Busy Birds!

Yes, the birds have been busy. Mother phoebe left the nest for a minute and here's is the only baby that I could see. Looks pretty cozy in there, doesn't it?

The oriole nest that we saw started last weekend down near the soccer field is now complete (see picture to left) and though I didn't see the mother, I imagine she's either laying or sitting on eggs. I'm just amazed at the speed with which this all takes place - huge journeys from the south or southern hemisphere, land here, build nest, have babies and fly back in the fall. I also saw what must be a young male because his head was a mottled orange and black instead of the rich, solid black of the fully adult male.

Didn't see anything wildly unusual today, although I did see some kind of sandpiper down near the river, but he was a little too far to tell what kind. I remember last year, I saw a spotted sandpiper and I'm kind of wondering if this is the same bird. I like to think that the same birds come back year after year.

Saw our wrens, goldfinches, a couple of yellow rumps which are hanging around in the same shrub as last week (making me wonder if they might build a nest there), cardinals, song sparrows, tree swallows and Mr. Bluebird. Also, finally heard the wood thrushes in a couple of locations, but haven't actually seen one. Somehow, I feel like I've missed out on some of the more unusual warblers this year but I guess that's the way it goes.