Birders were sitting at the back water drip, hoping to see a Crissal Thrasher, when they observed the Crissals carrying food to a nest. I commented that I had been sure the nest was to the north side of the water drip in a dense thicket, but the birds seemed to be carrying the grub south of the drip. About then one of the astute birders exclaimed that he saw the nest and the nestlings being fed. OMG! It wasn't even ten feet from the water drip, where constant human activity takes place.
It still took a while for them to get me on it, so well hidden it was. After I gave up on trying to get a photo, I went and got my son to try. He positioned himself in the best possible view, which was still practically no view at all. Then, I covered him with a gray sheet and departed, so as to create as little a human footprint as possible.
It took a while, but he eventually got a couple of diagnostic shots. I couldn't find any at all online, so his may be the only ones that exist. Surely not, but if so, I understand why. I hope to try for better photos, but only if it can be done without risking disturbing the birds.
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| One fed, one still hungry! Duly noted! |
The nestling Black-chinned Hummingbird seems to be thriving too.
Birds still appear to be wading into the water for Fairy Shrimp. Amazing!
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| Black-headed Grosbeak |
3 comments:
So cool about the Crissal! Maybe next time I visit I’ll be able to add that one to my life list.
Love the nest picture!!
Thanks! It was nice of my son to do that for me! I could probably coax him to do more, but we don't want to upset the birds. I went to the oasis this afternoon, and as I approached I heard the Crissals calling in the distance. I panicked, thinking they wouldn't have gone so far from the nest unless something had predated the nest. I rushed to the nest to check it. Looked empty, so I went closer than ever before. What a relief when a baby popped its head out, mouth agape, begging to be fed. I didn't see the second one, but it probably wasn't hungry. If the nest had been gotten into, neither would be there. I made a speedy retreat!
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