Baby Red-eyed Vireo

 Super bummed that I did not find the nest before this red-eyed vireo fledged, but still great to see! 

Baby House Wrens

 Yes, I do love digital - can take as many frames as I like and then see what turned out.  House wrens fledged, and feels like you are surrounded!  They are pretty loud and boisterous.  The baby "gape" can be seen on this little one.

Tropical Kingbird

 Yes you read that right.  Tropical kingbird in the metro area.  I did go see it with friend Mark.  Can't add it to year list though - saw tons of them in Mexico!  He was catching insects and dragonflies while we were there.

Green Heron Fishing

 It's not that I haven't had things to post - just no time!  Caught this little green heron doing what he/she does best - fishing!

Big, Little and In Between

 Quite a size difference between the Pileated Woodpecker and Ruby-throated Hummingbird! 

 One of my all-time favorites - Eastern Kingbird.  Very amenable at letting me watch him hunt. 

Eastern bluebirds - quite a mouthful of nesting material!

Coops and Broad-wing Smackdown

 Got to see something interesting yesterday.  Was out with a friend to band Eastern bluebird chicks at a local park.  Spent a little time in the park beforehand.  Heard a Broad-winged hawk's distinctive whistle call, but did not see the bird.

As we were getting ready to band the chicks, saw the Broad-wing overhead, making several passes. Then saw a second bird; you can tell from the primaries molting in on both sides that it is another bird. 

 Then - saw a Cooper's hawk.  Not uncommon to find them both in town, obviously.  But in the same airspace?  I did wonder a little bit how that would work out. 

 And here we have it - a real dogfight.  One of the Broad-wings whistled during the whole thing but the Coops didn't say much.  Probably only lasted about five minutes.  Not sure who the winner was; both birds drifted off.  One of the Broad-wings came by a few minutes later and was not chased off.

May 9 - International Migratory Bird Day

 May 9 was International Migratory Bird Day!  I got out to a few parks and took some photos of birds.  Wanted to show the importance of urban green spaces to birds.  Not great overall photos, but interesting species.  American Pipit on a crummy beach area.  Lots of birds just passing through.  Some getting ready to breed.  Some already with chicks.  Nice snapshot in time of a day in Minnesota in May.