At this time of the year, many young birds are leaving the nest. Adults nest and raise their young according to the availble food sources that they prefer, in order to ensure the success of their young. 

Even though, the young have left the nest, they still look to Mom and Dad for handouts!!!! If you have feeders in the yard or are out and about, you may see some begging behaviour exhibited by the young. They may flap their wings wildly or chirp away, hoping for some food. At times, it can appear comical.

The young while similar to the adults are a bit different. This evening, July 20th, I sat comfortably on my deck with the camera on a tripod and at a good working height and waited to see what flew in for dinner. Below are a few of the young. 

Above, is an immature Common Grackle. While the immature is a brownish black, the adult is a bluish iridescent blackbird. I enlarged the eye and was able to see the reflection of my house!! 

Above is an immature European Starling, with its dusky brown colour and some faint streaking. The adult is an iridescent black bird with some speckling and a yellow beak. 

Above is an immature Brown Headed Cowbird. The adult male is a shiny black with chocolate brown head. The female is mouse grey in colour. The cowbird is a parasitic bird and will knock out eggs from usually a smaller bird's nest and lay one of their own in the nest.  It leaves the rearing of their young to another species.  

Above is an immature house sparrow which looks very similar to the adult female house sparrow. It was calling out for food, which Mom brought!!

Above is an immature cardinal. While similar to the female, it is not as vibrant as its mother and the beak has not changed to the bright reddish orange that adults have.

Now if birds are not enough of a challenge, it is peak season for dragons and butterflies.  Note that they are quite aware of movement and it does not take much to scare them away. I was out on Sunday afternoon, with a 300m lens, trying to photograph them. 

Have fun shooting, and til next time, I will of course, been out birding.

Sue