DAILY PICS VOL. 239

Rose, I may sound crazy, but I can see where you thought that pile of brush had a bird hiding in it. I have to say that you have got some very very sharp eyes to see that, or you really know what you're looking for! I'm actually impressed because that big stick does look like some kind of a big bird, like a hawk, with a big sharp beak. That's pretty cool! :) Funny though :) It makes me think of the Beverly Doolittle pictures, that have the camoflauged faces and things hidden within the picture itself.

Teresa...glad you saw it too...it actually scared me at first!! I love Beverly Doolittle pictures...always something to see in her beautiful work.

Love the Laughing Gulls Pelle...would love to see one someday.

GP..Beautiful variety of shots!

Burd..Love the Least Bittern...very cool.

Rose, I thought I was losing my mind one day! I thought I kept seeing the bark on a tree moving... and I looked and looked thinking that maybe it was one of those camoflauged spiders or something; and it was him! This lizard.

Teresa, you must be in a subtropical zone to have those exotic looking Lizard(s)? Nice pix everyone.

Rarely will I find these pair together, but here .... ARE .... Lord and Lady 'Bama. (I've expressed interest on naming these birds, lol).

Nice one Teresa. Rose I was at first thinking it was that bird that looks like wood; can't remember the name.

So cute Lily!

Pelle, is it a frogmouth tawny you're talking about that looks like wood?

Yes I believe so. Thanks Teresa.

LOL, Lily! I think they're all over Texas... or i'm assuming? We have more wierd lizards and insects than I care for I'll tell you that! Very nice picture Lily, beautiful birds! They sure looked like they were watching you! :) Pelle, I finally got a picture of the barred owl the other night, but he looked up and away when I took the picture. But he was only like 6 feet above me.

bad picture I know, but again, it was dark and I didn't bring a spot light.

Wow, Teresa. The pix didn't turn out very clear, but I bet the excitement seeing the bird at night must be pretty awesome!

Yep, you were right, the woodpeckers were keeping 'an eye' out for the woman with the camera behind the window by the feeder -- never know what she's opt to do next. lol. They're really skittish little birds. Who likes alot of spaces, and not very social with others. lol.

Goldfinches begun to visit my feeder after a period of absent. I'll see about putting out thistle seeds pretty soon. What other birds that prefer thistle seeds, can someone share your experience with me?

Yes it was very exciting tracking the owl down. They have a very unique call, called laughing. I was trying to mimic their call to locate them, or get them to respond back. It's very fun actually. They're not as big as I anticipated them to be, but lovely owls. All up until they scream at you, ha, ha! We had one scream at us last week, guess we were pestering him! :) I'm not really familiar with the goldfinches, or bird seed for that matter. We've never put it out, all the birds that have ever been here seem to like the wild weeds with seeds in them or the bugs on the trees. I sure would love to see some goldfinches though. Beautiful little birds, very colorful. So are those handsome woodpeckers! Yes the woodpeckers are very skittish. Quite hard to get a picture of too because they're only still for a second.

Teresa nice shots of the lizard and congrats on the Barred Owl...wish one would show up here.

Lily...I am very jealous of the shot with Lord and Lady Bama...and congrats on the Goldfinches returning. In the past I have seen House Finches and Purple Finches eating the thistle seed.

We were just outside talking to some neighbors when out of nowhere a Red Shoulder Hawk flies right in front of us!! He is sure a gorgeous bird and I have been seeing him for over a week...since the Red-winged Blackbirds left thus ending the no-fly zone!!

Thanks Rose! And I bet you didn't have your camera when that Hawk flew in front of you did you? I can't tell you how many times things like that have happened to me when I don't have my camera. Just yesterday I was sitting outside and all of a sudden a hawk broke a tree branch that he was on (I didn't even know he was there until then), and he flapped him wings real hard to keep from falling, took flight to another tree close by. I ran inside and got my husband so he could help me find it. And of course as we were walking to the tree I seen him land in, the Hawk flew off. We didn't even see him when we were looking in the tree. I think it was a swainson's hawk?? It was a real light tan, with reddish-brown around his neck.

Darn... Today was the first day I haven't seen any Tree Swallows flying around. :-(

Uh-oh, hopefully they haven't starting migrating?? I had NO bird activity today at all, so I know how you feel :(

Unfortunately yes they have. Two or three weeks ago when I was on the walk in Cape May they were saying most of their Purple Martins had left.

Rose, I wished we could exchange some of birds. I'd send you one of my Redheaded in return you can send me your RedBellied Wp? In years past I've seen Redbellied along with the Downy WP who came to the grains feeder, this year. Since the Redheaded came along. I've yet to see my red Bellied Wp.

Gee Lily...it would sure be hard to give up the Red-bellied WP...but thanks for the offer anyway!!

We just have a few Barn Swallows left...things are changing around here that's for sure.

I staked out the farm pond this afternoon and had a visit from this Solitary Sandpiper. Lousy shot but it was on the other side...I enjoyed watching him take a bath anyway and he stayed for quite awhile.

Lovely Sandpiper!

Hello all. Bird Pictures volume 240 is over here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1030955/

See ya there

Thanks Resin, it may be an Oriole I could hear a couple while taking the photo. I thought the bird had a hooked beak but it look's like a worm or bug. Like your Sandpiper shot dellrose!

Yep, an oriole is possible, but so are several warblers - there's no useful clues to judge the size. Agree it looks like a food item in its bill.

Resin