Around the Paddock

 

White-crowned Sparrow Singing From a Dead Pokeberry Bush in the Bison Paddock

I stopped at the Bison Paddock to observe the continuing fracas between western bluebirds and tree swallows. Each species kept chasing the other off the two nearby nest boxes, sometimes carrying the chase through the air like jets in a dog-fight. I wonder at what point, if any, the issue will be settled. Would they try to destroy each others' eggs? Chicks? Would a few more nest boxes help?

Resident Allen's Hummingbird

Finding the Perfect Pokeberry Perch

The western bluebirds also used the old pokeberry "snag" sometimes. 

The wasp nest survived the weekend's fairly heavy rains.

A red-tailed hawk landed on a high eucalyptus branch to escape being mobbed by ravens. Surprisingly, the ravens stopped bothering the hawk once it landed. After the coast cleared, the hawk soon took to the air once again, this time without drawing unwanted attention.

Face Off

Guardian Tree Swallow

Guardian Western Bluebird

Built for Maneuverability

Atop her disputed nest box, a bluebird keeps an eye out for dive-bombing swallows.

As soon as the bluebird leaves, the swallows try to take possession.

The swallows visited the nest boxes more often, and even went inside once while I was watching. I didn't see any bluebirds go inside either of the disputed boxes today.

Cloud Mountain

Lots of by-the-wind sailors have been washing up on Ocean Beach.

All those blue blobs are by-the-wind sailors washing ashore.

By-the-wind Agitation Cycle

Red-tailed Hawks, Murphy Windmill

Castle in the Rain, Saturday View from Grandview Park

Jackie takes a nibble from a treat flown in by Shadow yesterday.

Jackie soon got up to feed the two bald eagle chicks.

While Jackie was eating after feeding the chicks, Shadow kindly took over the brooding duties....

But Jackie gently nudged Shadow off the nestlings, and Shadow flew away, presumably to continue hunting for his mate and chicks.

Yesterday Morning in the Yosemite High Country

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