rain gauge surprise

[Kali]

As some of you know, we had 4 wet migrants in need of a little hot coffee and some dry t-shirts yesterday. Well, the reason was a very unusual wet day. We have over 50 years of daily rainfall records and May has a big fat 0 for at least 30 of those years.

Needless to say the old rain gauge doesn't get checked much until the monsoon starts, usually in July.

Anyway yesterday I went to check and something else caught my eye.

First, the gauge on its post out on the horse pasture fence:



As I approached I saw a LGB flit from the post off to the right towards some rocks and bushes.
A little closer:


Oh wow! A nest.

[flvegan]

1. What a fantastic find, Kali.

Perfect little hiding place, eh?

[Kali]

3. It is baby bird day.

My chicks arrived this morning too.

[Suich]

2. What's a LGB? Little grey bird?

What happened with the migrant visitors you posted about yesterday? Did they end up leaving at dusk?

:hi:

[Kali]

5. yep, Little Grey Bird

sorta like LYC's for flowers - little yellow composites

Visitors actually left earlier than I thought they would, although later than they said at first. After several phone calls and finally some swearing in Spanish by one of them to whoever they were talking to they said the ride was coming. I took them up to the end of our road so they wouldn't have to walk. They took off for the interstate exit and there is a good concrete tunnel to hide in up there (also out of the rain) There was some helicopter and plane traffic but I think they probably made it.

[XemaSab]

8. I've heard them called DYC's

:hide:

Any idea about what the birds are? :shrug:

[Kali]

9. I think you may be right about the D

no idea on the bird - quite small, grey, low flitting flight - at least from the nest. if I hadn't glimpsed the parent I might have thought hummingbird

oh, and nests in cavities}(

[XemaSab]

10. My two main guesses are some kind of wren or maybe a warbler

:shrug:

[Kali]

11. I'll get the binocs out of the truck and try to get a better description

I'm kind of curious too.

[Ptah]

4. Excellent, kali

Thanks for the pictures.

:thumbsup:

[Kali]

6. stay tuned! I got chickens in the mail this morning -

will get some shots and post tomorrow if I have time.

[Ptah]

7. I remember geting day-old chicks in Montana in Feb.

Antibiotics in the water, heat lamps, feed from Dad's grain.
4-H !

I'm looking forward to some pictures.