Bluebirds Back!!

Bluebird

I met Brian and Phillip at the park this morning so we could fix any damaged birdhouses and clean out the nests. Brian also brought a second Great Crested Flycatcher box to put up.

We gathered up all the tools and headed to the upper gardens where one
of the boxes was in tough shape and needed help. There was already a tree swallow sitting on the post where the broken birdhouse had been, and it just stared at us, as if to say, "What took you so long! I'm ready to move in!" As Brian was installing the new box, we saw a bluebird in the mulberry tree sporting it's brilliant blue!! Also saw the female nearby.

Brian at work

As we went down to the truck for the flycatcher box, we ran into Haynes who joined us. We saw the bluebird again and it was checking out several of the boxes. Then we ran into Lianne, Dorothy and one of their friends. They had actually seen three bluebirds! Haynes had seen a couple of fox sparrows and we were all hoping to see them as well.

In the meantime, Brian found a spot he thought would be attractive to the flycatcher in the woods, pondside of the upper gardens. He found a nice, big tree and skillfully attached the box. If we can get one to nest in either of the boxes, he feels hopeful that the babies would come back and keep nesting at the park.

We then headed down to the lower gardens to check out the two boxes on the golf course side. They were in good shape and just needed cleaning. A birdwatching couple appeared and spotted one of the fox sparrows! It flew before some of us got to see it, but eventually we found it turning over leaf litter in the shrubby triangle.

The two boxes that were heavily used in Woodcock Meadow have completely disappeared. Someone must have taken them. They have been vandalized in the past and now they're just gone.

Below is a posting of Haynes' sightings for today:

Canada Goose 71 inc V of 60; all headed north.
Mallard 2 river
Red-tailed Hawk 2 pr
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 2
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Blue Jay 3
Tree Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 8 spring song
Tufted Titmouse 4 inc some 3-note songs.
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1 woods near end of Woodcock Field
Eastern Bluebird 2 pr; at least one more observed by others. Upper garden, investigating boxes.
American Robin 15
Northern Mockingbird 1
Fox Sparrow 2 When I arrived, T'd up in the copse between lower garden and access road. Later, one refound in leaf litter below.
Song Sparrow 12
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7 two songs: chipping-sparrow like; and a more silvery rattle
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 6
American Goldfinch 2