Birds

What a wonderful sound, the Pine Warblers have returned! Dauphin County, Pa. 3-20-25 [Setophasa pinus]

This nest comes from a Bluebird box and with all the droppings is a sure sign that this box was being used as a roosting box for the winter, my guess is a Downy Woodpecker. Its a good feeling to find a box that is being used all year round, even in the dark days of winter. This box is on the property of a lady I met 30 years ago and who was so proud to show me her beautiful property and all the work she and her husband had done over the years, complete with a mountain stream running through her property! She was so very glad to have a Bluebird Box in her yard and to be able to see and watch Bluebirds over the years. I hadn't see her in many years and fearing she was no longer with us as she was up in age, can you imagine me surprise when talking to her son while cleaning out her Bluebird box recently I asked about Charlotte? She is right her in the house "Hey mom come out here there is someone who wants to say hello!" There she was looking and sounding as fit as a fiddle! At 98 she is doing and looking great, I told her to keep up the good work! The wonderful people you meet through the years who are so kind and appreciate of what you are doing with Bluebirds makes it all worthwhile. Leaving that day and saying goodbye to Charlotte brought tears to my eyes, I wish her and her son the very best and hope to see her for many years to come!

This Bluebird Box location is one of my very best for Bluebirds constantly having three nest every year for 30 years, as you can see by the three nest from last year, one on top of the other. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-28-25

35 years of having and maintaining a Bluebird Box trail. A far cry from the days of having 120 boxes and now that I am in decrepitude, 42 seems just about perfect. I never did it for recognition or worried about getting credit, I never even gave it a thought. I just want to try and help and give something back to nature for all it has done for me. I think it is sad today that people are so concerned about recognition or who is going to take the credit, I always remembered what Harry Truman [I think] said "There is no telling what can be accomplished in this world if you just stop worry about who will take the credit for it."Or Teddy Roosevelt once said " Give me the person who is out there just trying to make a difference, even if they fail". I think everyone one of us, especially in todays uncertain world, should try and keep these things in mind. The credit part will just take care of itself in the end. I very happy to report that around 80 percent of the boxes had Bluebirds last year, with many multiple nest [2024 was my best year ever]. I had a lot of help along the way, from help making boxes, to drilling the the rebar [great poles but awful to drill holes in!] to helping me clean and inspect them every year. Some of these folks are no longer with us, but they are in my heart and in every box that I have out there both old ones and new. I have learned a lot over the years, location is the key and is everything for successs. Location, location, location and oh yeah did I mention location! The box pictured is probably 15 years old at least and is covered in Lichens, but is still doing the job! [not too many of these old timers out there anymore] Here is to another great year!

When cleaning out Bluebird boxes you are surely going to run into these cuties. I have had as many as 12 in a box. If I find them in a box I cut the top off of a two liter soda bottle [the top 1/4] cut the side all the way to the top and wrap that around the pole and wrap wire around the top of the bottle to hold it in place to the pole, to act as guard. It really works well, some advice I got from the Bluebird society long ago. Deer Mice [Percmyscus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-28-25. Remember to wear gloves when cleaning these out as you will never get the smell off your hands!

There is no mistaking the beautiful nest of a Chickadee, made entirely of moss and lined with tiny hairs.

Song Sparrow [Melospiza melodia]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 1-19-25

A flock of turkeys letting two Bald Eagles know they are not appreciated in the area! Turn up the sound and not only can you hear the turkeys but the eagles as well. This is the second time that I have seen eagles harassing turkeys in this field. In my observation it seems the eagles [one adult and one immature] were working together trying to get one of the turkeys to fly and perhaps have a meal. But the turkeys did not oblige, as I am sure they have been in this situation many times before, the eagles eventually gave up and moved on. Schuylkill County, Pa. 1-30-25

Winter Wren [Troglodytes hiemalis]. Schuylill County, Pa. 12-15-24

Hermit Thrush [Catharus guttatus]. Tioga County, Pa. 12 -12-24

A sure sign of the changing of the seasons, white, then dark pink and finally into a shreiveled purple. Hence the name "Wild Rasin" and birds and other wildlife love them! [Cassinoides nudum]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 9-2-24

Sandhill Cranes [Antigone canadensis]. Clearwater County, Mn. 7-12-24

Sandhill Cranes [Antigone canadensis]. Clay County, Mn. 7-12-24

Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak [Pheucticus Iudovicianus]. Clearwater County, Mn. 7-11-24

Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak [Pheucticus Iudovicianus] feeding young. Clearwater County, Mn. 7-11-24

In the company of the magnificent Yellow Rail [Coturnicops noveboracensis] on the prairie of western Minnesota. The clicking sound you hear is its call, perhaps in the middle of five individuals and at times right at out feet, it was never seen. This secretive and elusive bird, no bigger than a soft ball, is almost never seen. What a privilege to be in the company of this amazing creature. 7-12-24

Last night while walking a dirt road I noticed that the road was covered by millipede type insects, when I rounded a bend in the road and into a bird I was not familiar with. It was beautiful with a large beak and over sized feet. At first I thought I was looking at a Woodcock, but quickly realized that this was something totally different. It was picking off the millipede insects. I watched it for quite sometime before ambled off the road and in no great hurry. It never cared that I was there. I sure was grateful for this once in a lifetime encounter with amazing bird!
Virginia Rail [Rallus limicola],Dauphin county,Pa.5-1-17

Male Whip-Poor-Will [Caprimulgus vociferus]. Dauphin County, Pa.

Male [left] & Female [right] Whip-Poor-Will [Caprimulgus vociferus]. Dauphin County, Pa.

Coopers Hawk [Accipiter cooperii]. Schuylkill County, Pa. Drawn in to my Bird feeders.

Hermit Thrush "Way" call [Catharus guttatus]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-10-23

American Brant Geese [Branta bernicla hrota] seen in a open field [winter wheat] east of Millersburg in Dauphin County, Pa. 11-1-23

Fruit of the Sassafras Tree [Sassafras albidum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-3-23. A great food source for migrating birds at this time of year, along with the fruit of the Black Gum Tree [Nyssa sylvatica].

Black Gum Tree [Nyssa sylvatica] fruit. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-6-23 Birds really love them, I have observed Cedar Waxwings and Robins gorging themselves on these berries in the fall and seem to really depend on them at this time of year.

Owl pellet, Schuylkill County, Pa. 5-1-23. Owls swallow prey whole such as mice and voles, and later regurgitate what is left after it has been digested. You can see the tiny bones and hair.

September Whip-poor-will and Katydids. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-15-22. Turn up the sound!

Bird tracks in the snow. Dauphin County, Pa. January, 2022

A Solitary Turkey track in the snow. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-22-22

Must be spring I have a American Robin in the yard [Turdus migratorius].Schuylkill County,Pa.1-29-21.Current Temperature 24 degrees

Wild Grapes,Fox Grapes [Vitus] Tioga County,Pa.9-17-20.Picture shows grapes after Cedar Waxwings were feeding on them,and as soon as I left they were back at the grapes again!

Wild Raisin [Viburnum nudum also cassinoides].Schuylkill County,Pa.9-19-20.Birds are attracted to the fruit in winter when all the seeds are dark blue and shriveled,like a raisin

The beautiful haunting sound of the Veery Thrush [Catharus fuscescens].Tioga County,Pa.6-15-19

Whip-Poor-Will [Caprimulgus vociferus].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-19

Wood Thrush [Hylocichla mustelina].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-19

Whip-Poor-Will [Caprimulgus vociferus].Dauphin County,Pa.5-11-19.You can actually here two,and there were many others in the distance,it was a great night!

The baby doves have fledged and they are always together,Snug as bugs!Schuylkill County,Pa.4-18-19

Eastern Towhee [Pipilo erythrophthalmus].Schuylkill County,Pa.5-17-18

Green Heron [Butorides virescens].Tioga County,Pa.5-5-18

Unknown bird tracks in the snow.Dauphin County,1-9-18

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker [Sphyrapicus varius] holes on an apple tree.Tioga County,12-7-17

Woodcock and Woodcock tracks in a small stream [Philohela minor].Coos County,N.H.9-16-17

A picture taken by Terry Sherman in November of 2015.Shows a Rufous Hummingbird [Selasphotus rufus] taken in Lykens,Dauphin County,Pa.

Last night while walking a dirt road I noticed that the road was covered by millipede type insects,when I rounded a bend in the road and into a bird I was not familiar with.It was beautiful with a large beak and over sized feet.At first I thought I was looking at a Woodcock,but quickly realized that this was something totally different.It was picking off the millipede insects.I watched for quite sometime before ambled off the road and in no great hurry.It never cared that I was there.I sure was grateful for this once in a lifetime encounter with amazing bird!
Virginia Rail [Rallus limicola],Dauphin county,Pa.5-1-17