Thursday, June 23, 2022

Chilly Summer Solstice

Spring ended in a cold snap with overnight temperature of 44° F (6.6° C). A pool party celebrated opening of the backyard swimming pool. Despite the chill which was intensified by a brisk wind, our granddaughters briefly braved the icy water. 

In late April, the Eastern Bluebirds, having successfully warded off competing hole-nesting species, began building their nest in earnest:

They ate suet at the feeder.

The pair often roosted together until the female laid eggs and started the 14 days of incubation:

New arrivals celebrated the new season. The male Eastern Bluebird had been maintaining a vigil as the female appeared to do all of the incubation. His favorite perches have been the fence and a metal chair which he "painted" with excrement and from which he launched attacks at any interloping birds such as Tree Swallows, cowbirds, House Sparrows, chickadees and even other bluebirds.  


Like a little blue hawk, he repeatedly flew down to capture insects on the lawn. The female occasionally left her incubation duties to seek food. This week, their behavior changed. The female emerged from the nest box and the male flew up immediately with an insect in his beak:

He approached the female and before I could properly focus on them, she accepted the food. My photo of the event was horribly out of focus and I tried to sharpen it, but it ended up  resembling an impressionist painting. Like those of Monet, Pissarro and Renoir, it only looks sharp from a distance of about 10 feet:

The next frame was in proper focus and showed the female now holding the insect, which she promptly carried into the nest:


An American Robin paraded on the lawn with one of its speckled offspring:

At the feeder, a White-breasted Nuthatch...

...and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak:

Among the mammalian residents, baby Cottontail Rabbits nibbled clover on the lawn:

Chipmunks were numerous:

A White-tailed Deer browsed along the edge of the clearing, low behind the house:


Yesterday morning at 1:15 AM, a doe triggered the Ring doorbell camera at the front door of our casita. It tasted our newly-planted holly:

We took our morning walk along shore of Diamond Lake at the far south end of property but no longer visible through the trees:


Delightful sunset on June 20:

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Linking to:



Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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20 comments:

  1. As always your images and descriptions take me back to the wilderness and like how, Kenneth.

    Thank you so very much.

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  2. Aren't they wonderful? I like posting a photo showing the behaviour, as evidence, and a reminder of the fun!
    (ツ) from Cottage Country , ON, Canada!

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  3. Love your images and the stories you create to go along with them..I have the same images but my pictures aren't as good and I'm a very bad story teller..Thanks for sharing your lovely surroundings..

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  4. I am glad your granddaughters came and used the pool. More warm weather will be coming. No more cold pool water for a while. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed. I adore your storytelling and that your photographs are in focus. 21st was first day of summer. Enjoy the summer!

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  5. Wow! I wish my walks were as beautiful as yours. Great pictures!

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  6. Love seeing your Bluebird series. I've built a number of Bluebird houses, but don't often see them here.

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  7. Diamond Lake looks gorgeous! Bluebirds are such pretty birds. Your photos are wonderful.

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  8. Great photos of the bluebirds, loved the sunset and the beautiful shot across the lake with the reflections and sky.

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  9. Lovely post. I saw a bluebird yesterday but did not get a picture.

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  10. Hello Ken,
    Beautiful captures of your Bluebird couple! The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a favorite, they are lovely. Your deer visitor was a surprise ringing the door bell. Pretty view of the lake and sky! Great collection of birds and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  11. You never fail to show us stunning pics! You are always in the right place at the right time.

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  12. The sunset photo is really gorgeous and it's neat to see the Bluebirds there. We don't see chipmunks here but I always loved watching them dart about! Have a good weekend!

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  13. That's very interesting behavior on the part of the bluebirds. I had no idea they would be cooperative like that.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  14. It's a great shot of the female carrying the insect to the nest...Thanks for joining in #Allseasons

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  15. So beautiful. Regine Love it.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  16. Eastern Bluebirds are adorable. Amazing sky views. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.

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  17. The bluebirds were lovely and colorful to see, Kenneth, and your closeups are also wonderful.

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  18. Amazing birds. We do not got this in Norway

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