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Ash-throated Flycatchers Are Hatching In Oak Run For Bird Photography Weekly

Ash-throated Flycatcher Feeding Young In A Nest Box photos by Larry Jordan

I love this time of year!  Ash-throated Flycatchers are so much fun to watch as they hawk insects and catch them in mid air.  Plus they have a sweet call that is a delight to wake up to in the morning.  I went out this morning to get some photos of one of the nesting pairs on my “home” bluebird trail.  These proud parents are using this standard bluebird house with a 1 1/2″ entrance hole on which I installed a slate porthole protector.

Here I come with a big juicy grub for you kids …

Or maybe I better make sure it’s all clear before I go in …

Everything looks safe, even that guy standing over there with the camera …

What a beautiful Spring morning!

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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Tom June 7, 2009, 11:23 pm

    Nice mid air shots Larry. I like the first one best

    Toms last blog post..Ringed Plover

  • Mick June 7, 2009, 11:27 pm

    Nice photos and I like your commentary! I really don’t know anything about nest boxes – but that hole looks very small for the size of the bird!

    Micks last blog post..Wrens and Honeyeaters

  • Arija June 8, 2009, 3:58 am

    Wonderful captures, especiaally the second last.

    Arijas last blog post..BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKLY ~ 13 Birds in my Garden

  • bob k June 8, 2009, 7:46 am

    I love the first photo, Larry! You got him (her?) in mid-flight. So lucky of you to have the Ash-throateds breed in your area.

    bob ks last blog post..Wrenaissance Fair

  • gwendolen June 8, 2009, 8:30 am

    LOL @ the first shot. It looks like the flycatcher is just hanging in the air. It would make a great Cheezburger pic 😉

    Cool series Larry. What is the slate porthole protector for?

    gwendolens last blog post..Bad light, great sightings | BPW #41

  • Little Brown Job June 8, 2009, 10:52 am

    Lovely images, looks like a great little bird to watch.

    Little Brown Jobs last blog post..New Bird Area

  • Kelly June 8, 2009, 12:48 pm

    I’ve never seen this little bird. I love his fanned-out tail (it looks a good deal like our Great Crested Flycatcher’s). A fantastic series…you’re lucky they are nesting so close!

    Kellys last blog post..Are these really the same baby Red-tailed Hawks from last week? (BPW #41)

  • Neil June 8, 2009, 4:05 pm

    Great series of photos and commentary.

    Neils last blog post..Mixed Birds

  • WisconsinBirder June 9, 2009, 8:01 am

    Don’t you feel especially lucky when you get to watch nesting activity? Wonderful photos!

    WisconsinBirders last blog post..Golden-winged Warbler Banding

  • Dawn Fine June 10, 2009, 7:07 am

    Very nice series…How fun to have this family so close by.
    What is a sweat call??

    Dawn Fines last blog post..Domestic Duck, Preening

  • Larry June 10, 2009, 10:11 pm

    @Tom thanks for the comment

    @Mick it is amazing the small entrance hole and small sized box that birds will fit through and nest in. They seem to be able to squeeze through smaller openings than you think they could. I think their feathers make them look bigger than they are.

    @Arija thanks

    @Bob I do feel special having them nest here

    @Gwen the slate porthole protector keeps larger birds from pecking the entrance hole larger, keeping the large birds and other predators out of the nest box

    @LBJ thanks, they are loads of fun to watch

    @Kelly they are the western counterpart to the eastern Great Crested Flycatcher

    @Neil thank you very much

    @John observing the nesting activity is my favorite thing to do

    @Dawn… LOL, I misspelled sweet. Thanks for pointing it out. I have corrected it.

  • gwendolen June 10, 2009, 10:54 pm

    I see. Thanks Larry 🙂