Wild Wild Woods

    Green Heron stood on the log, soaking up the sun and looking for lunch in the water beneath.  Suddenly, he stuck out his neck and grabbe...

  Described as "secretive" birds and rarely seen, we have a pair of Sora  Porzana carolina  living in the wetland around the pond....

This very secretive bird, that usually hides among vegetation, today revealed itself at the edge of the pond!  I hope this one will find a s...

  The twig hanging over the water is a favorite perch for birds.   This Ruby-throated Hummingbird sits on the twig to rest on her way to the...

This bird is at it again!  The Green Heron visits the pond several times a week during this hot season.  They are year-around residents of F...

This is the first time we've seen a Green Heron this year.  Last year, posts on this blog showed the Butorides virescens several times ...

A flock of shorebirds stopped today at the pond on their migration trip.  Spotted Sandpipers Actitis macularius , catch food in several diff...

Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus are the smallest of the three native Mergansers. They migrate in early Spring along the Mississippi...

Mourning Doves being lovey-dovey.  A small flock has been here all winter, coming to the feeders for nourishment. These two hang together no...

Late on this balmy Spring day, a pair of Hooded Mergansers landed on the pond. They might be migrating, needing a place to stop and rest. We...

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe is a small member of the flycatcher family that nests near water in open woodland and suburbs.  Phoebes ar...

The female Red-winged Blackbird has been constantly hunting and making frequent trips back to her nest.  This signaled to me that her egg...

There are two kinds of swallows that regularly hang out near our pond.  Both species are aerial insectivores, which means they are so agile ...

A pair of Mallards showed up with ducklings on the pond.  There were only six ducklings today, and they looked older than the brood ...

Grackles Quiscalus quiscula  forage on the ground. Food items might include seeds, acorns, fruits, and garbage. In summer their diet include...

This morning a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius  was finding a meal -- small invertebrates,  crustaceans, or insects -- among the ree...

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus  is setting his territory around the pond.  The water is surrounded by grasses, rushes, shrubs, and...

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak  Pheucticus ludovicianus male paused on the deck rail for a moment after he helped himself to sunflower se...

A pair of Hooded Mergansers  Lophodytes cucullatus stopped on the pond for a few hours. They are "diving" ducks - -  each dive...

A Northern Cardinal was enjoying safflower seeds at the tray feeder this morning.  The Bluejays wanted the peanuts from the same tray.  The...