Female Common Mergansers in SE Alaska

European Starlings in our yard

Unfortunately these non-native exotics have had an exceptionally good breeding year and there are more fledglings around that usual.

These young starlings are sunning

More than any previous year the fledglings were investigating all of our 7 nest boxes.

Not wanting them to get used to going into Screechie’s box we plugged the entrance hole

They pulled the cloth out and entered the box behind it.

The box is now starling-proof!

Pups: 8 weeks old

One of the remaining 3 pups will be going to its new home tomorrow and Linda will take both of the remaining ones with her to their summer home on the Cape on July 1st.  One of those two will be going to its new home in VA and she will keep the last one.

Dinner Time

Mom came for a visit

Bird Island: 6-13-20

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Cattle Egret

In breeding finery

Double-crested Cormorants

Preening keeps this all-important feathers in good working order

With a red mangrove propagule in its mouth

Preening Great Egrets on Bird Island: 6-13-20

Potpourri

Near Port Townsend, WA

Great Blue Heron on Bird Island

American Bittern

Black Skimmer on Egmont Key

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Pups at ~8 weeks of age