DAILY PICS VOL. 265

Welcome everyone to volume 265 of Daily Pictures on the Bird Watching Forum. Hard to top the start of Volume 264 with Dave's spectacular photos, or the end of the thread with Tiger's puffy sapsucker. If you missed anything, here's the link:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1061537

If you're new to the forum, here's some general info:

• Be sure to check the sticky threads at the top of the forum. Pelletory has put together lots of good information…
• New Daily threads are started when the old volume reaches about 135 posts (the point where dial up users start to experience difficulties). Pelletory contacts the next person on "the list" to see who is willing and able to start the next thread.
• If you have a spectacular day of bird watching and have more than 6 images in a row to post, it's suggested that you start your very own thread for your birding day!

But let's get started on this cold snowy Friday.


A puffy Blue Jay, MargaretK's favorite!

When it's my turn to start a thread, I always hoard a number of photos to be in the running fir the first picture. Here are the "leftovers". Ha.

Lots of Dark-eyed Juncos this year. By "lots" I mean maybe 1/2 dozen or more.

My pretty female Red-bellied Woodpecker finally interested in the suet now that it's bbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrr… cold.

I've also seen an increase in the Northern Cardinals. Here's a female enjoying some seed on the ground.

This message was edited Dec 11, 2009 8:30 AM

Nice start Mrs Ed. Have a great day. Stay Warm!!

Dave

Got me tree topper.
Strung lites on ornamental metal
bird house on a tall pole and now
its a good lookout.

nice pictures Mrs.Ed and all of the rest
from the last page, so many great shots.
Flicker waiting its turn for breakfast--
ummmmm frozen suet. Six of them and
pretty peaceful.
have a great day all.

Mrs_Ed - that Blue Jay is the right one to start with. But that Red-bellied Woodpecker is also real nice.

dirt_in_ozone7b - what kind of birds are those. I think I've seen them on here before, but their ID slips my mind. I am particularly fond of the second pone.

Hack

hack-- Northern Flicker
its another flamboyant woodpecker,
some have wonderful personalities,
lots of head and body movement in their
communication beside their squawking,
esp when food isn't on the table.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Flicker

Didn't know the eastern variety is the Alabama state bird and called a Yellowhammer

Lovely start Marna and the Blue Jay as well as the other birds are beautiful. The Blue Jays are so comical and one of my favorites. I have seen a few Juncos but not the numbers we had at this time last year.

dirt...Love those shots of the Flickers...cute tree topper! We have Flickers here but gosh I still can't get a shot of them.

It is a gorgeous cold day today so I am trying to get some fudge made while I watch the birds from the window.

Here is a very colorful female Cardinal from the brush pile this morning.

And here is one that is not as colorful but equally as charming!

Should of said that I strung lites to make
a Christmas tree out of it.

And I already heard from the local peanut
gallery and even the hummingbird sitting
next to me that it's a rocket or Charlie Brown
effort, I put it up and I am going plug it in.
Besides it was cold out there and didn't want
to crush up too much of the ground cover.
Now if only I could get that flicker to stay...
most wouldn't even notice the novice effort.

Mrs. Ed love that woodpecker and your jay.

Dirt, LOVE the Flickers.

Dell, Your cardinals are wonderful. I sure wish we had them here.

I'm seeing lots of these White crowned Sparrows.

The House Finches are really enjoying the berries on the Toyon trees next to our home.

Here's another House Finch taking a break.

The California Thrashers are really gobbling up the berries.

I love the way they just throw the berries to the back of their mouth.

Ahhh, that tastes good. Sorry everyone, I got caught up in the moment.

Great start w/ the Blue Jay Mrs Ed! All good ones especially love the Cardinal. Thanks for the forum reminders. :-)

Dirt, I absolutely LOVE your tree topper!! I adore Northern Flickers. The lit up tree looks great!

Rose, Beautiful Cardinals!

Duc, Gorgeous shots! love the White-crowned. Great sequence on the Thrasher w/ berry!

The Ivory Gull has left Cape May now. Glad I went down last week.

dirt_in_ozone7b - thanks for the link. Even though Bama is my neighbor (literally), I never know about it being the Yellowhammer state.

Here's what I saw on the link you gave me - for the other birders who are interested.


Alabama has been known as the "Yellowhammer State" since the American Civil War.

The yellowhammer nickname was applied to the Confederate soldiers from Alabama when a company of young cavalry soldiers from Huntsville, under the command of Rev. D.C. Kelly, arrived at Hopkinsville, KY, where Gen. Forrest's troops were stationed.

The officers and men of the Huntsville company wore fine, new uniforms, whereas the soldiers who had long been on the battlefields were dressed in faded, worn uniforms. On the sleeves, collars and coattails of the new cavalry troop were bits of brilliant yellow cloth. As the company rode past Company A , Will Arnett cried out in greeting "Yellowhammer, Yellowhammer, flicker, flicker!"

The greeting brought a roar of laughter from the men and from that moment the Huntsville soldiers were spoken of as the "yellowhammer company." The term quickly spread throughout the Confederate Army and all Alabama troops were referred to unofficially as the "Yellowhammers."

Now how cool is that?

Hack

This message was edited Dec 11, 2009 3:54 PM

dellrose - that first female cardinal sure does have nice coloration.

dirt_in_ozone7b - nice "Christmas tree" in the garden.

ducbucln - catching the three images of that California Thrasher eating that berry was real nice - good captures. You must have been clicking that shutter button fast.

pelletory - That Ivory Gull is a real pretty bird. I've not been tot he beach since I took up birding.

Duc, Awesome pics of the Thrashers. I still don't know what Toyon berries are. Are they native to Lake
County?

Pell, Beautiful gull, just beautiful/

White crowned Sparrow

Common Sparrow looking for food

Mourning Dove playing Peek A Boo

I got a pretty nice pic this morning. So I thought you might enjoy seeing it. This robin wasn't going to get much of a drink from this fountain. I put out the heated bird bath this morning so he could get a drink later.

How cute. Yeah, it's a bit frozen.

Wow, look at you all go!

Dirt, love your tree. and how fortunate to have such a nice tree topper.
Duc, it will be sad when those berries are gone. they have provided such a lovely backdrop and food for the babies.
Rose, I can't believe you are making fudge today. I thought that today would have been the perfect day for making peanut brittle and fudge. Too bad I was gone all day. Maybe tomorrow.
Pelle, I'm so glad that you got to see that gull.
Claud, welcome! Hack, great story
Holly Ann, that's such a great photo, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Thanks claudcat! Love your White-crowned Sparrow!

Oh Holly looking at that gives me the chills! Glad you have a heated one.

Thanks pelletory. I saw a lot of birds today but, my photos turned out crummy.

I had the same problem yesterday. :-)

LOL...Some days they just don't turn out. :( Oh well, as Scarlett said "tomorrow is another day" or something like
that.

Great shots All!! These last few threads have been going so fast its hard to keep up with all the bird's and birder's. Look's like everyone's bird's are doing well. Lots of nice pictures everyone! Thanks for the new thread Mrs_Ed!
Ive got scattered shots I need to go through, will try and post a couple later.

Well the wind has finally subsided, only thing at the feeders today were Downy's. Did go down by the Bay again (only 3 miles).

Gull's were all over.

Cormorants were a little closer this time.

Canada Geese

Got a quick shot of an immature Bald Eagle.