Western Scrub-Jay inspecting eggs

I now have a webcam placed near the nest, so now will be able to watch how a pair of Western Scrub-Jays goes about raising seven little ones, assuming all the eggs hatch. I suppose they are feeling pretty smug, knowing that probably all the other Jays in the neighborhood did not build their nests under the overhang of a roof. This pair and their brood will be able to stay dry when it rains, or enjoy the shade when the sun comes out.

Western Scrub-Jay nest

A neighbor alerted me to the presence of this Western Scrub-Jay nest in a jasmine vine at the corner of my house today.  The eggs are actually all the same size, but the wide-angle lens caused some distortion.

Common Merganser pair

On April 15 this pair of Common Mergansers was resting on the shoreline of the North Santiam River across from Fishermen's Bend campground in Linn Co., Oregon. They seemed to be feeling at home there, so perhaps are preparing to nest in a tree cavity somewhere nearby.