Daily Pics, Vol 288

We have v=both grey & red squirrels around. Don't use a try or platform feeder so not to attract them. I don't mind if they eat seeds off the ground.

Duc, Good job on the flying raptor shots!

Good Luck Lily!

Hi adel, My squirrels eat off the ground too. Everything is baffled. Cute pic!

The Great Backyard Bird Count photo contest displays a few hundred out of the many thousands of entries received each year. I just had to gloat a little, because this is the third year in a row, I have had a photo selected for display. I have to admit though, I never make the list of finalist.

This photo was just added to the GBBC display, in the last couple of hours.

Yesterday was only the second time all winter I was able to take photos of Waxwings. Last summers berry crop was a failure, in this area. There just isn't enough food to keep them in the area. This is the view of the yard diagonally across the street yesterday morning. The Bohemian Waxwings returned to clean up the few scraps of crab apples remaining under the tree. The seed crop was a bust also. I haven't seen any Redpolls or Pine Siskins all winter. Very little to be taking pictures of this winter.

Congratulations Gary! That is a shame about the berry crop failure.

Grasmussen - Congratulations on the great image and the honor.

I was able to watch a few Kestrels this afternoon on the way home from work. This one flew down and snagged a grasshopper as I approached and returned to its perch on the light wire. The expression is one I think I would have if required to eat grasshoppers.

nice. I didn't know they ate bugs.

Good one JH!!

I love all your pictures!!! I have been invaded with a flock of goldfinches. I understand they will fatten up on my feeders and then head north LOL At least they will be full....about to eat me out of house and home!! I have never seen so many before. These aren't the best pictures but I was taking them inside my breakfast room so I wouldn't scare them off.

Here they are on the ground underneath the feeders.

One more picture.

Welcome Flipflops. Tehehehe, I know what you meant by being eaten out of the house. Goldfinches hang around my area for several weeks now. Elsewhere their coloring has deepened but yours and mine still looking about the same. I saw a male purple finch passed a piece what looks like a straw to one of the goldfinch. I thought to myself; hmmmm will they nest here too? I'm new and not sure what their nesting habit is like in our area.

Wonderful thread. Nice to come and look at all your pics.
Burd, you might be right about it being a Merlin, I had one in my yard a few years ago. I had forgotten about that Merlin visiting my yard.
I went by the size of the bird, comparing it to Cooper's and just assume it was a Sharp-shinned. I can't tell either from my book. Maybe Resin, if you have a chance can you help us out?

This little Downy came for a visit this afternoon.

And the Blue Jay stopped by also.

It was feeding frenzy for a while here this afternoon.

The female Hairy was coming back and forth and was trying all the feeders.

She even nibble on the tree.

The invasion!!

And the American Goldfinch.

Ooops, here it is.

Mourning Doves.

2dCousinDave - great start to a new thread and I love the capture on the R-w Blackbirds. Looks like there's gonna be a collision. And that BB, the one staring at the camera is great.

Elphaba - I really like the framing in the Pine Warbler in what looks like a Long-leaf pine.

jhowdy - your Belted Kingfisher is nice. Good capture. And that Kestrel was really something!

Lily_love - You BB looks good, a bit ruffled, though

GrannyGrunt - my wife was walking by and said "Oh, I like that one" - referring to your pretty female Cardinal.

nanny_56 - Apolo, your male Red-bellied Wp, is laid back taking it easy. And that Tufted Titmouse is a keeper!

linthicum - I like that White-breasted Nuthatch. I've only seen one - ever. And nothing poses like a male Northern Cardinal. And that female Red-bellied Woodpecker with the peanut looked so happy that I went and bought me some raw peanuts today.

dirt_in_ozone7b - nice collection of a trio of woodpeckers.

Burd_Fotos - lots of great pics - expecially number two of the Yellow-rumped Warbler - looks like mine.

pelletory - wow, you all are still getting snow, bummer. Today it was cold but no rain - now if my yard will just dry up. Nice pic of the Cardinals, BTW.

Resin - wow, they are that tame, cool. The Eider sure is a pretty bird - duck?

ducbucln - oh, yeah, that certainly is a red tail. Pretty.

adelbertcat - Uh, oh, one of them tree rats done found your bell.

Grasmussen - is that gorgeous bird a Bohemian Waxwing? Congrats on the selection, you deserve it!

FlipFlops - I live in Columbus and I was overwhelmed with Goldfinches a few days ago also.

burn_2007 - this morning I have my own invasion of Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Hack

Well, I got me another LIFER. Resin made the call over on the ID Forum. Red-winged Blackbirds. Males and females. In the pic, the males are on the right side.

Hack

The bigmos nailed this Pine Warbler.

Caught this female House Finch landing on the feeder.

Hack

Nice looking male Cardinal.

Hack

This male House Sparrow was on the neighbor's roof.

Hack

I don't know what this Mockingbird was hollering about.

Hack

And for my last one tonight - here's a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. I heard him before I saw him.

Hack

Its nice to come home from work and see what's been going on else where! Great shots everyone!!!

FlipFlops, Love all your Goldfinch! Nice pics!

Burn, Nice variety and good shots! My female Downy finally showed up yesterday.

Hack, Good shots. Congrats on the new bird!

Gee...do you guys ever sleep? I'm gone one day and this thread is loaded again with all your lovely birds...nice going everyone!

Congrats Gary on your beautiful photo and Hack congrats on the new bird. I notice yesterday the RW Blackbirds are starting to gather in the trees and make their racket.

We might get sun this week...whatever that is...in the meantime here's a shot of the really mean female Red-bellied Woodpecker. She is warning a Starling to keep away from the peanut feeder.

We have a pair of Carolina Wrens and the other day DH got a load of wood and stacked it across from the kitchen window...I was not a happy camper until I discovered how much the birds love it. I think they've inspected every piece of wood out there.

another

Last one.

Delrose - It's interesting how quickly a stack of wood can become its own little eco system. My birds keep the creepy crawlers picked free in my pile. Great CW checking out the stack

Hack - The Mockingbird is definately upset about the rest of the action at your place. They sure don't know how share!

I was focusing on Mrs. Bluebird when we both saw a shadow fly across the yard.

One of the many Slate-colored Juncos I've had this year. I have about as many lighter ones as the dark that normally visit here. Juncos are confusing, about 16 or so different sub-species. This one looks like it might be a Gray-headed. Maybe Resin or someone can comment. I saw one yesterday with white wing bars, but couldn't get a pic of it.

Here's a sure sign of Spring! The bluebirds occasionally sit on the box through the winter but the male starts staking it out in earnest towards the end of the winter:

C'mon spring! Just the thought of BBs nesting in spring that makes me smile. I'll try to host some this year. Hope there will be more pics. to share later.

Gary, sorry to hear about the crop failure. Your pic. of the Bohemian Waxwings is quite impressive!

Burn, your Downy WP seems too busy there.

Hack, love your Pine Warbler.

Rose the C.Ws. look happy patrolling the fire-logs.

Red. congrats on the Mrs. BB & I wished I get to see just one specie of Juncos here....so far none. :I

This message was edited Feb 17, 2010 10:11 AM