All is well on the bluebird trail. This week we have a total of 123 fledglings (116 BB, 4 CC, 3 TM), with 35 chicks and 32 eggs, all bluebird. See attached spreadsheet for details. Shown below are 3 chicks in F10, 3 chicks in F25 (the 3 chicks are sitting on top of 4 infertile eggs from the first batch, one of which is seen in the picture), and 3 chicks in F38, who have fuzz that looks like the Mad Scientist Doc Brown in "Back to the Future."
The water has receded a little, but there was still enough for 2 black-bellied whistling ducks who were having a great time in the water. Other birds seen today were a flock of ibis, cardinal, ground dove, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, bobwhite quail, red-shouldered hawk, and male ruby-throated hummingbird.
Some of the aquatic plants are in bloom, like the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and spider lily (Hymenocallis latifolia). Other plants are also sprouting up everywhere -- meadow beauty (Rhexia mariana) and a little-noticed, but very important ground cover called frog-fruit (Phyla nodiflora), which is host plant to the white peacock butterfly.
Until next week!