LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Even More Fun Than the Migration

Every spring and fall we look forward to the migration and glimpses of birds that don't settle here.  After the migration we enjoy watching the courtship displays among our resident birds.  But best of all are the fledglings.  When they first hatch, the woods are filled with their constant chatter.  As they leave the nests we often glimpse their parents feeding them.  Finally they try to find food on their own.  We have little titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, downys, and goldfinches coming to the feeders.  They are very funny to watch as they peck away at anything they find to determine if it is a food source.

Down by the lake, the Barn Swallows have hatched and are ready to leave the nest.  As the birds grow the nests become more and more crowded.


These three are almost ready to go.








Oh, make that four!  Don't you love their little clownish pouty mouths?




Guess who will be fed first?




Yeah me, lady.  You wanna make something of it?




The brood from this nest has fledged so the swallows will repair the nest and lay another set of eggs.

We are fortunate indeed to witness the life of the birds in our area.  Almost makes up for missing the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks who seemed to have passed us by on their way north.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Swallows are the cutest fledglings. They do look so pouty when they are young. I haven't seen any fledglings here yet. We were overwhelmed by Evening Grosbeaks for about three weeks. They ate everything they could wrap their gigantic beaks around. I have to say I'm glad that they have moved on. We did have a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak show up in mid April. He stayed for a week. He was about a thousand miles outside his range. We were thrilled!

Cheryl said...

The barn swallows are beautiful. I remember you posted about them last year......
How wonderful that you can witness these very precious moments......

Busy Bee Suz said...

That pouty mouth is the cutest thing ever....made my day!!!!

My Mind's Eye said...

What sweet picutres....
Thank you for sharing with us.
Mom and Dad love the NC mountains too and would love to live there.
They have reservations for the fall in the NC mtns.for mid October and hope they can see at least some of the fall colors!
Madi and Mom

Cicero Sings said...

It is so amazing that they can open their mouths so wide. Talk about being all mouth.

Ms. A said...

Love the fuzzy head!

Jayne said...

Love the Barnies! Such fun, sweet birds and really good parents too. Looking forward to having them roost on my porch again with their babies.

How Sam Sees It said...

Mom got to see lots of those at the park she visited this week!

Sam

Folkways Note Book said...

NCmountainwoman -- how fortunate you are to be able to follow the birds that grace your property. Their songs must be wonderful to your ears. Nature is so giving to us all. -- barbara

Carolina Linthead said...

What a crew! Thanks for sharing them with us! We saw a lovely red-bellied woodpecker this evening going to town on the cake I had put out. Not rare, but interesting to watch...more fun than watching the squirrels try to break into the heavy duty cake holder the neighbor gave me. *rolls eyes*

Robin's Nesting Place said...

The barn swallows definitely look like they have attitude! They are so cute!

KB said...

Wonderful photos. Nestlings are such miracles. Our birds are just getting started on their first and only clutches of young. I am jealous that you get to see the whole process twice!

I especially love the one with one nestling's beak so wide open!

animal lover, quilt lover said...

We have a Bluebird box and every year I watch a family made then gone. Only one tho.
Sometime there will be a family of Titmouse after but not every year.
I loved loved loved your pictures so much, Thanks for sharing your babies with us!!
xx, Fern

Vicki Lane said...

Great pictures! We're enjoying watching the fledglings of the first hatch show up at our feeders.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Barn swallows nested on our porch the first year we moved to VA. It was "fun" to watch them by way of a small video camera. We actually laid newspapers on the porch for the bird droppings. Now, we discourage any nesting other then in trees.

Tipper said...

Love the photos! We've been listening to the crazy crows here-its like they all come together to teach their new ones to fly-and it makes a horrendous noise : )

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks everyone, for your comments.

Robin - What luck. I love it when we find birds that "shouldn't" be here.

Cheryl - I do feel lucky

Madi - You will definitely find color in mid-October. With the varying elevations there's sure to be beauty.

Linthead - My husband just bought a new type of suet. It has peppercorns in it which the birds will eat around but the squirrels can't stand. I'll let you know if it works.

Fern - Glad you like the pictures.

Tipper - We have crows nearby as well. You're right...they are noisy.

JKW said...

I love the bird pictures and the remarks. Beautiful pictures. And I love the Picture Headliner, that is beautiful. I was in NH for a couple of weeks and the mountains were beautiful. . . awesome every time I went out. Thank you for sharing, Blessings, Janet (JanKW)