View allAll Photos Tagged branchling
At this age, the owlets have ventured out onto a branch adjacent to the nest, but they can't fly yet. Estimated 45-50 days old. | Rillito Bend Neighborhood, Tucson, Arizona | April 24, 2022
Happy Father's Day, everyone!
Back to posting after missing yesterday. I was so absolutely tired the previous evening, that I just didn't manage to find and edit photos to post early yesterday morning. I know part of the reason is lack of sleep, but I have felt overwhelmingly tired since getting back from Trinidad & Tobago. I need to get more sleep and then see if that helps. If not, I guess it is always possible that I picked up something during our trip.
These are two of three Great Horned Owl owlets, seen yesterday, 17 June 2017, when five of us went east of the city for the day, to visit our friend, Shirley, at her seasonal trailer. A third owlet was perched on a nearby branch and Mom was in the same tree. Dad was keeping watch over his beautiful family from a nearby tree. Apparently, there had been a fourth owlet, but it died the other day. I always find it amusing to see how different young owls are from each other. It makes them look like they have very different personalities. Just a few seconds ago, I looked at the somewhat darker patch low down in front of the owl on the right and discovered that this owlet is grasping a small bird in its talons! Fancy that!
Most of our birding was done at and near Shirley's trailer site, including seeing this wonderful owl family, two Killdeer and their nests, a Baltimore Oriole, and (finally!) a pair of Brown Thrashers. I had hoped for several years to see one of these birds, so it was a real treat to see a 'lifer'. It was far away and so high up, but I managed to get a couple of shots just for the record.
As we were walking around the grounds, two ladies stopped us and showed us some baby birds that they had had to remove from the engine of their vehicle, as they needed to drive. They wondered if we knew what kind of birds they were, but we were unable to help. I posted a photo of them this morning, just in case someone can ID them. The ladies had a bird house that they were going to put the babies into, hoping that the parents would hear them calling and be able to continue feeding them.
Thank you so much, Shirley, for inviting us all out to visit you while you were there for the weekend! It was such a pleasure to see some of "your" birds that you enjoy so much. Such a great variety of species! Wow, what a lunch we had, sitting at a table under the Tree Swallow tree, with a very vocal American Robin just a few feet away. How DO birds manage to sing non-stop?! Hot chili made by Shirley, and a whole array of delicious salads and desserts left me feeling full till the early evening.
Many thanks, Anne B, for picking up three of us and for driving us east across the prairies. Hugely appreciated!
This macro photo of a tiny (maybe half an inch across) Split gill fungus, growing on a fallen log, goes back to 18th October 2010. Came across it the other day - just not getting time to go through all the photos I've taken more recently. Taken at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail.
Just came across this beautiful video of Bald Eagles flying, on YouTube. Have been watching and waiting for the youngest of the two Hornby Island Eagles to fledge, but it looks like young "David" (as he has been named) is going to be waiting just a little longer - maybe tomorrow? What a character this young branchling is, lol. Superb footage from BBC and KPBS of American and European Eagles. Music by Abba.
Strix Aluco | Tawny Owl | Waldkauz
Hello World! Location 2
Nymphenburger Schlosspark, München
05/02/2018
In the last four days, I have only had Internet access on my computer on one of the days, 26 October, when I was able to upload five images. No landline phone use, either. Today, I finally got myself organized, with account numbers, etc., ready to make a phone call. Came upstairs and, as I approached my computer, the blue modem light was ON. Huge relief!!
So, here are five photos from my archives, as I haven't been anywhere since 19 October. Our weather has been nasty, with a few inches of snow the other day, and lots of overcast weather. Too cold for the snow to melt (including off my car!), so I have been hibernating for quite a few days. Just noticed that it is snowing lightly this afternoon, 28 October 2023.
If I wrote a description under any previously-posted photos that were taken on the same outings as these 'new' photos posted today, I will add it under today's photos.
"The Nodding/Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) is my favourite kind of thistle, especially at this stage, when the pinky purple flower has died and the beautiful pattern of the spiny bracts can be seen more clearly. Flower head is 4-6 cm in diameter. Photographed at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area on July 27th, when I called in for a short walk after my afternoon volunteer shift. There were a lot more of these plants this year, so I guess this invasive weed really does spread, lol. In Alberta, this plant is listed as Prohibited Noxious.
www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2011/08/carduus-nutans.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carduus_nutans
Came across this beautiful video of Bald Eagles flying, on YouTube. Superb footage from BBC and KPBS of American and European Eagles. Music by Abba. I did post it a couple of days ago, but after everyone had commented, so thought I'd post it again today.
Have been watching and waiting for the youngest of the two Hornby Island Eagles to fledge, but it looks like young "David" (as he has been named) is going to be waiting just a little longer - today, tomorrow? What a character this young branchling is, lol. It has been eight days since his older sibling fledged."
Strix Aluco | Tawny Owl | Waldkauz
Hello World! Location 2
Nymphenburger Schlosspark, München
05/04/2018
Adult with fledgling clinging to the branch below. This juvenile is from the second nest cavity and there may be another juvenile somewhere in the park. This juvenile hides under leaves and is well camouflaged as it awaits food delivery. The second nest cavity is now empty. Fox Chase Pond and Wetlands, Howard County, Maryland.
The owlet on our right had his wing around his sibling on the left. The funny thing was the owlet on the left was the biggest of the two. These branchlings - they start off as nestlings, become branchlings and then fledglings were adorable and full of personality. It was a pleasure photographing these two.
Happy Sunday and thank you for the visits, comments, faves and invites.
Copyright Barb D'Arpino
Most of the time that I was watching this little branchling, its sibling and their Mother in Fish Creek Park yesterday, all three had their backs turned towards me. Once in a while, I was in luck and managed to catch a glimpse of the front side. I called in again to see them late this afternoon, after my volunteer shift, but all three Great Horned Owls were back in the nest and you could only see one of the youngsters properly. Was out this morning for about two and half hours, botanizing the Upper Plateau of Edworthy Park. Feels so good to finally see an occasional spring wildflower in bloom.
Posting so late today: and lack of sleep, plus warmth, bright sun, and unaccustomed exercise have totally worn me out today. Didn't help that a Robin woke me up about 3:30 a.m. this morning (after just one hour of sleep) and then proceeded to sing its little heart out for two hours, outside my bedroom window, until I eventually managed to get back to sleep. When my alarm went off one hour later, it was still singing, lol. Sigh ....
Jim (Garnite) - here's a little feathery friend of mine, helping to send lots of warm, fuzzy vibes to you, lots of healing thoughts. Sounds like you are still headed in the right direction. Thinking of you and Linda!
These 2 nestlings were on the branch adjacent to their nest cavity, so perhaps just branchlings at this point.
Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon, USA
The cutest bird...IMHO.
UPDATE 4-14: Just a little more info - this bird has just fledged his first nest of the season. Unfortunately, we had some windy weather and the nest fell to the ground. Possibly the nearby Starlings, Kestrels, Grackles, Cowbirds, etc got to it - I'm not sure but I found the nest on the ground and a small branchling crouched in the tree crotch where the nest had been. The branchling survived despite the lack of a comfy nest and when I saw the family on this day, they had moved the whole operation to a different tree. Mom has a new nest started, the singleton survivor is still being fed by both parents, and Dad is looking quite happy about everything. That is really the essence of this capture and I am lucky to have shared the moment with him...and you.
4-13-10
Tucson, AZ
Vermilion Flycatcher dad has a tough decision as two branchlings vie for the juicy bug.
5-6-09
Tucson, AZ
Photo by Joan Gellatly
A photo of the adult female Great Horned Owl down at Sikome, Fish Creek Park, taken on May 7th. Poor thing - Dad, too - she looked worn out from looking after their three owlets (branchlings at that time, if I remember correctly). I called in at the area yesterday morning, after a three-hour walk nearby, but a quick search didn't find Mom or any of her fledglings. The leaves are out on the trees now, and the Owls were so high up in the trees last time I was down there, that it was almost impossible to see them. So, that's probably it for another year : )
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), aka Tiger Owl and Hoot Owl - Ryerson Conservation Area (near Deerfield and Riverwoods, IL), Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake County, IL - 18 April 2016
The naturalists I was with speculated that these young owls may become 'branchlings' very soon.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), aka Tiger Owl and Hoot Owl - Ryerson Conservation Area (near Deerfield and Riverwoods, IL), Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake County, IL - 18 April 2016
The naturalists I was with speculated that these young owls may become 'branchlings' very soon.
Juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) - Ryerson Conservation Area (near Deerfield and Riverwoods, IL), Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake County, IL - 23 April 2016