Lazuli Bunting

These are not great photos, but they do prove that I have had a Lazuli bunting visit my home! This is the first Lazuli bunting I've seen, and I now know that there is a mated pair nesting in a big Douglas Fir on my property. The two birds come down to forage in our backyard either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I'll try to get better images if the opportunity permits it.

"House Finch Eye Disease"

This unfortunate American goldfinch appears to be infected with the House Finch Eye Disease. He's been hanging around the property for about a month and seems to be faring okay. Interestingly, the other goldfinch don't chase him away from the feeder, as they do to the other goldfinch (we have at least two breeding pairs visiting our feeder). I don't know the prognosis of the disease, but I hope this little guy gets better!

Wounded Juvenile Bald Eagle

I was enjoying the buzzes of the local cicadas, when I noticed a large bird walking through my corn patch! To make a long story short, it ended up being a 10-week old newly fledged Bald eagle. It was near starved to death and very dehydrated. Here's a picture of it peeking through the fence, and the video was taken by my wife Robbie. The raptor rescue organization (Birds of Prey NW) we contacted asked that I move the bird from the sheet I caught it with into a cardboard box. 

At the last update I received from Birds of Prey NW was that the bird has a broken wing, but the bird was a good candidate to be rehabilitated and released. I'll keep you updated as information is received. And, I'm exited to report, is that the bird will be released on our property once it is in a condition to returned to the wild. 

Black-chinned hummingbird

Here's a few Black-chins visiting my feeder. 

It's an adult male, as evidenced by the dark patch ("black chin") under the bill. In the light, the patch (formally, gorget) turns a brilliant electric lilac color.

American Robin

Fencing makes a great place to build a nest!

This is the father, as is shown by the black head and bright breast. Females have gray heads and softer orange breasts.

The hatchlings will bet a steady supply of worms, bugs, and cherries.

Spotted Towhee

Another one of my favorite birds. They act like mice in the underbrush. But the males will expose themselves to sing their very quite and simple songs. Not the best images, but they're what I was able to take of these shy and elusive birds.

Tree Swallows

A pair of Tree swallows were nesting under a boat cover at Glengary Bay, on Lake Pend Oreille in North Idaho near where I moor my sailboat. Hopefully the babies will fledge before the boat owners decide to uncover their boat. You'll see the nest as indicated by the feathers clinging to the canvas cover, just under the notch that accommodates the aft bar of the forward pulpit.  

Here is a Violet-green swallow for coloration comparison. The two species are often confused by new birders. Also note the limited coloring around the eyes, as compared to the Tree swallow.