Two Newbies In My Yard - Juvie Grackle - House Wren

[canonloader]

I was thrilled to see this little House Wren working the Lilac bush for Bugs. I hope he stays around for some better shots.
http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/housewren/gallery/album1/large/housewren-img_0671-072707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/housewren/gallery/album1/large/housewren-img_0674-072707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/housewren/gallery/album1/large/housewren-img_0681-072707.jpg

This guy, I just don't know about. At first I thought he was some kind of blackbird, then saw the eyes. He was eating seeds from one of my home made setups and only 8 feet outside my window. I was afraid he was going to fly off when he saw me looking at him, but he just gave me a look and went back to packing it in. I got the camera out and came back to the window and got a few shots, then started talking to him, he seemed to enjoy it. Then I waved my arm, he just looked and kept on eating, so I hung out the window with camera and started banging away, nothing, just kept eating. He's still out there in the yard, checking out his new domain. :)
http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/grackles/gallery/album1/large/gracklej-img_0724-072707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/grackles/gallery/album1/large/gracklej-img_0731-072707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/grackles/gallery/album1/large/gracklej-img_0735-072707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/grackles/gallery/album1/large/gracklej-img_0737-072707.jpg

[skylab]

Nice set. Like #6 where he / she has cracked a seed. Super.

[canonloader]

Thanks Brian, with that beak, it looks like he could crack walnuts. :)

I've never seen a grackle so friendly and unafraid though. :)

[downywp]

Very nice, I love the 3rd shot of the Wren, so cute! :) Let's hope the grackle doesn't have him for breakfast;)

[canonloader]

Thanks Downy. The wren shots are a bit soft because I was handholding the bigma while hanging out the house window and the light was bad, so, shutter speed was low. I was surprised that any of them came out. But, any wren shot is a good shot. I'm just very happy to have one in my yard. :)

[memorex88]

Beauty little Wren Mitch! I wish I had in my yard all the species you have in your yard!
In the first 2 you can really see the Wren searching for bugs.
I also love your capture of the Grackle cracking the nut!

Thanks for sharing.

[hTr]

Good captures Mitch

[canonloader]

Thanks Marco and Gary. He really was searching, and finding bugs to eat. Part of the reason these shots are a little soft. Before these shots, he was on our picnic table chasing a little flying moth around, but I didn't have the camera out then. :)

So far, I have photographed 28 species in my yard. Maybe 29 now, I think this might be the first Grackle. :)

[EZRider]

The crackles around here are cool to watch, they travel in packs it appears, and rule the area when around. Nice shots :)

[canonloader]

EZ, I fully expected a complete pack of them here, cause I have a lot of food out all the time. But no, this is the first Grackle I have seen in my yard since October. And now it's this one juvie and he was still here at dark. In fact, I don't recall seeing any Grackles around here, the only place I have seen them is down by the river. We're a couple miles from the water here.

[MicheleRF]

Cool shots as usual Mitch! Ever since the brood in my wren house fledged I haven't heard or seen any of them :(

[canonloader]

Thanks Michele. I was thinking of putting up a wren house, but I guess they won't use it when they aren't nesting. I did find a wild wren nest in a tree earlier this spring, but when they fledged out, they were gone and none of them stayed around the area that I could see. It was just luck that I saw this guy I think. :)