Birds in the Ash

The last two days have been cold and wet, but Friday evening was nice enough to sit on the back porch and watch the busy birds in the yard.  

The House Wrens were busy at the wren house in the wildflower garden.  

The Tufted Titmice were busy at their nest in the Shagbark Hickory.

The Baltimore Orioles and Goldfinches were busy coming and going to the feeders.

The Great Blue Heron was busy fishing on the shore.

And a beautiful Eastern Kingbird was busy catching flying insects. 

It rested between flights on the branches of the dying daughter Ash tree.

The large dead Ash tree by the river has been shedding hefty branches for the last year or so.  

A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers decided it was a good place to excavate a nest.

The female is leaving the cavity.

The male is about to enter

Just his tail is showing

After a few minutes, he appears with a mouthful of chipped wood...

....which he promptly spits out.

They continued excavating yesterday. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how they do this summer.