Beaver Pond Bluebirds...

[ShawnZ]

Recently, Boreal Birder posted an image of a juvenile northern flicker in a nest cavity from the same beaver pond that these bluebirds are nesting in. It's really cool to see them nesting in a natural cavity. I spent CONSIDERABLE time to get both of these images and had to use waders and a ladder. I will post more images from this location, but I thought I'd put a picture of mom and dad up. If you look close, you can see the bill of one of the juveniles in the nest cavity.

SonyA300, Tokina400mm, iso200, f10, 1/320, fill flash, hand held, cropped, levels, USM. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Regards,

Shawn Zierman.

[Dbl]

Really nice work Shawn, that second image in particular looks great!

[Birdsong]

They are both wonderful, but that second is just classic. Congrats!

[Catmendo]

Very nice Shawn! Just curious as to how close your position is to the nesting sight?

[RainyEye]

Very nice! I like the first one with that little hungry beak reaching out!

[ShawnZ]

Catmendo, I'm approx. 15feet away and standing about 10 feet high

[Borealhunter]

The dragonfly species in the mouth of the female bluebird is a Four spotted Skimmer.

Oh Great photos Shawn!!!

Mike

[ShawnZ]

Hey Boreal Hunter, is it a male or female four spotted skimmer?

Cmon smarty pants, flex your cerebellum

[Raider4ever]

I figured Mike would pipe up about the D-Fly.

[Borealhunter]

Shawn:

based on the ovipositer it looks like the DF is a male. Now my brain hurts.

[ShawnZ]

Thanks Boreal Hunter, if knowledge is power, I feel more powerful now! oviposi-what? FYI: Three juveniles have left the nest now. Immediately after they left, a house wren began stuffing the nest cavity with twigs

[Raider4ever]

Ovipositor??? Is that another name for his "Schwing"?