Wary screech owl and other garden birds
How we wonder whether we have a nesting pair of screech owls or a solitary, shy male in our nesting box.
Our dining table is situated so that we can watch him perching drowsily in the opening as we sit down to dinner each evening.
If we go out on the deck to take a closer look, he’ll watch us warily. If we walk down the steps to ground level, he slips silently to the bottom of the box and won’t reappear until we’ve gone inside. This owl is much shyer than last year’s owls.
Skittish whitewing doves visit daily to drink from the stock-tank pond. They land noisily in the trees and bob their heads as they scout for danger.
Finally the bravest one flaps down to the edge of the tank and drinks his fill. Then, taking a scare at nothing, he’ll flap frantically back up to the trees. What a contrast to the silent owl.
The wrens are busy in the garden too, building nests, singing their hearts out, hopping industriously along the ground to look for tasty morsels. They may be my favorite for their perky and curious manner and lovely song.
Are the birds feeling spring in your garden too?
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Aww…the owls are soo cute! We have tons of cardinals singing, wrens are trying to nest in the BBQ drill and any small thingy, this is the first year in many years that there are whitewing doves around…I love the sound of their cooing. We also have Titmouse and Chickadees and smooth-headed bluejays, also a painted bunting pair, sparrows, finches, and some unidentified flying objects that landed by the feeder last night that looked like swallows possibly, at least they had the same type of tail. We also saw what looked like Monarchs…It was dusk.
You have a lot of bird-watching opportunities, it seems. Enjoy! —Pam
Love your little owl! There’s been a definitely upswing in bird activity in my garden, and a great egret visited the pond yesterday. I’m wondering when the juncoes are going to go home.
It must be wonderful to see egrets up close, MMD. They are so beautiful. —Pam
Pam – I don’t know what’s happened to our screech owls. We had a female in the box since early February and a few weeks ago we looked up and saw two owls sitting in the opening of the box. Since around that time we haven’t seen a single owl. I’m hoping there is a little chick in there like last year and the parents are just being protective. Anywho, thanks for sharing your photos.
So far this year I’ve seen numerous finches, chickadees, titmice, dove, cedar waxwings, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows who have managed to keep away the martins from my martin house, and a hummer near my cross vine. The birds are definitely feeling spring.
I haven’t seen any hummingbirds yet in my garden. Maybe when the Turk’s caps start blooming. Hope your owl box is hiding some owlets. —Pam
those owls are adorable. can’t get enough of them! you are so lucky to have them in your yard!! and also enjoyed other bird photos. i also love wrens. is that a bewicks?
It’s a Carolina wren, Laguna Dirt. —Pam
How adorable…love that owl…so comical! None of the birds is dumb enough to land near our garden (too many neighborhood cats) but they are crazy loud right now…which I love…there’s nothing better than throwing open the windows and having the chattering birds keep you company 🙂
Yes, I love hearing their songs too. Even the owls are quite vocal at night. —Pam
Lovely pictures! It is such a luxury to see birds from so close up. Your photography is excellent.
Thanks, Masha. —Pam
We sure do have lots of bird activity in our garden. The Carolina Wrens have a nest. The Mourning Doves come in to the feeders as do house sparrows, house finches etc. It is an exciting time of year with all the song and dance of courtship rituals.
It is indeed, Lisa. The birds are as busy as the gardeners. —Pam
Great shots! I have yet to catch a wren in a photo. They are so quick and jumpy.
David/ 🙂
David, I missed a great shot of the wren. I was sitting quietly on the deck steps when a wren landed on top of the metal bird on the tuteur, not 3 feet away. They were even facing the same way! I tried to raise my camera very slowly to get a shot, but it flitted away. —Pam
Can’t seem to keep the feeders full. More visits from morning dove and cardinals.
They’re busy getting ready for nesting season, I guess. I love seeing cardinals in the garden. —Pam
Trivia bit: Doves are the only bird that can drink with their heads down. Most birds will grab water and then tilt their heads back, doves put their beaks down, drink, and fly off when they are done.
Interesting factoid, Jenn! —Pam
The Owls are so cute, a great treat for your family to watch.
A Red Tail Hawk hunts the undeveloped land behind us and we love to watch its graceful flight.
We have a lot of Cardinals this year and one female pecks on the windows every afternoon in an apparent attempt to dispatch the “rival” she sees reflected there. We also see bluejays and cedar waxwings too.
I’d love to see cedar waxwings in my garden. They’re such elegant birds. —Pam
A trio of Blue Jays are fighting over the Magnolia tree and there seems to be more doves than in previous years. The Mockingbirds are industrious and clever as always.. they steel nesting materials from my coconut coir hanging baskets by pulling one thread out at time until they have a beak full and then return to take the spanish moss that I have tucked around the coir. I change the bird bath water everyday after everyone comes to visit in the morning for dip.
Rebecca
You have a lot of activity, Rebecca. It sounds like a great garden for the birds. —Pam
I sure would like to lure an owl here. I think they are cute. I have a wren building a nest in a flower pot sitting on my potting bench of all places. I had put a small sprinkler on top of the pot. Now I have to re-pot my plants else where. lol
Aren’t they funny about nesting in things they shouldn’t? I have one nesting in a potted plant on the front porch too. —Pam
Is that a Carolina wren? Looks redder than a Bewicks… ?
Yes, I think it is a Carolina wren. I listened to the calls online, and the Carolina wren matched up with what I’ve been hearing. I’m not sure if we have Bewick’s wrens here in Austin. —Pam
I’d love to see an owl in our yard. Maybe they stop by and I’ve never noticed. The doves, they are regular visitors here but I see them so often that I don’t stop and really look at them. Your photos are a way to do that, to stop and appreciate what we become inured to. Thank you.
I tend to take the doves for granted too, Roberta. But they are rather pretty when one stops to notice. Thanks for stopping by. —Pam
I hope so. At least they’re safe from the hunters from February to October. Beautiful photos of wondrous nature!
Thanks, Anna Maria. —Pam
Hello there Pam, I was so glad to visit your blog and see the Owls again! Adorable. Do you have them every year? Did you buy or make the owl box?
Your photography is gorgeous as always-Happy Spring!
Thanks, Kim! My husband made the owl box from a plan on Audubon’s website. We’ve had it up for three years, and have had owls for the past two years. We’ve also had squirrels move in over the winter and had to clean out their nests. —Pam