Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Waukonda]

Over the next couple of weeks they will become totally feathered
Ken

Keep us updated. No activity yet around my bluebird boxes.

[bighomer]

Alabama Robin giving me the stink eye.

[Waukonda]

Alabama Robin giving me the stink eye.

Nice picture

[bighomer]

Mr P on the pole early this morning. Bosses' photo.

He came back a few minutes ago.

A little contrast between a redneck and a redhead.

[Waukonda]

Mr P on the pole early this morning. Bosses' photo.1000010792.jpg
He came back a few minutes ago. 1000010803.jpg
A little contrast between a redneck and a redhead.1000010798.jpg

Great pictures, never get tired of Pileateds. I haven't seen Himmers here yet.

[Mumbleypeg]

We rarely see Pileated Woodpackers here - we are a little west of their range, but there are a lot of them in east Texas. We’ve had a few hummers doing fly bys at our feeders but no consistent visitors yet.

Here’s an update on the Bluebird nest. Picture is from yesterday. Note the feathers compared to the picture I posted a few days ago.

Ken

[doglegg]

Mr P on the pole early this morning. Bosses' photo.1000010792.jpg
He came back a few minutes ago. 1000010803.jpg
A little contrast between a redneck and a redhead.1000010798.jpg

Very cool bh.

[doglegg]

We rarely see Pileated Woodpackers here - we are a little west of their range, but there are a lot of them in east Texas. We’ve had a few hummers doing fly bys at our feeders but no consistent visitors yet.

Here’s an update on the Bluebird nest. Picture is from yesterday. Note the feathers compared to the picture I posted a few days ago.

Ken

They're growing.

[Waukonda]

Thanks for the update, Ken.

[Waukonda]

I was driving a backroad today and looked over at a small waterhole in a field to see a Mallard and 3 wading birds sharing the space Merlin told me that the 3 were Greater Yellowlegs. Their nesting range is Canada and Alaska. Why they picked a waterhole not much bigger than the bed of my truck to stopover for a bit during migration, I don't know, but good to see.

[FRJ]

Nice pictures, Ike.

[Mumbleypeg]

Why they picked a waterhole not much bigger than the bed of my truck to stopover for a bit during migration, I don't know, but good to see.

They were hungry. All that migrating stuff is hard work!

Nice pictures!

Ken

[doglegg]

I was driving a backroad today and looked over at a small waterhole in a field to see a Mallard and 3 wading birds sharing the space Merlin told me that the 3 were Greater Yellowlegs. Their nesting range is Canada and Alaska. Why they picked a waterhole not much bigger than the bed of my truck to stopover for a bit during migration, I don't know, but good to see.

Congrats.

[QTCut5]

Why they picked a waterhole not much bigger than the bed of my truck to stopover for a bit during migration, I don't know, but good to see.

When your truck bed is that big you have to wash it once in awhile, Ike, so migrating birds don’t mistake it for a muddy pond

[Waukonda]

When your truck bed is that big you have to wash it once in awhile, Ike, so migrating birds don’t mistake it for a muddy pond

Haha! Nice try, but you know that is Floyd's truck, that says Texas all the way with those Longhorns mounted up front.

I couldn't handle driving that thing, reminds me of the old song "Give Me 40 Acres".

[doglegg]

Why they picked a waterhole not much bigger than the bed of my truck to stopover for a bit during migration, I don't know, but good to see.

When your truck bed is that big you have to wash it once in awhile, Ike, so migrating birds don’t mistake it for a muddy pond

Q, why didn't you come in and visit awhile?

[FRJ]

A Red Wing Black Bird just taking off.

[bighomer]

Cool photo Joe.

[FRJ]

Thanks Joe.

[doglegg]

A Red Wing Black Bird just taking off.

You got to be quick! Nice capture.

[Quick Steel]

A very handsome pair (m+f) of Brown Thrashers stopped by. I would love to have them nest here. It looks like my nesters so far are: Red-Wings, Cardinals,
Killdeer, Meadowlark, Song Sparrow. We also have the Grackle gang.

[Mumbleypeg]

Nice picture Joe. I do a lot better if they’re sitting still! For me, getting one in motion is pure luck.

QS, we have all of those birds here too. Especially fond of brown thrashers. Cardinals are thick here, all year round. Waiting for the barn swallows to show up any day now, the Scissortail flycatchers will be here around May 1st.

Here is one more my speed. Today’s status update on the Bluebird nestlings. Next week they’ll have fledged the nest and be gone. I’ll clean out the nest box and the pair usually will build a new nest. Then it’s on to the next brood. (If I don’t remove the old nest they’re likely to build a new nest on top of the old one. Which puts it higher up toward the box’s entry hole, more vulnerable to predators).

Ken

[Waukonda]

Waiting for the barn swallows to show up any day now
Ken

We have Tree Swallows (pic posted below) back in full force, as of about a week ago. I never really thought (until now) about Barn Swallows and Cliff Swallows coming along later. I guess I lumped them all together in my mind. I will now be on the lookout for the 1st Barn Swallow. Kingbirds have made it to Illinois.

[Waukonda]

Rainy morning birds......

[doglegg]

Thanks Ike. Great pics.