Out back behind the barn, on an old fence pole and above the scrap pile is a blue bird house. I placed it there when we first moved here.
Dependably every year there will be a nest of babies. I always know when they are being fed because of the chorus of chirping they make. And every year I can depend on them being much quicker than me when I try to capture them in the act.
Today as I fed and watered all the animals the little fellow came and did his feeding while I was very near! Without my camera of course.
And so it is that I took this picture from the dining room window and blew this cropped bit up so we can at least see the babies. It was a long distance (150 ft) and therefore blurry, but I’m just happy to have finally got one.
Maybe next year I will have a bird blind up and can stand right outside the barn door for a really great shot?
Life on the Farmlet 
Ha ha! Well done for a great start, however long it took.
Thank you, Annie! I’ll keep working on the refinements and some day I will have a really good shot. 🙂
I love blue birds. We used to see them a lot when we lived in the country 20 years or so ago.
Lillian, they are the sweetest little birds, aren’t they? We had just encouraged a western bluebird to come nest in our yard in California before we moved. I hope they have continued to nest there since we left. I have two blue bird houses here and will be adding about three more this winter!
how fun, to be able to keep an eye on baby birds and feeding time.
Sadly, we can’t encourage birds to nest in our garden because of our four cats.
We have (had) cat’s here too, but the birds seem to manage. More places to hide I think.
We are down to one cat here on the Farmlet and she is so well fed (read fat and lazy) that she pays them no mind. All the rest of the cats on our street are now gone as well. It is a mystery what is happening to them. 😦
A few days ago I realized its been close to 10 years since you were deciding whether to move all the way from California to Alabama. Linda have you ever regretted that decision? I remember how little Tucker got his name and how small he was and how he begged you to play ball with him. I remember when you were “pixilated” and when you started this blog and now look at you with over 1200 followers. My, my doesn’t time fly? I guess I’m feeling rather nostalgic these days as I realize how many years have gone by and about my retirement. Happy belated birthday friend. No, I didn’t remember. I’m not that good. I looked it up. 🙂
Anita
Time does fly, Anita. And I am glad you remember my little Tucker. I still miss him. I have been gone for a while now, but seem to have revived here. Guess I just needed a break from blogging? Thank you for sticking with me all these years and for the good wishes. I hope to hear more from you too, my friend!
Sorry, just realized I misspelled your name. The fingers don’t always match up with my brain.
Everyone does it, Anita. Funny thing is, that when I was little I wanted it spelled with an i and not a y. However, my teacher wouldn’t let me get away with it! 😉
Maybe, but I’m quite happy with this. You’ve captured that greedy, gaping yellow mouth perfectly!
Glad you like it, Kate! I do wish you could hear them when it’s feeding time. The are so frantic sounding and yet their chirping cries are encouraging on some level.
A hide would be a very good idea. 150ft is a long way.
Tom, I only thought of it because you have mentioned using one several times over the years. Your captures are always fun and amazing!
How delightful! Don’t you wish that you had one of those wonderful lenses that capture bird life without the blur…… still not a bad capture!
Thank you, Deb, and yes, I do! I think I may manage it better if I can get closer. We’ll see.
Despite everything, those little mouths are perfectly obvious. It’s wonderful that you have them living so near to you. Once they fledge, do they stay around for a bit? I’ve had cardinal babies around a few times, and always feel sorry for the parents once they’re out of the nest. It’s one thing to carry food to one location, and quite another to tend to babies that are spread all over the yard.
Linda, they do! Because of the Blue bird nest boxes, I have more than one, I have encouraged quite a few to nest here and now I have many! This year I think they will be better off than in previous years, because Neville has disappeared this past week. We seem to have a cat killer in our neck of the woods. Good for the birds but sad for all of us who try to keep cats.
You managed to get the most important bit in – a wide open baby bird’s beak – which says it all really. We have several bird houses around the place but I don’t think any have ever been occupied. This year I put up an insect house which looks cute but who knows what insects will go in there and whether I’ll be able to see them if they do.
Lynn, your insect house sounds fun! Keep us posted on how it goes and which insects, if any, it attracts. BTW, have you checked the insides of your bird houses? Over the years I have found the following in my bird houses: a nest of bumble bees; a wasp’s nest; a black ant’s nest; and a great hoary spider. I let the bumble bees stay for the season, but all other trespassers were evicted! Sadly, I also noticed one year that one nest was suddenly abandoned… It had been invaded by fire ants!
Good lord that’s a lot of competition for one little nest! Actually it’s a good idea to clean out nesting boxes every year anyway… (Cuts down on parasites like fleas; )
I in never said, but to be accurate, all this competition was over two nests here on the property. 😉
And far-off or not, you totally got the picture: )
True, Deb, and I look forward to getting a better one next year.