Look at those wide open mouths! Great shot Brenda! I needed a little R&R this evening after a crazy week at work and trying to get caught up with the grass after two weeks of rain and trying to get ready for installers next week, so I decided to spend some time this evening with the birds and the camera. And the bird gods smiled on me as I saw my first mockingbird! A common bird for many but I had never seen one so now I can add it to my yard-list. I was sitting in the garage mounting the camera on the tripod when he landed on the driveway and stood real still for his portrait. Shortly after that an indigo bunting appeared. This is the closest I have been able to get to one, they usually stay in the tops of the trees. They have a cheerful song and sing all through the day and evening so a wonderful bird to have around. This one is either still molting into his bright blue attire or is a first year male and still developing his mating colors. And an interesting shot of his tongue!

Twigs? Or do you mean GRASS? because HOSP typically use dried grass with weed seeds and garbage, plus an almost positive sign of their presence is finding white noodle droppings in the box or on the nest box roof. If you mean actually TWIGS, this is almost certainly the work of a House Wren; a native but bothersome bird that prefers wooded/dense/brushy areas for nesting. As far as abandonment on the first attempt, do you have any hawks or cats in the area or immediate vicinity of your boxes? bluebirds are unlikely to abandon young, but if you lose one or both parents, THEN it's possible. That's the 1st thing. The next question, was it young abandoned or eggs? As for the second nesting, did either parent disappear? If you lost a female soon after hatching, then the male wouldn't be able to brood the young to keep them warm, and they could have died. The possibilities are endless! Sounds to me like better monitoring needs to be done! Be sure to check out Sialis.org. Most comprehensive source available for Bluebirds! ~Tim~ Here is a link that might be useful: Sialis.org

Adorable Kenn! I LOVE that Titmouse, we don't get them around here. Hey Camera question now. I dropped my S2IS from the windowsill onto the floor for the 2nd time, bad I know but this time it didn't fare as well as the first time. I have a seam that has opened up a bit but it still works. I am just worried that if I get moisture in there at all it will be done for. I was planning on getting the teleconverter you have for my S2 but since I broke it I was thinking of getting a used S3 or S5 since the new superzooms that are out just don't seem to cut it for me. I tried the SX10 IS and returned it, would love to try the SX1 IS though but it is a little more pricey. Anyway in looking over the S3 and S5 it seems the S5 is much slower on the continous picture mode than the S3 or S2 are, do you find that the case? That is the main reason I returned the SX10 cause of the slow continous pic mode since I use that so often. Do you notice any advances that the S5 has over the S3. I do like the gridline thing for landscapes but don't have to have it. Thanks for any input you can give me. Donna

TOTALLY ADORABLE!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing all your beautiful babies with us!