Sunny Day and a New Nest!

5/7/2009 Oh what a difference a day makes! Yesterday continued overcast with an occasional drizzle as I worked in the yard listening to the songs of our resident birds. Today dawned clear and sunny – I should have known when I heard black-throated gray at 5:27 am that it was going to be a good one!

The first discovery came as I walked out the door just before 6:00. The robin pair that had built and subsequently abandoned the nest next door were now building a new nest – directly over our garden gate! Being careful not to act too interested I could see the initial, wispy ‘base’ of grasses on an open section of limb in our ancient peach tree. I briefly pointed it out to Liam and Alita and then it was off to school.

On the way home I stopped at the Hutton’s vireo nest. Climbing on top of my van to look into the nest for the first time, the brave little hen vireo stayed on her eggs until I was about 3 feet away. I snapped a quick photo of the eggs, beautifully wreathed little light brown gems!

Upon my return home I was amazed by the voices that had been added to the morning choir: lazuli bunting, Cassin’s and warbling vireo and western wood peewee all sang or called from the trees ringing the property. The robins were busy – in an hour the nest had easily doubled in size!