with nest


Eastern Towhee I'm old enough to remember when these were called "Rufous-sided Towhee"


Canada Warbler


Canada Warbler showing off its "necklace"


Ovenbird Finally, a decent pic of this bird!


American Robin with nest


Context

[owlice]

Today a dunnock emerged from the bushes, followed by another - rather an unruly specimen, this latter. It took me a few minutes to realise that it was a young dunnock, and that we must have a nest somewhere in the garden (or maybe in next door's).

The youngster was making a nuisance of him/herself, and when the parent bird found something to eat, it became clear why. The youngster was being fed!

The camera was across the room. I grabbed it and returned to the kitchen window. They disappeared into the bushes. I waited. Adult bird reappeared. Youngster followed. I focused my camera. Their antics were so fidgety and quick that although I was clicking and clicking the shutter, I couldn't persuade myself that I was photographing anything other than some sort of dance that the camera would record as a mere feathery blur.

I almost didn't bother to look at what I'd got, but my wife persuaded me to check. Very sensible. So I uploaded them to the computer and found this. Hey!

WOW!! FABULOUS capture!!! YAY!!!

(Aren't you glad you grabbed your camera?  )

[Iota]

I was out wildlifeing this week; got home yesterday. Here are a few things I saw:


Eastern Towhee I'm old enough to remember when these were called "Rufous-sided Towhee"

The resigned expression of glumness on that fellow's countenance (particularly when embiggened!) was enough to inspire a sudden rush of anthropomorphic sympathy here.

Canada Warbler

The different ways the sunlight illuminates this one and the two pictures below is just magical! An absolute joy to behold! And I still do a double take at the difference between the birds to which the UK and US decided to bequeath the name 'robin' (though I do remember you mentioned there is a distant cousin link). 

Context

What a sensationally beautiful photo! Truly a balm to the soul to witness our world in such peaceful splendour!

Thanks, owlice, lovely photos all, as ever!

[Elgarian Redux]

I was out wildlifeing this week; got home yesterday. Here are a few things I saw:


Barn Swallow with nest

Lovely. Swallows and swifts have both arrived here now. You can't have a summer if they're not around.

Eastern Towhee I'm old enough to remember when these were called "Rufous-sided Towhee"

Rufous-sided fits pretty well. One wonders why the name was changed?

Canada Warbler


Canada Warbler showing off its "necklace"

Wouldn't you too, if you had a necklace like that?

Ovenbird Finally, a decent pic of this bird!

Gorgeous. Is it  related to the warblers? Looks like one. Beautiful shot.

American Robin with nest

Really nothing like our British robin, are they?

Context

OOOOooooh!

[Elgarian Redux]

(Aren't you glad you grabbed your camera?  )

You bet! See what an influence you're having?

[Elgarian Redux]

Magpies. There's a back story to this. There's a big sycamore tree in the field at the bottom of our garden, and there are often magpies there. Occasionally they come into our garden, but always fleetingly, and I've never been able to get a decent photo. Until today.
This chap flew in.
I grab my camera.
He flies off.
I switch camera on.
He flies back in.
I click.
He's gone.
I wait.
He comes back.
I click again.
And that's it folks. What a creature!