Bushtit

Bushtit Nest

The nice spring weather of late has been drawing large crowds on the weekends at Reifel. With spring also comes nesting season, and one of my favourites to watch if I get the chance is the Bushtit. This afternoon I, along with other visitors, were treated to a Bushtit pair starting to build their nest.

This is the male, dark eye, exiting the nest.

Here is the female, lighter eye, arriving with nesting material. The opening of the nest is to the right of her with most of what they have built so far being behind the pine cone and needles.

And just for fun, a short video of the Bushtit pair in action.

With spring in the air, one of the things I usually try to do each year is photograph Bushtits building their amazing nests.

Here a Bushtit is arriving beside the nest with nesting material. The main opening for this nest was on the opposite side of me and inaccessible.

At a different nest, this shot was taken from the side to get the background I wanted. Fortunately one of the pair came out another opening at the top on this side allowing me to show some activity. I have yet to find a Bushtit nest this year with a clear shot of the main front opening plus having a background I can render soft and colourful.

Bushtit + Hummingbird

Not a whole lot going on this afternoon at Reifel.

Thankfully the Bushtits were still active at the nest along the east dyke trail and provided some entertainment for myself and visitors.

At the end of the day a male Rufous Hummingbird was busy coming and going from one of the feeders.

While I usually try to get them in natural settings, this guy was presenting well and I could not resist.