Colorful New Visitor!

I was a bit down about the House Finch nest being abandon this morning but was quickly cheered up when I looked out my kitchen window and saw a very colorful new bird at my feeder! A Western Tanager!!! A first sighting for me and even more exciting that all I had to do to see him was look out my window. He was a welcome sight on this dreary, rainy, cold spring day! So far he has been hanging around all day coming and going to my feeder and the nearby trees. I hope he decides to stay.

Abandon Nest

It's been 2 days since I last checked on the nest (when I took a picture of the eggs) and it seems mom is no longer sitting at the nest :( It has been a cold and rainy 2 days so I think any time off the eggs would be detrimental and since she hasn't been there any of the times I've checked today I can assume she has moved on. I don't understand why she would leave and I can only hope it wasn't because I climbed up there to take a picture. I did it quick and then high-tailed it out of there so she would be left alone. I guess I will not ever know why. Now, I'm not sure what to do with the eggs or nest so for now I will leave it be and see what happens.

New House Finch Nest, Old Location

May 3, 2011

May 5, 2011

May 7, 2011

May 13, 2011
I knew mom had finally laid an egg when I checked on the nest and saw her sitting on it. When she left, I just had to know (for Nestwatch as well as for myself). I was wrong, there was not one egg...

There were 5 !!!

And here is the proud papa watching from a nearby tree making sure I don't harm the eggs!
I won't do too many updates so mom can have some privacy but I will be keeping an eye on them from a hidden spot in the garage!
This location was used by (I believe) this same pair two summers ago for 2 successful broods in a row. I left the nest up last summer thinking they would re-use it but they didn't. Last fall, I removed that old nest and I am happy to see they are using this piece of prime real estate again!