Precious Moments with the Cassin's Kingbirds

A pair of Cassin's Kingbird had nested in the large eucalyptus tree at the entrance of the park appearing to have four nestlings. Now the nestlings have fledged and they are constantly demanding to be fed. Both parents are busy caring for their fledglings. The youngsters are fed insects and berries and the calls of the adults and the begging of the youngsters fill the air as you enter Twin Trails Park in Rancho Penasquitos. There are some moments in birding that the cuteness factor just overwhelms the observer like the moments when I was treated to a feeding of a newly fledged Cassin's Kingbird by one of its parents. Here are some captures from the precious moments with the Cassin's Kingbirds!

It was a bright and sunny morning and I went back to Twin Trails Park hoping to get a clear shot of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher near the carrotwood tree but instead I found an adult Cassin's Kingbird busy harvesting the berry/seed from the carrotwood tree. Here is a shot of the adult Cassin's Kingbird.

Cassin's Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans measures 9 inches long with a wingspan of 16 inches.

Flies up to the seed pod finding a nice ripe berry.

Glides down to the fence top.

He has collected a couple of berry/seeds to feed his fledgling. 

 A nice view of his berries.

Takes off to feed his youngster. 

Soon he is back to get more berries. 

Oh!  A fledgling has followed his parent to the food source. 

A good look at the Cassin's Kingbird fledgling. 

Calling for food service. 

Here comes the parent with breakfast. 

 

The fledgling lets the adult know he is very hungry. 

The beak is held wide open.

The parent comes over to the youngster with food. 

Precious moments. 

Adorable little one getting fed.

The food is received eagerly by the youngster. 

He swallows it and appears ready for more. 

The chick starts his begging again. 

The parent looks around for the next berry to pick. 

The chick becomes demanding and the parent immediately flies off to get more food. 

Back with more food. 

Another precious moment. 

 

Got it! 

Not full yet, the youngster begs for more food. 

The adult keeps an eye out for predators. I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk patrolling the area earlier. 

More begging by the youngster.

Demanding cry makes the adult hustle for the berries. 

What a cutie. 

In an instant, the parent is back with the berry and the chick calls get urgent. 

The beaks are open and the parent brings the food closer.

What a treat it has been to be able to observe the feeding of this beautiful youngster. 

A wonderful parent taking good care of youngster. 

Being well fed. 

 

I am thrilled that they stayed on this branch long enough for me to observe this special moment in the young fledgling's life where he has followed the parent to the food source and is shown where and what to eat... all part of his education on survival. 

As he begs for more food, I get one last shot of this cutie. 

And one more shot of the wonderful adult right before he flies off with the berry in his mouth coaxing the fledgling to follow him to another area.

A young Black Phoebe decides to give the berries a try since the young Cassin's Kingbird liked them so much. 

"Why doesn't it squish like the bugs I eat?" 

"It tastes weird"

 

Pat..tuueey!  Yuck!!  Lol, this youngster didn't seem to enjoy the taste of this berry and it was tossed away. According to the  Cornell Lab of Ornithology   the Black Phoebe eats insects and arthropods and even tiny fish but rarely will they eat berries.

Another youngster was heard nearby. Found him!  It's a fledgling Nuttall's Woodpecker looking for breakfast.

 

It was a very pleasant surprise to spot this male Western Tanager in the tall eucalyptus tree.

 

Also a bright male Hooded Oriole in full breeding plumage was spotted in the same tree. 

 

In the baseball field next to the school, it appears to be one of the young Scissor-tailed Flycatchers fluttering above the lawn chasing after an flying insect. (This photo taken through a chain link fence.)

Fluttering and searching for flying insects.

Side view. 

A Western Bluebird flies in. 

Found himself a large insect. Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana  measures 7 inches long with a wingspan of 13.5 inches.

He must be a youngster just coming into his adult plumage. See the new blue wing feathers pushing through the straw-like casing of his Pin feathers .

The new emerging feathers look a little bit like blue paintbrushes. What a beautiful morning it has been watching the all the youngsters exploring their new world and now it's time to head for home.

 

Have a great week everyone!