Western bluebird fledglings, learning to hunt on their own, lower orchard The parents were close by with these fledglings, hunting for insects as the young birds intensely watched and copied the adults.
Poise and position are half the battle...
Western Bluebird fledgling in apple tree, parent is sitting (not in photo) on tree limb above.
...if you stare hard enough, the insects will come...
Near where the young bluebirds were learning from the parents is the starlings' nest - I looked up at one point to see the parent starling carrying whatever this is to feed its young - bubblegum???
I think it's flower petals!!!!!
Must be part of what is recommended for a balanced diet!
Anna's hummer in back yard, at the red salvia flowers
Anna's hummingbird, feeding on red salvia blooms
There's also a very small Allen hummingbird in the back yard, that competes with at least two other Anna's for local flowers, and the feeders.
Pygmy nuthatches are the smallest of the nuthatches, like their name implies. A pygmy nuthatch at the upside down suet feeder - took them a little longer to figure it out.
Pygmy nuthatch, back yard
Oak Titmouse in a definite woody-woodpecker pose!