Room for all of us

Opening with very young wings.

I haven't yet said that the Barred Owl pair shares territory with the Yellow-Crowned Night Herons. As I approach the nest early mornings, I hold my breath hoping there continues to be room for all of us. Seeing this chick do what it inherently knows to do encourages me to carry on with whatever this day brings.

A few things are different this YCNH breeding season:

The YCNH chicks are often alone.

This differs from past years where one adult would stay at the nest and one would forage and return to feed the chicks.

The adult YCNHs are not building the nest edges higher.

YCNH pair would at this point in the raising-young-process be gathering live twigs to weave the nest higher (like making a play pen) as the rambunctious and not quite skilled chicks flap-hop in the nest. I have not seen much of this behavior.

Perhaps the new owl neighbors affect the herons.

So, look at this pose:

I see in heron's outstretched wings a heart. My thought - in times of difficulty (for example, herons having a Barred Owl neighbor) the only sane response is love. This YCNH chick notices.

That's one chick, but I know there are at least 3 in this nest. How can I be sure? I count beaks.

I leave with a thought that all is well for both herons and Barred Owl(s).

What owl you ask?

This one. Neighbor Marc Holtsberg took these gorgeous photos of one of the two resident Barred Owls.

I continued walking through the open area near the pond of Woodlawn. The light made the birds look perky. I saw:

A Northern Cardinal (molting).

A Green Heron

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker

A Pileated Woodpecker (one of the 4 reported here recently) briefly still and then noisily flitting about on an insect hunt.

One more time I swung by the Slash Pine to check the YCNH chicks. I saw but was not quick enough to get you a photo of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers - the smaller-billed woodpecker.

But, wow, I did get this photo of visitors in the same Slash Pine as the herons: Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks! See why the black-belly name?

Besides bird sightings, I love when I see neighbors along the way. I met Lawrence, WWS1 security person. He told me about seeing a fox in the Springdale and Sherwood backyard areas. This was the best news! I would love to photograph a resident fox.

I also said hello to Cali (Calliope) and her sweet dog Diamond and met Paula who lives in Pinehurst and her visitor, Steff from the Central Park area of New York City. Paula, Steff and I were mesmerized by a napping Spoonbill Roseate - a special spoonbill, the one with a leg injury. I've photographed this spoonbill for three seasons. Precious bird and neighbor connections.

June 1, 2021

Hopping Pileated Woodpeckers

These two male Pileated Woodpeckers hopped for about 15 minutes. Likely, they are practicing courtship. Birds of the World calls this behavior "communicative interaction." It seemed like play and reminiscent of a time I was at Mote Marine/Save Our Birds and played hide-and-go seek with a Pileated. 

Here is the video I took today (May 22, 2021).

I sat on the edge of the pond. While there, an American River Otter swam up unaware I was there. It was surprised when it saw me. Startled, my photograph is caught-off-guard blurry! It had caught a fish.

A wonderful flock (ha!) of neighbors photograph wildlife in our neighborhood

Photo credit: Marc Holtsberg, male Pileated feeds a female, likely a juvenile; 

May 15, 2021

There are almost two handfuls of photographers capturing and sharing wildlife wonderment moments while walking in Wildewood Springs I and II and Springlakes*. 

One of the nicest treats is opening my inbox to see what others are discovering and willing to share with other neighbors. 

From Marc Holtsberg's lens - Pileated Woodpeckers.

While walking in the WWS neighborhood, Marc noticed four Pileateds. They were likely adults and fledges flitting and feeding. 

(Marc saw these Pileateds in a different nesting area from last year's nest - last year -one post; another; both 4/2020).

Marc also photographs adults and chicks in the Cooper's Hawk nest on Wildewood Drive. Here is a recent photo of an adult Cooper.

Beth Price's Wildewood Springs Bird eList is HERE. Oh the birds she has photographed! (Her family's place nicknamed "Priceless" is in Springdale.) Here is a photo of an American Robin Beth took in Springdale.

Thomas Couillard and Jeanne Higbee (Woodlawn) send regular updates about the 3 Yellow Crowned Night Heron nests. Thomas keeps track of the hatchings. How? By the egg shells the adults push over the nest side.

Jeanne shared this observation of activity around one of the YCNH nests. With the pair of Barred Owls around, it seems that there is an active negotiation of territory.

Something new tonight. There are now clearly hatchlings in both nests 1&2, which are only about 10 feet apart...Tonight all four parents stuck around after feeding time. Of course, we personify everything, so we decided that they were standing guard after the attention from the owls. But then a heron that is not fully an adult flew in and stayed nearby, too. The adults did nothing to drive it away as they would if it had been a full-grown adult. Then when one of the adults started collecting twigs to add to nest 1, the younger bird followed wherever it went. This went on for more than an hour and the young one was still there when we left. Our hypothesis was that it was one of the young from that tree last year..."

This is a photograph I took early one morning this week of one of the Yellow Crowned Night Herons sitting on the nest.

Betty Pander sent this short amazing video of a monarch emerging from its chrysalis behind her place.

Susan Herman (Pineneedle) recently shared photographs. She photographed an Anhinga, Peninsula Cooter, and White Ibis near her place.

And a Peninsula Cooter Turtle.

Earl Bodman (Sherwood) holding his sweet cat - they were on the way to the vet. When he introduced himself, I recognized his name from his photographs on the WWS I website. 

Earl's photo of a juvenile Bald Eagle from the WWS I website. 

Steve Rymph (Woodlawn) observes the bee box and Wood Duck boxes. He's also created a Butterfly garden near his place. An update in March was:

After clearing out the schefflera I could actually see a [Wood Duck] hen entering the second box...The hens used that nesting box as a "dump" for eggs they did not incubate last year, 15 eggs total. I cleaned the box and added new nesting material over a month ago so I dearly hope someone will settle in. My understanding is the hens will not incubate until they have laid a full clutch of eggs over several days. That way the eggs all hatch at the same time. 

Faith Buell sent updates on a Muscovy Duck nest in Springlakes. Can't place the Muscovy Duck? This is what it looks like.

The WWS I website includes many photographs from other neighbor photographers. To name a few: Earl, Beth Ramsey, Barb West, Tom Turnwald, and Michael Zinda. Michael took this photo of a Great Egret near one of the Wildewood Springs signs.

From my lens this past week, a Florida Soft Shell Turtle laying eggs!

NOTE

* Wildewood Springs is divided into two sections. Wildewood I and II, and includes a third section called Springlakes. There are 14 villages total. Wildewood I includes 558 condo units in Pinehurst, Sherwood, Springdale, Palm Tree, Lakeside, Woodlawn, Oakview, and Oak. These villages are part of the WWS Condo Association.

Wildewood II consists of Tidewater, Timberlake, Lakewood, Wild Palm, and Pineneedle. These villages as well as Springlakes have their own HOAs. 

Spending time in nature is good medicine for us

Anhinga is on the pond edge bathing, dipping, and shaking. What delight to photograph when the light is like this!

I took Anhinga's portrait just after it caught and devoured this fish. Notice how different the light is in this portrait? 

During this stay-at-home and care-for-self-and-others time, wise people suggest spending time in nature, relaxing as much as possible, letting go, thinking of others, and going with the flow as ways to practice resilience. 

The birds show me how.

Early this morning (May 14, 2020) I watched a pair of Green Heron fledglings enjoy climbing around these branches. 

No trouble hanging on when the wind gusted.

I've watched an adult Green Heron continue to gather twigs, perhaps building up the sides of its nest similar to the Yellow Crowned Night Herons. I believe there are several nests close to each other.

Brown Thrasher reminds me to slow down when I eat, even think about what I'm eating as a way to appreciate food and that I have enough to eat when so many others do not. 

Crows are a favorite bird. Maybe I'm influenced by Bernd Heinrich's books, especially, The Mind of a Raven. Raven and crow, jays, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, chows, and treepies are oscine passerines, known as corvids. Talk about smart birds. 

Which reminds me, are you interested in which bird you are? Well, you know. Cornell Lab Group created this fun "test." HERE. 

Sometimes birds appear unfamiliar because of perspective. Like this Carolina Wren. I had to check this photograph with a birding group because I think of a wren with its tail up. 

The Yellow Crowned Night Heron chicks are lively in their nests. Some are branching, some have just hatched. Looking up, I notice a variety of movements and transfer this to my life: move, get exercise.

I checked the Pileated Woodpecker nest. Saw the adult climb in and then it was all tail feathers. Perhaps he was feeding chicks? 

Something wonderful about this time despite distancing: we find ways to connect with others. It is such a delight when birders share from their lens. Marc Holtsberg sent these photographs of recent sightings: Spoonbill Roseate, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Great Blue Heron.

Tom Higbee sent this trio of Wood Storks. I wonder how he got them to strike that pose on that tri-branched Norfolk Pine tree.

Steve reports a female Wood Duck nesting in Box #1 in Woodlawn. The male partner sits on a nearby branch most of the day waiting. I see patience. Like us facing and going with our days to greet whatever arises. 

Steve also reports a Carolina Wren pair nesting nearby. Oh, such wonders. That's the biggest suggestion I take from being with wildlife: begin with awe.

Earth Day, many of us looking out and up

Great Egret, 4.22.20. Earth Day. (SM Barrett)

"It is in you that you must look, not around you." – Eugene Delacroix. 

This quote is good guidance for Earth Day. I'm encouraged to explore my habits and see if they align with what I care about. I found it in award-winning scientist and brilliant teacher Hope Jahren's book, The Story of More. The book's message is to "use less, share more."

Such noticing. Marc Holtsberg took his camera on an early walk. Look what he saw. A pair of Osprey, likely from a neighborhood nest. (Marc's photograph)

Playful rascals - American River Otters. (Marc's photograph.)

Marc said that this family of 12 (!) departed the nest recently. (Marc's photograph.)

And, one of my favorite birds! A Limpkin. (If you haven't heard its call, you can find it in this link to All About Birds.) You'll never forget it. Thank you, Marc, for this photograph, especially.

From Wild Palm neighbor, Sandy, an invite to a Barred Owl cam. This is the type of family we hope finds our recently installed nesting box!

Pineneedle neighbor Walter Goodrich photographed from his window this American Bald Eagle cleaning up the leftovers of a too-much-fish-for-an Anhinga:

Here are some recent sights that caught my attention.

Has anyone else noticed how active the ducks are right now? This Mallard hen kept 3 males fast-waddling behind her, jumping, flying in circles, heading off into the Wedelia (laying eggs or what comes before?) She was vociferous!

A Red-Eared Slider Turtle took notice of the commotion.

This female Pileated Woodpecker checked out a Laurel Oak and maybe this Dendrobium Orchid. They are pretty delicious. (The orchid!) Have you tried one? Pineneedle's Grounds Committee has placed 35 orchids onto mostly oak trees for viewing, not eating.

(Yes, you can eat orchids and other flowers. Like Nasturtiums. Here is a photo of our dinner salad, nasturtium flower and leaves from our neighborhood Butterfly Garden.)

Here she is a few minutes later pausing in the Southern Live Oak behind Rosalie, Pat, and Betsy and Jim's. Let her inspire us to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in an Audubon Certified Wildlife area.

A Green Heron pair continues to nest. This is one of the two. Look for their activity at dusk.

Moonflower vine is one of the lovelies along Wildewood's border on 34th. I took this photo of a partly-prepared-for-weather blossom under the dim light of a soon-to-burst bluster of rain. Like sails unfurled it reminds me of a memorable wordless sail with a girlfriend in a boat her husband built.

Rounding the curve to our home, this airplane contrail (is that what you think this is?) seemed to be pointing out Wildewood, a wonderful place in the world.

UPDATE: Marc Holtsberg says that the contrail is from the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral yesterday afternoon. See the launch replay HERE.

Note - All photographs by others on Wildewood Wonders belong to the photographer named. Posted here with permission.