Urban Eastern Kingbird

 Got to watch an Eastern Kingbird looking for bugs - on a beach in the metro area, instead of in a field somewhere.  The bird also spent time finding and throwing some little twigs, though it never carried them away for nesting.

Great Egret

There was something kind of akin to meditation in watching this great egret preen this weekend. . .

Northern Cardinal Nest

 The photos are not very clear, but a Northern Cardinal set up her nest just outside a window.

Breeding Wood Thrush

Went out on July 4th with friend Roger to see what was about.  We were surprised to find a female Wood Thrush - with brood patch, so she had young/nest!  This is a species that has seen perilous decline in population in last 40 years, so it was important to document this find.

Peregrines - End of Season

 These are the adults at Ford parkway this morning.  Their four chicks either have fledged or will soon.  They took a break before resuming hunting this morning in the rainy weather.

Babies - Killdeer, Blue Jays, Red-winged Blackbirds

Many species of birds are fledging their young!  This baby killdeer ran to a parent and tucked underneath on a beach in Minneapolis area. 

This baby blue jay was one of several chicks begging for food, at a park near their nest. 

Two different red-winged blackbird nests - one lone chick in a water retention area, and two chicks in a tree (actually just 100 yards away) near a small lake.

Peregrines Fledge!

Some local peregrines took wing in the last couple of weeks. They stayed close to the building where their nest box was for the first week or so, then have dispersed to the tops of surrounding buildings. They can still see their parents, and are watching them catch their prey.  Those skills will take a while to develop.