{"id":9987,"date":"2024-08-13T16:11:13","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T23:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matchgrun.com\/blog\/?p=9987"},"modified":"2024-08-13T16:11:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T23:11:15","slug":"westerly-creek-spring-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matchgrun.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/13\/westerly-creek-spring-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Westerly Creek, Spring 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some more pictures from the Spring. While visiting Westerly Creek, we found a colony of Cliff Swallows nesting under one of the bridges. Cliff Swallows typically build their nests from mud. In this image three swallows were waiting by the openings to their nest. Periodically, there would be activity as the swallows left and returned to their nest. Were these mates flying in and out? Were they bringing nesting material or food for hatchlings?<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3010-0024-Cliff-Swallows-Nesting-Westerly-Creek\"
Cliff Swallows Nesting, Westerly Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We made our way around one of the ponds, where this female Red-Winged Blackbird was perched.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3010-0043-Female-Red-Winged-Blackbird-Westerly-Creek\"
Female Red-Winged Blackbird, Westerly Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Close by was a male bird that allowed me to get really close.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3010-0058-Male-Red-Winged-Blackbird-Perched-Westerly-Creek\"
Male Red-Winged Blackbird, Perched, Westerly Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here he was calling out. Probably trying to attract a mate.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3010-0060-Male-Red-Winged-Blackbird-Calling-Out-Westerly-Creek\"
Male Red-Winged Blackbird, Calling Out, Westerly Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Later during the afternoon, we met a group of kids along the trail and were sharing info on birds that we had seen. We pointed out this American Kestrel to the kids. It was hovering up above the creek, hunting for a meal. Kestrels typically catch small vermin (like a mouse or vole) and also grasshoppers and other bugs. No luck at this location. This Kestrel was working its way along the creek in search of prey.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3010-0030-American-Kestrel-Hovering-Above-Westerly-Creek\"
American Kestrel Hovering Above Westerly Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This is a continuation of catching up with images that I have been meaning to post. Work around the house and other projects held up posting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some more pictures from the Spring. While visiting Westerly Creek, we found a colony of Cliff Swallows nesting under one of the bridges. Cliff Swallows typically build their nests from mud. In this image three swallows were waiting by the openings to their nest. Periodically, there would be activity as the swallows left and returned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1930,1931,1461,1932,1487,1697,1606],"class_list":["post-9987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-general","tag-cliff-swallow","tag-hovering","tag-kestrel","tag-mud","tag-nesting","tag-red-winged-blackbird","tag-swallow"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t