Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Waukonda]

Caught a Great Blue Heron and an Egret on the wing in the same photo.

We were walking laps around this pond. These two stayed within ten feet of each other like they're bird homies, but kept flying to the side of the pond opposite us when we'd get close.

Nice pics, Zach.

[doglegg]

Caught a Great Blue Heron and an Egret on the wing in the same photo.

We were walking laps around this pond. These two stayed within ten feet of each other like they're bird homies, but kept flying to the side of the pond opposite us when we'd get close.

[Quick Steel]

Thanks to all for the many beautiful photos on this thread.

Having excessively aggressive squirrels at the feeders this year. I don't mind them sharing a bit of feed. Their teeth grow non-stop throughout their lives; if they don't keep wearing down their molars, the teeth will grow inward and eventually kill them.

We have three pairs of Cardinals nesting here. My favorite nesters remain a beautiful pair of Brown Thrashers.

[FRJ]

Here's one of my favorite Robins.

[doglegg]

Here's one of my favorite Robins.

Nice.

[treefarmer]

These two pictures are from a game camera, the hawk is next to an Imported Fire Ant nest, 2nd picture it's taking off. What kind of hawk is this?

Standing by a fire ant nest.

Taking flight.

They are around the place all the time, I just never learned to identify the different ones. North of our house, in a pine swamp, there was a hawks nest that was active for many years. Hurricane Michael destroyed the the nest and the big long leaf pine died. It stood the storm but apparently twisted the cambium layer and it died several months later. I believe the hawks have established another nest southwest of the house, down towards Bee Branch. Haven't located it yet. It may be across the fence and on another piece of property.
Treefarmer

[New_Windsor_NY]

Mama Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) In The Nest.
The Pair Do Let Me Get Closer, But I Did Not Want To Chance It With The Camera.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

[Waukonda]

What kind of hawk is this?

A Red Shouldered would be a safe guess from what I can see. They can make a lot of racket, why don't you do a search for a recording of their call and see if that is a familiar sound to you.

[Waukonda]

Mama Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) In The Nest.
The Pair Do Let Me Get Closer, But I Did Not Want To Chance It With The Camera.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

I like seeing those birds when I go to the West, thanks for showing, Skip.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I…..

You’re welcome and thank you for looking, Ike.

[doglegg]

Mama Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) In The Nest.
The Pair Do Let Me Get Closer, But I Did Not Want To Chance It With The Camera.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

Maybe we can see a family pic later.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Maybe….

I’ll give it a try, Floyd.
I don’t think the egg(s) have hatched yet.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Continued From My Sunday, June 7, 2026 Post.
Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Waiting His Turn At The Feeder.
Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Has His Turn At The Feeder.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

[New_Windsor_NY]

Continued From My Sunday, June 7 And Monday, June 8, 2026 Posts.
I Had To Wait For Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) To Leave The Nest.
I Did Manage To Get A Picture Of The Offspring. I Can Definitely See Two. There May Be A Third.
LOOK DEAD CENTER IN THE PICTURE. I Had To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

[New_Windsor_NY]

Continued From My Previous Posts On Sunday, June 7, Monday, June 8, And Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
BAD NEWS…..
At Approximately 10:30 a.m. This Morning, The Nest Was Attacked By A VERY LARGE Crow.
Both Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Fought Valiantly To Defend The Nest And Repel The Invader.
The Crow Did Eventually Leave, With The Parents In Hot Pursuit. But, The Damage Had Been Done.
The Little Ones Were Either Dead Or Dying. I Didn’t Hear The Skirmish Until It Was Too Late.
The Parents Have NOT Been Back To The Nest For Awhile Now. I’m Guessing That The Little Ones Are Dead.
After The Attack, I Did Manage To Get, What Might Be The Last Picture Of The Little Ones Alive (They Were Moving).
LOOK DEAD CENTER IN THE PICTURE. I Had To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
Not To Mention, The Parents Are VERY, VERY, UPSET (NOISY).
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

***** UPDATE *****
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 1:00 p.m., I Saw One Of The Parents Feeding A Little One.
I Don’t Know If More Than One Is Still Alive.
I Will Update THIS Post As New Details Emerge.
As Of 1:10 p.m., Two Little Ones Are Alive.

Friday, June 12, 2026.
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 8:00 a.m., Another Crow Attack Was Successfully Defended
By Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri). While They
Were Off Chasing The Crow, I Grabbed My Camera And Got REAL
Close To The Nest. There Are Actually THREE Little Ones In The Nest.
ALL THREE Are Alive And Kicking. See The Last Picture Posted Below.
LOOK DEAD CENTER IN THE PICTURE. I Had To Be VERY Careful NOT
To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

A local park has a small zoo. There's bears, wolves, red fox, river otter, elk, alpaca and various birds including a bald eagle. In the center there's a man made lagoon that's an inlet off Lake Winnebago. This guy was wading around the edges of the lagoon and stole the show. We watched as he stalked the shallows then snatched up this fat bull head. We were surprised at the size of his meal, I assumed he'd yank out a small frog or tadpole, not half a Friday night fish fry.

[doglegg]

Continued From My Previous Posts On Sunday, June 7, Monday, June 8, And Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
BAD NEWS…..
At Approximately 10:30 a.m. This Morning, The Nest Was Attacked By A VERY LARGE Crow.
Both Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Fought Valiantly To Defend The Nest And Repel The Invader.
The Crow Did Eventually Leave, With The Parents In Hot Pursuit. But, The Damage Had Been Done.
The Little Ones Were Either Dead Or Dying. I Didn’t Hear The Skirmish Until It Was Too Late.
The Parents Have NOT Been Back To The Nest For Awhile Now. I’m Guessing That The Little Ones Are Dead.
After The Attack, I Did Manage To Get, What Might Be The Last Picture Of The Little Ones Alive (They Were Moving).
LOOK DEAD CENTER IN THE PICTURE. I Had To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
Not To Mention, The Parents Are VERY, VERY, UPSET (NOISY).
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

***** UPDATE *****
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 1:00 p.m., I Saw One Of The Parents Feeding A Little One.
I Don’t Know If More Than One Is Still Alive.
I Will Update THIS Post As New Details Emerge.
As Of 1:10 p.m., Two Little Ones Are Alive.

Friday, June 12, 2026.
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 8:00 a.m., Another Crow Attack Was Successfully Defended
By Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri). While They
Were Off Chasing The Crow, I Grabbed My Camera And Got REAL
Close To The Nest. There Are Actually THREE Little Ones In The Nest.
ALL THREE Are Alive And Kicking. See The Last Picture Posted Below.
LOOK DEAD CENTER IN THE PICTURE. I Had To Be VERY Careful NOT
To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

Wow! That is something to witness and have photos as well.

[Waukonda]

snatched up this fat bull head.

I wonder how those spines felt going down the gullet...

[New_Windsor_NY]

Wow…..

Thank you, Floyd.
Hopefully the little ones will survive to adulthood.

[New_Windsor_NY]

***** UPDATE *****
Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 7:30 a.m., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got Pretty Close To The Nest.
ALL THREE Little Ones Are VERY Much Alive And Kicking. They Are Getting BIGGER By The Day.
I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

[doglegg]

***** UPDATE *****
Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 7:30 a.m., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got Pretty Close To The Nest.
ALL THREE Little Ones Are VERY Much Alive And Kicking. They Are Getting BIGGER By The Day.
I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest And Or The Little Ones.
I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera.
So This Is It…..

Thanks for the update.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thanks…..

Thanks for lking, Floyd.
I’ve been trying to get a picture of the parents feeding them.
But, I definitely do NOT want to disrupt the status quo.

[New_Windsor_NY]

***** UPDATE *****
Sunday, June 21, 2026.
GOOD NEWS…..
As Of 11:00 a.m., Mama And Papa Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta Stelleri) Were Out Looking For Food.
While They Were Away From The Nest, I Grabbed My Camera And Got Really Close To The Nest.
ALL THREE “Little Ones” Are VERY Much Alive And Kicking. Yes, There Are Three “ Little Ones.”
They Are Getting BIGGER By The Day. I Still Have To Be VERY Careful NOT To Disturb The Nest
And Or The “Little Ones.” I Do Not Have A Good Zoom Lens, Or A Good Camera. So This Is It…..

[Waukonda]

Good one Skip, they won't be in that nest much longer.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Good…..

Thank you, Ike.
I hope I can get some pictures of them in flight training.