Daily Pictures Volume #245

Thanks Hack, I'm sure there were over 500 of them, the camera could not fit them all in the frame.c Here's an example, of how many I could get in the frame.

Another Lesser Goldfinch

Here's a Starling that came before the sun was up.

Very pretty Lesser Goldfinch Duc. and thanks for your comment.

Yep, I got me some European Starlings. I had about 20 - 30 in the flock (I can't even imagine a flock a large as yours, burd),

I had to hurry and get my camera, and just after I took two pics, they took off for parts unkown. I guess I was lucky to two photos.

A first bird for me.

Hack

Try counting these Starling flocks, then . . . ;-)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sort_sol_pdfnet.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sort_sol_pdfnet2.jpg

Resin

Unreal! I am flabbergasted!

Thanks Resin

The Starlings have returned to our area too..first indication was all 3 suet feeders are empty!

These three Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been hanging in the dead tree. They acted like siblings...lots of chasing each other around and making lots of noise. They sure were cute...two females and one male.

Here is a cute little juvie Eastern Bluebird.

another pose.

You can have all my Starlings Hack.....every last one of them! :)

More Starlings lol

Starling

Crow

Share?

Nope

Turkey Vulture dining

Here's an amazing video of some huge starling flocks putting on a wonderful aerial display..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH-groCeKbE&feature=player_embedded#t=26

Knip, that is astounding. Thanks.

knip, that video is mesmerizing. How fortunate you are to witness such a phenom.

Thanks for pointing it out and taking the time to record it.

Hack

Not too many folks get that excited over starlings...LOL!

Ours seem to be moving on. Had none come and steal the crows cat food today!

Whitebreasted Nuthatch in the typical "nuthatch pose"

The October 2007 issue of Physics Today magazine has an interesting article on the physics of Starling flocks in Rome. At dusk each winter evening, millions of starlings fly in from the countryside to their roosting sites in Rome. Before settling into trees for the night, "they spend something like 20 minutes doing these incredible aerial displays. It's a truly amazing sight,"

Three-dimensional mapping of starling flocks could shed light not only on the birds' collective behavior but also on a broad range of other aggregate systems.

The following link will take you to the full article.

http://ptonline.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_60/iss_10/28_1.shtml

Great shots everyone!

I did get one hour this morning in the marsh before the rains started. There were very few small birds that early. There were some larger birds around but they were skitterish this morning.. Only the Great Blue Herons and the Great Egrets allowed us to get close.
Great Blue

Great Egret

My Goldfinches are still here. I think this one saw me. But it stayed and fed anyway.

Hack

This message was edited Sep 22, 2009 6:58 PM

Great photos, everyone.

What an interesting article, Gary. Starts posing more questions than it answers at this stage.

Knip, that link was really interesting, thanks.
Nanny, that's a beautiful Nuthatch!
Gras, that article was also interesting.
Frank, loved your Heron and Egret pictures.
Hack, cute Goldfinch!

This little Lesser Goldfinch comes to visit the fountain.

This message was edited Sep 23, 2009 12:43 PM

Testing the water.

Saw my first White-crowned Sparrow at the feeder this morning. I think they leave as the weather warms up.

This message was edited Sep 23, 2009 12:52 PM

Nice ones duc! I love the White-crowned Sparrows; wish we had them here.

Haven't seen a White-crowned Sparrow since early spring...they should be showing up here soon!

duc, I sure like the White-crowned Sparrow. Nice looking photo.

Hack

No White-crowned Sparrows here yet either...a few more weeks yet before they show up.
Do have the Magnolia Warblers now though...sorry the pic is not better!

So many Black-throated Green Warblers this year!!

And they blend in so well with the foliage of the plants....

This message was edited Sep 23, 2009 7:35 PM

It really makes them hard to spot sometimes!

That's just amazing Nanny!

Nice ones nanny!