Morning birders,

Stepped out to listen to the morning calls and the merlin/s were "tic-ing" and "kee-ing" as they were last night as I returned home around 7pm. Still in the same area as I first heard them.

Does this mean they are nesting there?

I'll walk down and inspect and report.

Also, I have found a pair of blk-capped chickadees beginning to build in a nest box my mother had given us years ago. Saw Bewick's wren gathering nest material and hoping they select one of the other nest boxes. We've got a "nest" of bumblebees (red tailed I think) in the dovecote and trying to discourage them with a spray of Dawn suds. Does not seem to have "bee-terred" yet and I am a bit perturbed. If any suggestions are out there how to best relocate or discourage their residence, I'd appreciate it. I did have The Bee Guy come for a relocation of bees under our old shed, but this is a small infestation.

Caryn / Wedgwood

A Bewick's is belting out it's call in the smoke tree as I type. Funny to see it's feathers being bristled up in the breeze.

Also, sadly both the bushtit and hummer nests were destroyed.