Daily Photos Vol. #305

That does look like a Kingfisher Lily.

Mrs Ed congratulations on the two lifers!! You sure got great photos of them.

GP, fantastic captures of the red-bellied!! Cute one of the Catbird too, including the rear end!! LOL

Elphaba, love that open mouth of your goldfinch. So cute.

Lily, love your little heron photo.

I was out in the backyard late this afternoon and got a couple of pictures.

The lighting was terrible for this shot but I couldn't resist this Jay getting a drink from the birdbath.

A little female Painted Bunting stopped by. I didn't see the male this afternoon.

Flocks of Laughing Gulls fly over every afternoon at the same time, on their way back to the beach from the landfill.

Another one with not so great light, a little Mourning Dove in some tall grass

A hungry little Cardinal

A bright red male

Last one ...

Pelle it could the the BK. Lin, I love the Jay at the bird bath. Boys, how I wished I can see any type of Buntings. I spotted the Myrtle Warblers more often, saw two today picking on my Pin-oak's catkins. Warblers do that right everyone? They eat on the imerging flowers of pines and oaks?

Here is a Hairy Woodpecker. Not sure if it was calling, it was pecking on the bark of the tree a moment before that. Pic. was taken through the glass window.

Lin, Nice pics! love the male Northern Cardinal along with the female. The Grackle is very handsome!

Lily, Good one! I had a female Hairy Woodpecker show up for suet today. Didn't see my Myrtle Warbler.

A Great Blue Heron in front of the Lorapetatum blossoms. I took this pic. on our boat trip last Sunday.

One of the many pictures I took of the Osprey.

Oh my gosh...so many pics to comment on...but Duc, Your crow shots up there are spectacular! I know not everyone loves them like I do...but I just can't imgaine not having crows and jays.

Mrs. Ed...Congrats on your new birds!!! That little wren is cute!! AND I know how hard it is get and ID those thrushes!


This Downy Woodpecker was enjoying the suet!

I had a mixed photo day. On the one hand, there was a nice shot of an Indigo Bunting and a Cardinal - great contrast.

I have put the caged feeder out in anticipation of the Indigo Buntings arriving in a few weeks!

I was also excited when a Barred Owl landed in front of my picture window.

But then there was sadness when I realized the Owl had caught and was eating a bird - probably one of my birds from my feeder. A big predator in your yard is serious business. You rethink your feeders, nest boxes, everything. Advice is welcome.

Oh, I share your sadness and thought, and I'm rethinking. Sorting out my own feeling. So sorry GG.

plantladylin - pelle did a good job telling what a Lifer is. Here's how I look at it.

I keep a folder that I've named "Birds of 2010".

Now, inside that folder I have a separate folder for each kind of bird species that I photograph. For ex, here are the names of a few on my sub-folders; "Wren, Carolina"; "Cardinal, Northern"; "Woodpecker, Downy"; "Woodpecker, Red-bellied"; etc. As you know, recently I had to create a new Folder, "Woodpecker, Hairy"; Because it was the first time in my life that I ever photoed a Hairy Wp - thus, it was a Lifer for me

So, for me, just seeing it is not enough, I have to snap a pic of a new bird before I say "Lifer".

I love Lifers.

Hack

Thanks Lily. The tree the owl landed in was about 20 feet from my BB nest box. The nest box has been claimed by a pair of BBs, but not occupied. I'm thinking I should move the box a little, so that it is more sheltered by brushy growth. I really don't know. This is my first nesting box, and first owl.

gazergirl - don't be sad, owls gotta eat, too. I guess we just don't like making its job that easy.

Hack

gazergirl, there are plenty of folks who can give you good advice here. It's only my 2nd season with nesting bluebirds, so I really can't give any advice.

I sure hope to see some Indigos this year. I had a few Painted Buntings last year. I sure hope they come back.

I was finally able to check my BB nestbox and there were 6 eggs in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo! I also relocated my mealworm feeder and I have seen Pappa BB feeding from it a couple of times. I'm pretty sure the eggs were laid within the last 4-5 days. How long will it be until I have hatchlings?

Great pics everyone! Three more lifers yesterday-- Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Summer Tanager and Townsend's Solotaire.
A pic of the Black-bellied duck. No pics of the other two.

A pair of White-winged Doves.

A Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

Wonderful pics here guys!!!

Lily, Love the Great Blue Heron in front of the blossoms. The Osprey looks great!

Nanny, Nice Downy pic! I agree about the Crows!

Gazer, That is such a great shots with the Cardinal and Indigo Bunting! The Owl is awesome but I understand how you feel about him getting the birds. Is there cover (such as bushes) near the feeder so the birds can dive into? That's all I could recommend. Keep us posted.

Missy, Congratulations on the 6 eggs!!!!! Incubation is 12-14 days from day it is laid. Don't know if you have this site but it's great for Bluebirds.
http://www.sialis.org/index.html

Congrats Red on the 3 new birds! Nice pics!



This message was edited Apr 7, 2010 8:45 AM

Thanks Red, for sharing those pictures. GG, my heartstring was pulled when my one and only Baltimore Oriole which has overwintered here left to migrate North this past week. Let's along seeing any little one goes missing. I wanted so much to add more feeders, birdhouses and such to offer a friendly place for our feathered friends. But, I'm now rethinking, and want to do more study on how I can improve the safety of these wild life friends. Like Pelle has explained, low shrubery in the vicinity provides safe place for birds to hide from pradators, I do have plenty of Azaleas perennial vines and such for them. I'm still nervous though, because like Hack has mentioned. Owls need to eat too. Nature is -- should I say very wild out there.

Good morning everyone!

Lily: I just love your shot of the Heron on the dock with the pretty Lorapetalum in the background. Sorry I missed the Hairy WP but I love that tree! I love trees as much as the birds perching in them.

Nanny: Great shot of the little Downy at the suet feeder.

gazergirl: Love the shot of blue & red together. I love Cardinal's even though they are in abundance down here. I've never seen an Indigo Bunting and they are really pretty. Love the Barred Owl and though it's sad to see him eating a bird, it's all part of nature. I got some pic's a month or so ago of a Hawk eating a dove in my backyard. I felt so sad about the dove bur realized the hawk has to eat too and I guess they don't like what we put in the feeders. Regarding your Bluebird nest box ... I don't think BB's will use it if it's in an area with a lot of brush. I don't have BB nest boxes but I've always read that you have to mount them at a distance from trees or shrubbery to deter predators. My sister had a few on her property and they were out in an area away from all trees and shrubs and she always got BB's raising families. She also had a problem one year with wasps building nests inside one of her BB houses.

Missy: Love your photo of the little BB peeking out! Here's some info re: hatching etc: http://www.prescottbluebird.com/faq.html

Reddirttree: Great pic's ... love the white winged doves, they are really beautiful! And, a great shot of the Ladderback WP, I've never seen one of those before, a pretty WP!

I was out early this a.m. and spotted a little Painted Bunting female at one of the feeders. The Buntings only seem to feed early morning or late afternoon/early evening. Within minutes of me filling the feeders there were so many squirrels in all of the feeders and all over the ground, I'm surprised there was anything left for the birdies.

Hack: I like the idea of having organized Folders. I did something similar a few years ago for all the plants I grow. I would print out information for each plant and file it in the proper folder. The file box got so packed there were stacks and stacks of stuff on top. I finally realized I wasn't ever referring back to any of it like I thought I would because it's so easy to just look up the info on the internet and I had pic's of all my plants on my laptop, so I recycled all the folders and paper and now I have an empty file box. It sure is exciting seeing a new bird for the first time and I love the term "Lifer" for them!

The Bluejays zoom in as soon as I put out peanuts. This one was waiting.

Depspite the number of Birds of Prey that live here they really don't feed in my yard very often at all. But I am located in an area with lots of natural habitat. I don't fret about the occasional meal they get here. Whjat really make sme mad though is when a cat takes a bird. That was another reason for getting a pole system for the orioles.

Missy ...congrats on the BB eggs!!

Got the male Downy later in the day!!

and and pretty Starling....

Yes, nature works its mysterious way! Just as I type. A hawk swoop down, I wasn't quick enough to capture a pic. It missed, then I turned around and this chipping Sparrow was recovering from the un-welcomed visitor from a tree branch below. That's the reason why I viewed Crows to be "mothering hens" good guys -- for they warn others birds when Birds of Prey are in the area. By the way, not very many birds at my feeder this morning, undoubtedly the crows are doing their policing jobs, and that danger is still lurking outthere.

Congrats to those that has BB's eggs. How exciting for you. Lin, agreed on the Blue Bird's preffering open-area to frequent. My neighbor (one of mine) has success with hosting Blue Birds, her setting is more open, unlike mine. So far BB only came to visit my suet feeder, but rejected the poor-housing (chuckles) that I've to offer. lol (Smart birds).

Nan, I've yet gotten a close up pic. of those pretty, sleek, colorful Starlings. Nice shot!

(pic. of the chipping sparrow will follow).

Love your Painted Bunting Lin!

Nanny, Great shots of the beautiful male Downy and Starling!

...it could be a White Throat Sparrow. :-) By now, all danger has passed. Bird are returning to feeder, even my Cardinals are taking their breaks (at the feeder) between their chasing-excercise routine outdoor.

Finally I got a nice shot at the Redheaded Woodpecker. They're back and apparently are rebuilding their nest. Last year I witnessed a brood or two of the young ones. Hope for a repeat this year.

Lily, You are really blessed with so many wonderful birds! That is a nice shot!

Nanny, great shots of the male Downy and that Starling. Regarding cats and our beautiful songbirds: My husband and I are real cat lovers with only one in the household at present but once had five, they all grew old and so we are left with just one. Our cats have been strictly indoor cats for many years. It's natural instinct for cats to hunt and kill birds and small animals. I know stray and feral cats will go after birds for a necessary meal but even well fed pet cats still have that hunting instinct and will pounce on a perched bird if given the chance. I know a lot of folks feel pet cats should be free to be outside in the fresh air and nature, but we decided long ago to have only indoor cats after having one poisoned, one hit by a car and one disappearing never to be found. Cats live longer, happier, healthier lives when kept indoors. We had one live to be 24, a couple of others lived to be @20 and last year we lost two with age related issues that were 17.

Lily: That Red-headed WP is gorgeous, what a great shot! You sure do have a large variety of our flying friends in your area!

Thanks Lin and Pelle. Indeed I'm very grateful. I appreciate all the helpful insight shared by many a nature-lovers friends here in DG. I've learned a great deal about many bird species and learn to respect wildlife, more so now than ever. Many thank also go to Resin who has helped identifying many of the birds that I saw.

An Eastern King Bird stopped by to confirm Resin's statement yesterday (a pic. on another thread). This time the bird came very close and perch on my Willow for a good look. lol. I've noticed it didn't sing like my Phoebe, nor its tail bobbing up and down. And its shiny white belly. It did catch flies in mid air like the Phoebe does though.