I know spring is here, not by the calendar, but because I saw my first oriole at Morro Rock today. A beautiful male in breeding plumage. I got off a dozen shots of him with my Canon 70 D, but he was so elusive in the willow thicket all I got was a lot of foliage and a little color of him. When my “beach chair” birding buddies* arrive here from New York, they will take care of him.
The south side falcons are in their fourth day of incubation. The female has lost her wide girth after laying this clutch of eggs, but she has been stuffing herself these last few days and at times, she looks as though she ate a tennis ball.
A very full crop Photo by Cleve Nash
If our calculations are anywhere close, the chicks should hatch around the 20th of April. We will know for sure, when we see food for the chicks go into the nest site. However, the young won’t be visible for another two weeks. At that time, if they are strong enough, they will come out to the edge to defecate. Stay tuned.
Happy trails, Bob
* See archives: June 2013, “Birding by lawn chair.”
Sure wish we could be there!
We do, too! We know you would have gotten a really great shot of our very orange spring bird.
~Heather and Bob
I haven’t seen an Oriole in Pennsylvania for years. Then again, I don’ have the time right now to look for them unless one would show up in my back yard. The closest orange breasted bird I’ve seen during winter is a Towhee, which is the first ever I’ve seen here. Of course, robins are here now too and have an orange breast. More exciting are the Bald Eagles which are nesting along the Swatara Creek, on the outskirts of Hershey PA. I saw both the male and female about 2 weeks ago at the nest sight. I also have Eastern Bluebirds nesting in a box in my yard. Thanks for posting the picture of the Oriole and Falcons. Happy birding! Carol from Pennsylvania
So glad to hear from the-Mid Atlantic area of the USA. Your springtime birds are so exciting after the snowy winter that hit Pennsylvania. Nesting season is always a great time to watch bird behavior.
I lived in Carversville, Bucks County, PA north of Philadelphia and saw Baltimore Orioles perching and nesting in the backyard willow.Their long swaying pendulous nest was always a pleasure to watch in the light breezes.
~Heather and Bob
I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.. . The Baltimore Oriole is alive and well. They nest in my area every summer (a pair nested in my back yard last year).
That’s great, Nan. When your snow melts you’ll be ready for the orioles to start nesting in you backyard again. Great to hear from you! ~Heather