Home»Gallery»Portola Valley Ranch, Windy Hill, Etc.»6/21/2020 Young Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) near Frog Pond

Bluebirds are fledging, leaving the nest and fending for themselves. This youngster perched in a tree, then flew down to grab an insect, just above the grass. Moving to another tree, repeating. 6/21/2020, 8:30 am. Thanks to Dudley Carlson for the ID.

The next day, 6/22, more fledglings appear -- they are still swooping low, hovering over the grass, grabbing insects. And a White-breasted Nuthatch walks down and up a redwood trunk, burying seeds in the bark.