While strolling through the woodland area of my garden I came upon a few nice surprises. The first being the cyclamen pictured above. I don't know how it can possibly bloom with the heat and lack of rain but bloom it does. What a lovely sight.
A few steps more and I almost missed the next surprise. Can you see it embedded in the center of this 'Tardiva' hydrangea? It is a very new nest-one that is new to me as well. Let's move in for a closer look.
I don't think this nest was hidden all that well and it is much too low to the ground for the occupants to be safe once they hatch but this is where the momma bird decided to build her nest. Upon looking inside I saw some really neat eggs. Let me first say this is one of the smallest nests I've ever seen (probably only about 2"-3" wide edge to edge) and I was hoping it was a hummingbird nest but alas, no it is not.
The eggs were a soft tan or off white color. You can kind of see the variation in color in the above picture. I found the variations in color most weird. The eggs did not appear to have any speckles on them. While I was snapping pictures the momma bird fluttered by but I did not catch a glance at her. After researching around the web a bit I believe the nest and eggs belong to an American goldfinch. The goldfinch are plentiful here in my garden but this is the first time I've spotted a nest from one....
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden
I was going to guess a finch as this looks like the finch nest we see. They are messy birds as they do not clean the nest as some other birds so I try to keep them off the front porch.
ReplyDeleteStill no rain in GA either. It is a struggle to keep everything in the garden happy..... Sigh....
How beautiful! Will you keep the nest after the bird is finished with it? Seems a shame to waste all that craftsmanship!
ReplyDeleteOh that will be so much fun to watch the progress.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jean, how fun to be able to watch them hatch. :)
ReplyDeletePerhaps you've been looking too high! :) That is a low spot for a nest, in my human opinion. Completely changes the term "bird's eye view", doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteGreat find!
I'd like to know if this is the usual height for their nests.
Evening all.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for the surprises. That nest does seem to be too low. I first thought ground thrush. But it's too small I think. I do hope you can watch it till completeness.
Do hope all had a wonderful weekend. Brother was a visitor with me.
We did get more rain. Skeeter, I sure wish you had some of it.
How cool!! We have lots of goldfinches but I've never found any of their nests. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about it being a goldfinch nest Tina. They usually nest later than most birds so the timing makes sense. I hope the eggs can hatch and the babies fledge safely. At that height, it seems very vulnerable. You'll have to keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteI read your veggie post too. I understand about having to make choices on what to winter over and how much room you have in the garden. Although you appear to have extensive beds ~ seems like those gorgeous black & blue salvias would fit somewhere????? It would be hard for me to give them up!
I hear you on time for the blog too. I feel like I'm so bad lately about keeping mine up. I hope you keep going even if you only post sporadically.
Stay cool.
What a great post!!! Your photos are just lovely! They really are adorable!
ReplyDeleteI am just loving the tour of blogland tonight! I am so excited to have time to visit some of my favorite blogs...they are all so inspiring and I am NEVER disappointed! I am lucky to see are inspirations that I would never have found had I not found each of the my friends that I see online! I wish I had more time to visit everyone more often...I sometimes think of my online family and miss them so! Thank you so much for sharing with me/us!
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`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
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So cool to stumble upon a nest. I'm always awed by how neatly they are made (well, by most birds, anyway). I'm wishing the eggs well!
ReplyDeleteI planted about 5 cyclamen corms (?) this spring and hoping they will come up! What a treat to find a white one!
ReplyDeleteLove the goldfinches, don't know that I have had a nest in my garden that belonged to them. You must have a happy place for them.
I don't think I've seen a goldfinch nest, although we have lots of goldfinches around. Always find lots of vireo nests though, often in places that we walk right by all of the time! We usually don't see them until the young have fledged. Blue grosbeaks are the same way.
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