Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

 

Three to five brown and gray marked, white to creamy white eggs are laid in a bulky nest made of twigs, rootlets, and grass, lined with hair and feathers, and built in a conifer. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

 

In summer, both sexes are a smart gray with flashes of white in the wings and yellow on the face, sides, and rump. Males are very strikingly shaded; females are duller and may show some brown. Winter birds are paler brown, with bright yellow rump and usually some yellow on the sides.

 

 

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the only warbler able to digest the waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles. Its ability to use these fruits allows it to winter farther north than other warblers, sometimes as far north as Newfoundland.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are common and widespread. Their populations are stable or increasing in most areas. Migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers, like many migrants, are frequently killed in collisions with radio towers, buildings, and other obstructions.

Duckies and Geese

I went off without my good camera and lens today so all I had was a little Point & Shoot in my purse!  Someday I will learn not to leave the house without the “big guns”.  These images are totally blown out but that is to be expected with the camera that I was using :(

The  little ones were just adorable.  

And the geese ……

 

Happy Easter

 

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

I went to Burrell’s Woods today to find some little birds.  Imagine my surprise when I saw a pair of Wood Ducks!  I got some good shots of the Male but the female was hiding in the shade behind a bunch of tree branches. 

 

I was out there last week to leave a turtle by the water (don’t ask, long story).  I saw these two ducks then but didn’t know what they were.  They didn’t hang around long enough for me to get a good look.

 

 

 

I’m thinking that this pair have a nest in one of the trees close to the water.  I’ll be going back next week to see if they are still in the area.  This is the female …. a really bad shot of her too!

 

I didn’t realize they nested in trees.  Below are some interesting facts about the Wood Duck.

“A colorful duck of wooded swamps and streamsides, the Wood Duck is one of only a few North American ducks that nest in trees. Many people consider it to be the most beautiful of all waterfowl.

The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times up to 2 km (1.2 mi) away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of up to 89 m (290 ft) without injury.

Predators and Competitors: Starlings, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers, American kestrels, squirrels, screech owls, and wasps will compete for the nest cavities and boxes. Nesting hens, eggs, and ducklings are preyed upon by raccoons, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, mink, opossums, rat snakes, snapping turtles, fish, and predatory birds”

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

They are such cute little birds ….

 

 

Guiding Light is over ….

Guiding Light is currently in its final season on CBS, as the network announced on April 1, 2009 that due to low ratings the series was being canceled. The final episode is scheduled to air on September 18, 2009. Series producer Procter & Gamble Productions has said that they are not going to give up on the series and are exploring other options, including cable networks (a move similar to the one employed by the producers of Passions when the show was canceled by NBC) and Internet broadcasts.

 

Guiding Light was created by soap writer Irna Phillips, and began as an NBC radio serial on January 25, 1937 before moving to CBS on June 30, 1952, as a televised serial.

My great grandmother watched this show when I was a little girl.  She would pull her chair right in front of that old black & white tv and crank the volume up so loud that it could be heard from at least three blocks away.   The daily episode only lasted for 15 minutes back then …. that was many years ago.  I don’t know for sure but my guess would be that she started with the program when it was on the radio.

It’s rather sad to see this old “soap” come to an end.  I even watched it for awhile during the 60’ and 70’s.

White-tailed Deer

While driving through the country, I spotted these four deer running across an open field.  

 

 

 

 

They finally saw me watching them and decided to retreat into the woods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red-winged Blackbirds

Took these photos today at the lake.  These beauties entertained Mother and I while we had lunch.  Lots of males but no sign of any females today … I’m sure they were close by though.   All these shots were taken especially for Jan (the redwings are her favorite).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the images can be seen in my Picasa Web Albums.