Who Done It?

Song - Summertime by Norah Jones

In mid-June, when we returned from our vacation, I noticed that there was dry grass and leaves in one of my topiary trees in our front entry. I figured it was probably our gardeners who blow the yard when they are finished and they blew some dead grass into this plant.

At the base of the little tree are more twigs and grass bits. 

And upon closer inspection it appeared that it wasn't the gardeners but perhaps a bird attempted to start a nest in the tree and didn't quite finish.  Maybe because we had returned home and pass by this tree several times a day?

So I kept watch to see if the bird might return and finish the nest.  But in 45 days there has been no sight of a resident. I decided to clean up the tree (it's supposed to have a round top) and I wanted to pull out the grass. As I moved around to the side of the tree, I noticed a nice little cup shaped nest behind the loose grass.

And there were three blue speckled eggs inside!  I decided to let it be for a few more weeks to see if there was any activity.

Nothing.  So today I pulled the nest out.  The eggs feel light and empty so I am wondering if they were abandoned and dried up in this unbearable heat?

So....who done it?

Not the gardener.....

But a good possibility is the House Finch!


Upon doing some "little blue eggs" research, it appears that a number of birds lay 3-5 eggs that are blue with brown splotches and the House Finch seems to be a likely suspect.

The male has some red on his head and chest while the female is plain.  Above is an Oak Titmouse and a male House Finch.

"When I learn something new - 

and it happens every day - 

I feel a little more at home in this universe, 

a little more comfortable in the nest" 

-- Bill Moyers

The Tanagers Are Back

Song - Western Tanager Call

Can you spot him?

On Friday my son Andy spotted one on the dead tree near our creek 

but then he flitted away before I could get my camera or binoculars.

Then on Sunday I spotted two outside my office window on the pergola eating the grapes.

I looked at my blog and found that the last time they were in my neighborhood 

was in May 2016.

But by the time I located my camera and put on the telephoto lens....they were gone.

So now I have my camera on my desk so that is how I captured these photos yesterday.

Unfortunately, he is not singing but panting as it was 103 degrees outside.

 

I had Mr. B move a bird bath nearby

 and a friend told me to place some ice cubes in there to keep it cool.

Now I have to figure out what to do with my other grape eaters - time for a new squirt gun!

"The highway of life is filled 

with flat squirrels that couldn't make a decision."

 -- John C. Maxwell