We found this little nest (without the egg) in front of our garage. It was shapeless and abandoned so I pulled it back together. This past summer we had several new families of black-eyed juncos and one new family of robins…perhaps this was one of their nests.

Taken at Taronga Zoo in Sydney

A Canada goose nesting on the shore of the lake.

I bought these earrings in San Francisco I think they are supposed to resemble the Russian nesting dolls. I couldn't leave them behind I had to buy them, HMM!

Great White Egret - Ardea Alba

The great egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. It is ubiquitous across the Sun Belt of the United States and in the Neotropics. In North America, large numbers of great egrets were killed around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. Numbers have since recovered as a result of conservation measures. Its range has expanded as far north as southern Canada. However, in some parts of the southern United States, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss, particularly wetland degradation through drainage, grazing, clearing, burning, increased salinity, groundwater extraction and invasion by exotic plants. Nevertheless, the species adapts well to human habitation and can be readily seen near wetlands and bodies of water in urban and suburban areas.

The great egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with colder winters. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

In 1953, the great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers.

On 22 May 2012, a pair of great egrets was announced to be nesting in the UK for the first time at the Shapwick Heath nature reserve in Somerset. The species is a rare visitor to the UK and Ben Aviss of the BBC stated that the news could mean the UK's first great egret colony is established. The following week, Kevin Anderson of Natural England confirmed a great egret chick had hatched, making it a new breeding bird record for the UK. In 2017, seven nests in Somerset fledged 17 young, and a second breeding site was announced at Holkham National Nature Reserve in Norfolk where a pair fledged three young.

In 2018, a pair of great egrets nested in Finland for the first time, raising four young in a grey heron colony in Porvoo.

Great Blue Heron taking some moss for the nest...

Nesting

Breeds in colonies, often of this species alone, sometimes mixed with other wading birds; rarely in isolated pairs. Male chooses nest site and displays there to attract mate. Displays include stretching neck up with bill pointing skyward, flying in circles above colony with neck extended, stretching neck forward with head and neck feathers erected and then snapping bill shut. Nest: Site highly variable, usually in trees 20-60' above ground or water; sometimes in low shrubs, sometimes on ground (on predator-free islands), sometimes well above 100' in tree. Nest (built mostly by female, with material gathered mostly by male) is a platform of sticks, sometimes quite large.

Source : Audubon Field Guide

Roseate Spoonbill bringing in a twig for the nest.

From Audubon:

Breeds mainly during winter in Florida, during spring in Texas. Nests in colonies. At beginning of breeding season, entire flock may suddenly fly up, for no apparent reason, and circle the area. In courtship, male and female first interact aggressively, later perch close together, present sticks to each other, cross and clasp bills. Nest site is in mangroves, tree, shrub, usually 5-15' above ground or water, sometimes on ground. Nest (built mostly by female, with material brought by male) a bulky platform of sticks, with deep hollow in center lined with twigs, leaves.

Have a wonderful weekend you fabulous people you!

Bluebirds have been nesting in the same area for a number of years, I am not sure if it is the same pair keep returning back or they spread the word around about our province as a habitat of choice among bluebirds. This pair hung around for sometime and was very cooperative.

From the viewing platform of the Porto Cathedral: Gulls nest in a chimney

Anna's Hummingbird

The tree, adjacent to a lake, is a Long Leaf pine, a pine species native to the Southeastern United States. Photo taken from approx. 20 meters away. Branch is approx. 15 meters above a lake near my home in North Carolina. The great egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, large egret, or great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret, with four subspecies found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, it builds tree nests in colonies close to water.

I went back to check on the nesting eagles...no sign of the eaglets but saw tip of a white head so knew one or more parents were there. As I took photos of the head tip, the adult started to fly....camera in right place at right time, wind blowing the leaves aside so I could get some good shots, a thrill.

I'll have to go back when the young are starting to fledge...maybe I'll get lucky again.

...interesting observation; the neighbors are so accustomed to them they don't pay any attention.

Enjoy the weekend, flickr friends....thanks for your visit...Pat...xo...

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Some family health problems going on...

We came across a pair of striated paradalotes nesting in a tree hollow and where able to photograph them as they flew in and out to feed the chicks.

Flying on and off to prepare the nest with leaves.

Thank you for your visits, kind comments and faves!

Hello everyone. I literally have not been creating much of anything since I was last active here. Trying now to reignite the creative spark. Looking forward to catching up with you all soon.

Thanks to all for your comments, favorites and group invites! So very much appreciated!

Sure looks like spring is here, based on this Anna's hummingbird's behavior, sitting on the nest!

Sacramento River Wildlife Area ~ Pine Creek Units

Seen on the Veranda of a Public House overlooking Bridlington Harbour ..

pine cone

The Great Egret looking for a mate. February thru June is mating season here in Florida at the Wading Bird Rookery, at the Alligator Farm in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Taken at broxbourne with a canon 80d and tamron 150-600mm lens

Lakewood, Colorado

Cobb Island, MD

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London

thanks 4 views comments faves invites always appreciated

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Entered into TMI's "Wild White" challenge, July 2024.

View the challenge HERE

Thanks for all the faves and kind comments!

Western Scrub Jay prepares for the season.

The female sat quietly in the nest that was just a few feet from a local walking trail.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). Delores Fenwick Nature Center, Pearland, Texas.

This snowy egret picked up this rather large stick and is flying it to its nest.

They have a nest in one of my bluebird nest boxes

A heron settling down in the grasses on the dunes next to the beach at St. George Island State Park.

SLurl: ~ Perpetuity ~ (Envylicious)

Crested Goshawk collecting nesting material

More info on the blog at: edrosack.com/2023/02/11/spoonbill-update/

Thanks for all the faves and kind comments!