Baby California Quails and a baby Hummingbird

[livetohike]

Yesterday was a banner birding day here in S. California. I was hiking near Mt. San Jacinto and saw a mother quail with about 15 or so babies. They were about 2" in length. Later in the hike, I saw a baby Hummingbird! First time ever.....it was about 1/2" long and at first I thought it was a fly!

I'm still smiling :-).

[Stepup2]

1. Fantastic catch!

I haven't seen baby hummers here but I have been watching baby Titmice, Chickadees, Cardinals, Red & White Breasted Nuthatches and baby Barred Owls.

[livetohike]

2. Cute, cute, cute!

I saw a baby Phoebe and a baby Towhee in my backyard last week (at the same time). Were all of your sightings in your yard?

[Stepup2]

4. Yes they were!

I have feeders strategically placed so I can see them from my desk. I just saw baby Downy Woodpeckers and a baby Crow. Mom's are using the suet feeder to feed the babies; they empty it daily. The crow's are really funny to watch as they perch/hang from the side of the suet feeder. It took them a few weeks to learn how to best approach it; they have the hang now so to speak, and tear out huge globs at each feeding.


I had Phoebe's nesting on the top of the pillar under my front porch last year. I got some great pics the day before they fledged. She used the nest three years in a row and this year it is empty.

[XemaSab]

3. We were working the other day

on a brushy ranch, and suddenly the ground was covered with what first struck me as little mice or frogs, then I realized it was a baby quail flock. They hid right at our feet.

SO cute!