Late this afternoon I watched a male Northern Cardinal feed two youngsters in our back yard.  Here he is with one of them:

Northern Cardinals

And here’s a juvenile by itself:

Northern Cardinal (juvenile)

To Westminster Woods to see Gram.  There were half a dozen Eastern Bluebirds just outside her hall, on the lake side.  Here’s a juvenile:

Eastern Bluebird (juvenile)

Across the lake, a Great Blue Heron was on the hunt for a meal.

Great Blue Heron

The back yard is brimming with juvenile birds.  The family of four Carolina Wrens still mob the mixed-nut feeder together.  Over the last few days I’ve watched a male Downy Woodpecker feed a juvenile male and a juvenile female.  Today I watched the juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker land on the cage I’ve put around the mixed-nut feeder, and fly away empty-beaked.  I just put the cage up yesterday to thwart the Common Grackles.  One of the two male Northern Cardinals has figured out how to shimmy inside.  Also today I saw at least three juvenile Tufted Titmice, all clamoring for food–at least one parent obligingly brought them mixed nut bits and seeds.  Finally, I’ve seen a male American Redstart over the past two days.  It appears fond of the oleander.  I can’t wait for the oleander to grow back–our yard will get a lot more traffic, especially migratory birds looking for a drink from the bubbler.

To Westminster Woods to see Gram.  When we took a spin around the lake, I saw several Eastern Bluebirds.  Near the end of our walk, I spotted one sitting on the corner of a bench.  I got Gram up close enough for her to see it.  When it flew away, and she laughed.  “Thank you,” she said.

Eastern Bluebird

To Westminster Woods to see Gram.  We saw several Eastern Bluebirds, including this adult:

Eastern Bluebird (adult)

And this juvenile:

Eastern Bluebird (juvenile)

And the two juvenile Green Herons are still in residence:

Green Herons (juveniles)