Monday 16 May 2022

Bugs and birds!

Well, it is bug season. Blackflies, and mosquitoes. They are simply awful. As I walk through the forest, I see clouds of mosquitoes hovering on or near the ground, hiding from the wind. Blackflies need running water, and we've not got as many of those. Mosquitoes hatch in our frogpond.

Happily, this means returning birds. Phoebes have 5 eggs. 

Purple finch and vireo, and oven bird! 

I couldn't see the bird at all singing up in the trees, but played the videotape for BIRDnet: Ovenbird! Fortunately, I have a video of it from four years ago.

Ovenbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The house wren has been busy on the front deck! I was talking to Caitlin on the phone while filming, so I pasted a house wren song in the audio! 

House Wren from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.


This is a bluebird nesting box, and it has been lonely for tenants. They seem to have made a decision.

 Setting the videocamera on the tripod, I spliced together the best video clips. They keep shoving sticks in. This prevent other bigger birds from getting in. 

house wren 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.


Remember my bird feeder pole disaster? I have proof. This camera defaults to 1/1/2020 and 12 p.m. every time I replace the batteries. I began to reset it, but the mosquitoes are simply awful. 

7 comments:

Barbara Rogers said...

Sorry you have so many mosquitoes. They and black flies can be awful...I remember visiting a beach once where deer flies were biting everyone. They were the worst I've dealt with. Great to see and hear the Ovenbird, a new one to me!

Nancy J said...

My Gosh, it's hard work building the nest, and making sure the screen door keeps out intruders!!! Black Bear, he was the naughty one for sure. Sandflies are the ones to avoid down here, specially near the southern lakes.

Karen said...

The bugs are wild here too. I was visiting a friend in town this morning. Their house is under renovation...guess from all the doors opening...house was awash with the darn mozzies!
I don't even bother changing the time and date every time I have to fiddle with the trail camera anymore. I edit the time stamp out of the photos to keep.

Anvilcloud said...

There are times when I am thrilled to not be living in the country.

William Kendall said...

The bear looks in fine shape.

Patio Postcards said...

How wonderful that you get such a variety of so many birds.

I absolutely hate the mosquitoes, when I get bit, I get huge hard swellings that last for days. I go through cans of Deep Forest Off every season.

A bear, oh my.

Jeanie said...

I'm happy to see your wren! My Wrennie has returned,too, and don't you just love their happy song?! We're especially buggy this year as well. I suspect it's the rain and weird weather. Hang in and happy weekend!