Daily Photo's Volume #304

We just came from http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1085004/

I want to start with a LIFER for me. This is my first pic of an Indigo Bunting.

Hack

This is the first time I've gotten the two crests, of a Double-crested Cormorant. They look like "ears" to me. Resin called the crests to my attention on the ID Forum

Hack

Congratulations on the indigo bunting sighting. Nice bird and nice picture.

Thanks, sunfarm. I was thrilled to see it AND have my camera, too.

This little Carolina Wren landed on the ramp to me storage shed in the back yard.

Hack

I've been trying to figure out the difference between a Common Grackle and a Boat-tailed Grackle. I think this one is a Common G. Mainly because the B-t G lives along the east coast, about 100 miles east of me. If anyone can help out with this dilemma, I'd appreciate it.

I think this is a Common Grackle.

Hack

One of the books said that the Common grackle has a crease on its tail. I guess this is what it meant.

Hack

Hack, thank you for a new thread. I'm so happy for you on your first sighting of the Indigo Bunting. That also gives me hope I could likely see one soon in the near future. I was longing and wondering if my Red Headed Woodpeckers has deserted their nest (last year nest), since lately I only saw the charming Redbellied Woodpeckers around. I saw some comotion on the tree top. Shot at the trees, not knowing then this sweet guy/gal was in the picture.

Nice start Hack!! Congrats on the Indigo Bunting too! They are one of my favorite summer birds here.


Not a good photo but I tracked down an Eastern Towhee this morning!

One more bad shot...got go!

Hey Lily, since you're not too far from me, keep your eyes open for the Indigo Bunting. I was outside at the perfect moment, else I would never have seen it. So, there's really no telling what birds pay us visits and we never know. Now, on another note, I searched and searched, but never could find the Wp in your pic. Help me out.

nanny_56 - Thanks and nice capture of the Eastern Towhee. Yesterday, I had one pay me a visit. I think I put it on thread #303.

Hack

Nan, I love those Towhees. Hack, I witnessed the Carolina Wren puffed up its feathers, spread out its wings and loudly called (for his mate?). I wasn't quick enough to snap a picture then. But it was umm, funny.

I think this maybe a White Throat Sparrow, stretching his neck out searching for insects among the branches.

Tehehehe, we all gonna be crossed eyes staring at my distance shots. lol. Hack, see the Pine tree in the middle? Just above the V-fork to your left, keep your gaze up a few inches up. There is the WP.

Hack, thanks for the new start. Congratulations on the Indigo Bunting. Wow, perfect timing for you! Also, congrats on the crests showing on your cormorants. I was just able to get my first picture of the crest showing a couple weeks ago and I've been seeing these birds since I was a kid. One of my books said the "crests are seldom evident". Great job. Love that grackle and the wren.

Nanny, cute towhee. I love their colors.

Duc, I'm looking forward to seeing some of your 'resident' birds. DH is taking me out for a boat ride. I hope we can spot some more 'lifers' in a bit. I'll post and share some pictures this evening. Ohh, I just got a close up shot of a Brown Thrasher, but will post it soon.

Yesterday we had a break in the storms. The snow melted and it stopped raining for awhile. I threw 2 cups of mixed seed, 1 cup of safflower seeds and 1 cup of thistle seed on the front driveway. In less than a minute there were 2 dozen Juncos, 6 Spotted Towhees, 10 Steller's Jays, 2 Scrub Jays, 8 Calif. Quail and 1 Fox Sparrow chowing down.

(Steller's Jay)

The Juncos really went for the thistle.

Spotted Towhee.

Mourning Dove.

I've never seen this before. Normally the other birds give the Quail a wide berth.

Last but not least a Fox Sparrow.

Hack...what a beautiful start for the new thread with that great shot of an Indigo!! Nice going on the Cormorants too...I didn't know they were crestedf!!

Nanny...congrats on getting those shots of the Towhee...I have yet to get one in the past year!!

Lily...I saw the Red-head...Congratulations! I am still looking for one. I think the other bird is a Myrtle Warbler (or whatever they call them now),

Adel...Wow...very impressive selection and very nice shots. Glad the snow is all gone and spring is on it's way finally.

dellrose..............It started snowing again about ten minutes ago. The Juncos are still looking for food, so I threw some thistle seed on the front porch under cover and they are chowing down on it.

Sorry to hear that Adel...hopefully it won't last long. Glad the Juncos and other birds have you!

Here is a very long shot of an Eastern Phoebe that is hanging out at the barn they nested in two years ago.

Also...the Barn Swallows did a fly-thru the barn this morning..yippee!!

Great start Hack! Congratulations on the new bird (Indigo Bunting)! LOL on the crests or ears! :-) Thanks for starting the new thread!

Great shots everyone!!

Hack: great start for this thread! I have only seen an indigo bunting twice in my life...and it was fleeting at that! Congrats!!

Adel....my condolences on the snow. We occasionally get snow in April and it is always a bummer after a long winter.

My male blue bird has been so sweet to his lady these past few days. He takes meal worms to her where she is perching. Today, he was feeding her at the dish....and I actually had my camera in my hand for a change! It's not the greatest photograph as I was rushing to get it in focus before they took off.......

Congrats on the Indigo, Hack...maybe it was one of the birds that spent the winter here. Here are a couple of Grackles.

Mourning Dove.

And a collage of some more birds. Indigo Bunting, Catbird, Osprey, Blue Jay and Cardinal. This evening I heard and saw a Baltimore Oriole, but not close enough for a pic.

Thanks everyone for the "high five" on the Indigo Bunting capture. I may never see one again, but I at least I got it once.

Lily_love - I see it, about half way up, between the two swirls of branches - right where you said to look.

adelbertcat - I can't believe it is snowing on you. I enjoyed viewing your pics, but I'd give the Blue Ribbon to that Steller's Jay.

dellrose - I didn't know they were crested either - I thought I had my another LIFER. Resin assisted me.

sacarvounis - Nice shot of the male blue bird feeding his lady.

gardenpom - Nice color on your Grackles. And there's that "looking upward" behavior. I saw a few of mine doing that today, also. I think I read that that is a courting behavior (I guess for males?). AND nice collection of birds in your collage.

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I took some pics today, but have got to work on them before posting. I'll probably make some collages to show several at once.

Hack

Forgot this pic of the Mockingbird on the top of the Holly tree.

Hack, the nice capture on the "double ears" Cormorants, great catch. Duc, I'm glad you gave an accurate I.D. on the Myrtle Warbler, hey that's a lifer for me. I'm pleased.
Adel, Never have I seen a Steller's Jay, nor Juncos, nor Spotted Towhee (I see Eastern Towhees of course here). I have yet to see a Fox Sparrow. But boys! Did I see a a real House Sparrow at Wally World's parking lot (at their garden center) today. I had to take a double-take on the striking bird. It does have an aura (meanny look) about it. Though pretty nevertheless.

GP, nice Grackles, I haven't been able to catch them just right under the sun light. Love your sweet Mockingbird on top of the Holly tree.

Rose Wanna see mass nesting Barn Swallows made? I was mesmerized at the sight, not only I saw the many nests but I get to watch the parent birds flying back and forth feeding the chicks and hearing the little chicks cried out for food. They sure were a noisy crowd, but a welcoming ones. The nests are made under a bridge;

Oh, a Brown Thrasher pic. at close up as I've mentioned earlier.

gardenpom -Nice pic of the Mockingbird at the top of the Holly tree.

Lily_love - Did you know that a Myrtle Warbler is just the eastern form of a Yellow-rumped Warbler?

Hack

Here are the birds I saw today.

The is a composite of two kinds of Sparrows; Chipping and White-throated.

Hack

Here's a collage of a Carolina Wren. It must have been interested in something under and ramp up to my shed.

Hack

Here's a collage of a Mockingbird on a limb before it fly down to feed among the grass. Frankly, I don't think I've ever seen a Mocker do that - feed on the ground.

Hack

Nice ones of the Chipping Sparrow and White Throated Sparrow, Hack. Those Carolina Wrens, they're quite chatty aren't they?

Oooh, thanks for the Warbler distinction. So your Y-r Warblers are migrant that passing by?

Lily_love - Thanks. Yep, those Carolina Wrens are noisy little buggers.

Here's Mama Red-belly Wp coming down to feed on the suet.

Hack

Lily, I guess they're passing through. The other variety is called an Audobon and it is west of us. Folks in Texas might see both varieties.

Hack