DAILY PICS VOL. #276

Thanks for the new thread Linth and what a terrific start with the Pileated. Those photos are awesome!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your birds..this is such an great place to visit and I so enjoy every photo shared here.

It is wet and muddy here but the bitter cold has left...thank goodness. It has been overcast the past few days but yesterday the Pileated returned to the back yard as well as an American Kestrel. The Kestel emptied the yard for the time it was here but what a gorgeous bird to see while sitting at my computer.

I put out meal worms yesterday for the first time since early fall and immediately had 5 Bluebirds show up for the offering. Amazing how smart birds are!

Here is an Eastern Bluebird from a few days ago...

The Mourning Doves were gathering at the brush pile the last time I visited.

"Lucy" the leucistic Cardinal is still around.

This Red-bellied landed so close I cut off the tail so decided to just do a close up of him.

Last one is a White-throated Sparrow.

Rose, what a fantastic group of beautiful birds!! Your photos are so clear and colorful. Plus, I'm so jealous that you're not only seeing the Pileated but the Kestrel too! My goal this year is to just see and photograph a kestrel. Everyone tells us they're all over, but I have yet to see one. Love that close-up of the red-bellied!!

I've only seen a kestrel in england. I was in a car driving, but could tell it as it was hovering.

Thanks Duc! I have seen the Kestrel land in the yard several times in the past 2 plus years that I have been addicted to birds but wouldn't you know that it is always on a dull and overcast day. I have yet to get a good shot of one...usually only good enough to confirm ID. They are usually on the power lines up and down our road but when they land in the yard it is always in the dead tree. I wish you luck this year in spotting yours.

This year there has been an abundance of Fox Sparrows at the brush pile and also in the yard. They always look very fat and about to burst!!

Gosh Rose, I think all the birds are at your farm! I am really getting serious Eagle Envy. I see Krestels often when heading into town but I have yet to get a photo of one. I hope I get one of my cameras here soon. I had 3 beautiful does out here this morning right in front of the house and no camera! Meanwhile, I will just enjoy all the pics here! ^_^

The Cedar Waxwings have been talking all day. Hear them when I go outside. I would love to see a Blue Bird out and about too. That would really cheer me up. I am having a bit of the Winter Blues with all the dark days we have had.



This message was edited Jan 16, 2010 2:59 PM

I hope you get one of your cameras soon Nanny...you know that the sun will come out and all the birds you ever wanted to see will show up! You are lucky to have the Waxwings in your area, I haven't seen any for ages. Here is a sight that will surely bring a smile to your face. I put out some beef suet on the dead tree hoping to lure the Pileated...duh...I don't think it is working! LOL!

When the Red Red Robin..........................

Goes Bob Bob Bobbin along.

Great shots everyone!

Rose, Thats what is happening with my suet feeders.

LOL at the starlings Rose!

Rose I have been putting suet out for years and it always stayed untouched and turned black with mold. Now this winter the birds have started eating it. I still have not seen a woodpecker on any of them but the Carolina Wren likes it.

A lot of the Pine Warblers are eating the suet this year.

This year has been unusual because I have higher numbers of Pine Warblers than I have ever seen before.

The Pine Warblers have some problems with some of the feeders. This one lands on this one like a nuthatch.

Although this Brown-headed Nuthatch does better than some others.

When I made this pic I thought it was just another Pine Warbler. When I put it on my computer I started noticing the shape of the head was wrong. The feathers on the wings looked different. I suspected kinglet and when I saw the little spot above the eye I knew it was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I see these down close to water a lot during the winter but this is the first in my yard.

The last for tonight is a male House Sparrow.

Lith, I'm fairly new here so, I haven't seen those photos. They are amazing!!!!!!

OK, the list is too long to comment on everyones pics. I have to say ALL of them are fantastic. You guys must
have some pretty cool cameras. All those closeup, so clear and detailed.

A pretty goldfinch posing for me.

here's another one

How about a couple of sparrows

And this sparrow all alone

A dark eyed junco at the feeder

A golden crown sparrow looking for food

here's another

Finches at the nyger feeder....Look at that fatty. LOL

And a little titmouse

I have to say the pictures sure turn out better against the blue sky then the grey!!!! LOL

Oh boy, what a great start, with the Pileated, Linth. They are beautiful birds.
Great landing shot of the Cormorant, love the Mockinbirds, Warblers, and Kinglets. Hel so nice to see, your wonderful Galahs, so different from ours birds here.
Nanny , sorry your missing out on some great shots, but that camera should be getting there soon, and can't wait to see, what that 20X zoom will do, for you. And hope you get a chance, to get those shots of the Does again.
I went hunting for the Snow Buntings, again today, I didn't see any. It was cloudy and windy, and I think they preferred the woods, instead of the open fields. I was checking the woods as I was driving, and in the bushes, along the road, I spotted this Ruffed Grouse. It was starting to get dark out, when I took this.



This message was edited Jan 16, 2010 11:52 PM

Another pic of the Grouse.

And one on the ground.

Yesterday I was surprised when a juvenile Bald Eagle landed on top of a pickup truck cab, parked in the middle of a major business district. By the time I pulled into the adjoining bank parking lot, the Eagle had jumped down into the box, chasing off a number of ravens. The ravens had found something edable, and the eagle was stealing it. You can see part of a raven above the eagles head.

The eagle is leaving with a sack lunch in hand.

Cropped down to a portrait shot.

Great shots everyone!

Frank, Beautiful Pine Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglet!

Claudcat, Love all your Goldfinch etc.

Burn, So glad you saw the Grouse. Thanks for sharing the pics with us!

Gary, Wow on that Eagle!

Loved everyone's photos. So clear and beautiful.

Gary, talk about being in the right place at the right time! I'm so glad you had the camera with you. The shots are wonderful. Love that close up. Guess the eagle has learned how to get food when the fish are available.

Here's a new bird for my list, a Fox Sparrow. I'm hoping it will come around again for better photos.

One of my White crowned Sparrows.