Hummingbird – Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)- male

Bamboozled?

We came across this little scenario yesterday at our fish pond. This small bird was feeding her ‘baby’. There is obviously a size discrepancy. I haven’t identified the young bird but I know cowbirds and starlings will sometimes lay their eggs in other birds nests and let the new parents raise their chicks. I thought the mother may have been a Swainson’s Thrush but the ‘eyebrow’ didn’t look right. I’m now leaning toward some variety of Vireo.

Hummingbird Sequence

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

This guy showed up yesterday. We usually have a pair nest close by each Summer and they are always a pleasure to see. They range on the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska.

Barred Owl

Well, the Barred Owls are out in abundance right now, unfortunately due to lots of baby Robins now on the ground. This one was being attacked by Robins, Hummingbirds, Towhees and Swainson’s Thrushes though you wouldn’t know it as it sat calmly and and scoped out the territory.

Retirement Bliss

Kate and Anna have been enjoying their “retirement” in the orchard where they have a large fenced area to scratch and explore. They are doing a great job at bug and weed control and are actually laying better than ever. Looking pretty good too!

Winter Eggs

Despite the short daylight hours and colder weather our four new Aracuna chickens are outdoing themselves with their egg production. Even the two older girls living in the “Mini-Coop” in the orchard are laying. So…usually five to six eggs a day in lovely pastel colours. The Aracuna’s in shades of blue and green and the Blue Sumatra/Rhode Island Red mix producing brown eggs.

Overhead

Retirement and the Mini Cooper

We just got four new Araucana chickens so Kate and Anna, the resident chickens, have gone into semi-retirement. They have moved from the big chicken coop to the Mini Cooper that is in our orchard. They will spend the remainder of their lives enjoying the grass and the fruit trees. Meanwhile our new quartet is settling in well and we’re looking forward to their blue eggs.