Morning Watch

It's first light, and Barley takes his job as garden watchdog pretty seriously.

After all, who knows when a marauding rabbit might want some breakfast?
Not that Barley would hurt a fly, but the rabbits don't know that.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of things to engage a watchdog's attention.

In the old dogwood tree across the yard...

...a Carolina Chickadee has made a home, 

and makes frequent trips in and out to feed the little ones.

After a quick bath...

...and a flip of the tail, she's back to work.

The much maligned Brown-headed Cowbird bathes next,

then shakes and sends out a shower of droplets.

Despite his bad reputation, he considers himself quite handsome.

None of them seem to be too troubled by Barley.

Maybe next time we'll get a Rottweiler...





Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Wings and Other Things

Pileated Woodpecker, male

It's amazing what you can see when you're not looking for something.  While sitting at my drawing board last week, I heard a faint clicking sound, and looking up, saw a pileated woodpecker clinging to the window frame about four yards away.  My first inclination was to reach for the camera behind me, but realizing that the motion would likely scare the bird, I held my breath and watched.  

The woodpecker was quite striking up close with his impressive size (about that of a crow) and vibrant plumage.  He was opening and shutting his beak, each time emitting the small clicking sound that first attracted my attention.  I had never heard this before, but I'd never been this close to one of these birds, either.  Might he be afflicted with the woodpecker version of TMJ disorder, or could he, perhaps, have just swallowed a castinette?  (Please feel free to weigh in with your best guess.)

After a few minutes on the window frame, the bird flew to a nearby tree, shimmied quickly up the trunk and into the leafy over-story, before flying out of sight.

   

Brown-headed cowbird and tufted titmouse

The thermometer reached 102˚ yesterday,

and everybody was grateful for fresh cool water in the birdbath.

Red-bellied woodpecker, male

Red-bellied woodpecker, male

Chipmunk and mourning dove

Now what was this chipmunk doing out of her cool den in this heat?  

She must have found something pretty interesting.  

Hey, maybe she'll find my lens cap!

How many are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom You made them all;

The earth is full of Your creatures.

Psalm 104:24