DAILY PICS VOL 247

wild-looking Blue Jay.

Female Cardinal hiding in a Crepe Myrtle.

Wood Stork flying in a group including an Osprey.

Grackle with a peanut.

This group of American White Pelicans were soaring in a large group for several minutes.

American Redstart (ID by OldNed).

Another new bird for me, White-eyed Vireo ( I don't know how I missed this one, but the folks over at the ID thread knew it).

Gorgeous shots, everyone. Congratulations GP on your Vireo.

Bird activity at the Osprey nest is simply amazing at the moment. Apart from the Ospreys, there are birds everywhere, full of the joys of Spring. I managed a couple of shots of a Striated Pardalote in a big eucalypt that is a veritable hive of activity. This is a male. I couldn't get any position without twigs in the way.

When I was looking at this bird at the site, I was convinced it was a female as it didn't seem as strikingly marked as the male, which was only 12" away. Now I'm not so sure, but s/he is pretty anyway.

Male sparrow

Juvenile goldfinch

Female sparrow

European robin

I love those little robins.

Resin, thanks for noticing the Clark's Grebe in my photo. We do have them and the Western here, but I hadn't noticed this one.

Wonderful photos here everyone!!

I believe this is a female Brewer's Blackbird

This message was edited Oct 1, 2009 9:56 AM

Had a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds come to the backyard. They all appeared to be quite young.

Another Red-winged Blackbird

A Lesser Goldfinch

This Lesser Goldfinch loved the morning bath.

Another one

A pair of California Thrashers come every morning for a drink of water.

Holy Mackerel!!! This thread is FABULOUS!!!

Way to many great pics...love them all!!

We were over in Springfield Illinois for a couple of days. Went to a small Audubon Wildlife Refuge along the way but didn't see anything new there.

I agree that those European Robins are just a bit cuter than our American Robins!

The female Cardinals have just been so cooperative lately!! lol

Great variety and some beautiful shots.

Immature Herring Gull.

This message was edited Oct 2, 2009 7:25 PM

Blue Jay posing nicely.

This message was edited Oct 1, 2009 9:27 PM

Grackles.

The Goldfinches are starting to increase at the feeders.

Meth: I have been away and didn't see your question until now.

The Western Bluebird looks very much like the Eastern. The most obvious difference is seen at the throat of the males. While the Eastern has rust colored feathers extending from the chest to the chin, the Western male is blue all the way around from the shoulders up. He usually has a small patch of brown on his back, between the shoulder blades, although it is not visable on any of your shots. The female's markings are very similar to that of the Eastern female, but she obviously has a more bluish hue to her wing and back feathers.

The color of the Western male is usually a more vivid blue, as seen in your photos. While we occasionally see an Eastern with similar bright blue feathers, it is the exception, at least in my experience. Here is a side-by-side comparison, using one of your shots and one I took today.

And to illustrate my comment about the females, here is another side-by-side comparison.

Dave

Great Shots Everyone! In keeping with the variety in this thread...

Red-tailed Hawk

pic not great,

Turkey Vulture

Yup that's pretty bad :( Someone will make it all better though lol.

Here's a few of my local feathered friends.

1st photo is the Male Cardinal

2nd photo is the Morning Dove

3rd photo is the Chicadee

4th photo is the Tufted Titmouse

This message was edited Oct 2, 2009 9:45 AM

Another Titmouse

Last photo - Titmouse

Nice pics. Love the Chickadee especially. Not much action here today. I did get this lovely Starling...and what a beautiful sound he was making.