The way it is

Things will stay pretty much the same for a few days. Nesting lasts 21 days. Ditto for fuse box nest.

Meanwhile on the light box the sparrows have come to check out the dove nest. They're looking for food.

To be continued, but not every day.

the Flicker

Watching garden through lobby window. Suddenly movement right below where I'm standing. A normally skittish flicker. Bird has no idea I'm there.  Poking around in crevices and ground for grub. Total blend into surroundings except for head marking. If there was a hawk in vicinity that red triangle would be a beacon to food. I've never before been this close to a flicker. Big woodpecker, bigger than a robin.

Pigeon antics

Some mornings are just too funny. I had work to do, but never left the lobby. The pigeons were doing their thing. I could watch through lobby window. Birds see reflection of garden in glass. This is an obvious couple, preening, grooming, then screwing. I watched grey pigeon mate with lighter colored pigeon (underneath). This lasted a while, rear ends to me, not good for pictures. No question about what they were doing. Grey on top, coloful on bottom.

Now it was time to groom each other.

After about 1/2 an hour it was time to mate again, this time grey pigeon on bottom. What?  Who's on first?? Who's the female??

Back to feeding each other.

And once again grey pigeon on bottom. I have no idea which one was female, which one male. Maybe they're both both???? No question. a happy couple.

And while I was watching the pigeons a flicker came right by window, so I was divided trying to watch everything.  More to follow.

In the garden

Murky day. But that doesn't stop nesting behavior.

Over on the lighting fixture, no overhead protection, the mourning dove has picked this spot again.

 On the fuse box where the doves usually nest the robin has built a nest. First the male was checking this out.

Now Mama arrives. She's not on the nest full time which worries me, because it's cold, but there's overhead protection from the balcony above.

Swell nest. Twine from construction scaffolding.

And in the scaffolding wedged between pole and protective screen another robin nest right by path. She's totally protected. This is going to be hard to document. It's going to be a great show.
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Barn Owl

Barn owl in the park. Hard to spot. Way up high, well hidden. Where? Where?  Way up there, third branch to the right. see it? No.  Even lying down on the ground doesn't make it easier.

Lots of dining on the ground.  The starling found grub near the boat house.

Sparrow found food near 79th street,

Squirrel took some of my Trader Joe's oatmeal cookie.

Blue jays will grab anything.

Robin doing what comes naturally.

Winter wren looking for seeds

Male and female shoveler on Turtle Pond.

Fox sparrow dining on seeds.

Water thrush on the stroll.

                                                      Owl sat like a mystical blob.