Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Quick Steel]

Ike, thanks for the tips. If I get another opportunity I will check out those stripes.

[Waukonda]

Have had 50 to 60 Goldfinches hanging around for the last couple of weeks. They are eating seeds from a nearby stand of Gum trees, and occasionally spill over to my feeders.

[Waukonda]

A couple of hours later, and the weather has changed.

[doglegg]

Cool (literally) pics Ike.

[FRJ]

I agree.
Nice pictures, Ike.
The Cardinals are beautiful.

[Quick Steel]

I am staggard by what you are showing us, Ike. Envy is not common with me, but in your case I'll make an exception.

[Waukonda]

Thank you for your comments. I would like to post one more pic from this afternoon. I get Woodpeckers daily, and they exist in harmony. If anything , the smaller Downies are the agressors and the others seem okay with this. Today, a F Yellow Bellied Sapsucker showed up, and the normally laid back Red Bellied repeatedly chased it away. Here is a pic of the 2 of them before the Red Bellied chased it off. The Sapsucker is on the trunk in the left side of the picture.

[bighomer]

[Waukonda]

Nice pics, BH!

Here is a Red Shouldered, and pics of a Downy, W B Nuthatch, House Finch, and Red Bellied taking turns around the feeder.

[Quick Steel]

The first Grackle I've seen in months just arrived: big and shiny and confident. An impressive bird.

[philco]

The first Grackle I've seen in months just arrived: big and shiny and confident. An impressive bird.

In my opinion, spotting grackles is a much more accurate indicator of spring than sighting robins. I often see them in mixed flocks with red winged blackbirds and brown headed cowbirds.

[QTCut5]

I have been trying for weeks to get a decent shot of the Japanese White Eyes that flit around the foliage in my yard but they are so quick and skittish it's nearly impossible; they are literally in constant motion and they tend to stick to the shadows.

So far, this is the best I've been able to come up with when I happened to catch this little guy in a spot of morning sunlight.
I will keep trying for a better photo.

[Quick Steel]

Phil, that's a good observation, thanks. Are you seeing Grackles?

[Waukonda]

I will validate the "Philco Grackle Theory" by posting this picture of 2 that dropped by my yard, and noting that the current temp is a sunny 72⁰.

[doglegg]

Philco, we can send you a couple a thousand if that would help you.

[Paladin]

Philco, we can send you a couple a thousand if that would help you.

Yea, no kiddin'! I could trap that many down at the HEB (grocery store) parking lot.

Ray

[Waukonda]

Anhinga

[doglegg]

Knice pic Ike. The flying cross.

[Waukonda]

.

[doglegg]

Great pics Ike.

[Quick Steel]

Ditto on the great photos.

Just a moment ago I glanced thru the kitchen windows and was stunned to see an estimated 1000 Grackles with a few Starlings mixed in. I ran for my camera and just as I returned they all soared skyward. This unfortunate photo, in the upper 15%, caught a small slice of the enormous flock.

[TPK]

Great pictures everyone!

Ike you sure have a wide array of birds in your area. Cool!

[orvet]

I've had a bird coming to feed for the last week or so but I have been unable to get a picture of it. It's very skittish and even the juncos seem to scare it away. I was finally able to get a picture of it today. I believe it's a western meadowlark, Oregon's state bird.

[Quick Steel]

Dale, I see why you judge it as a Meadowlark. Do you see white tail feathers when it takes off? It confuses me because of so much extensive black coloration. Also the tail strikes me as being too long. I am wondering if it is some sort of hybrid or color morph.

[Lansky1]

I too was bit by the birdwatching bug a few years ago. My feeder is a bit detached from my house on the shed, so best thing I ever did was to buy a really nice pair of binoculars. Makes the whole endeavor so much more enjoyable. We must have the most portly cardinals in the country here in N/E PA - they're butterbeans ... look like they hit the buffet line every day ! Easily twice the size of the little ones at my bro's house in VA. Def my fave bird. The rare goldfinches are a close second with their vivid summer plumage. Been a flurry of bluejays lately - nobody messes with them on the feeder - they're the boss & own the place.