Quick-Shots 4-26-2010

Thanks Nanny! Thats what we got here right now ..Barred Owls .. And they have been quite verbal ( Even during the day) for about 2-3 weeks now, Love hearing them!

When we first moved here and I found out there were owls, I looked into putting up owl houses for them. In my reading what I came across was that the Barred Owl is one that doesn't tolerate the presence of humans very well close to their nesting site. So I nixed the plan. But I get to hear them and see them from time to time and that is good. Can creep you out at night since they do not fly very high!

This message was edited Apr 29, 2010 8:27 AM

Nanny, They normally don't like to nest near people, But here, They had an article a short time back about how they have been nesting in the trees behind the niehbors house (across the street from my house) for years! And it's loaded with house where I live... It's a sub-division nieghborhood! And guess what?! Are you ready for this?!! This evening, I was siting outside waiting to get a pic of the hummer and I kept hearing the owl, (I heard them on and off most of the day) I didn't hear him for a few minutes, But, I did hear all the birds gathering and screaching up a storm on the side of me in the nieghbors trees, And I knew exactly why they were doing it!! I got up and tried looking through the branches, but, Didn't see where he was at, All I could see was all the other birds flting around and putting up quite a ruckus ( Even the Bluebirds) I knew if I could find where the birds were flying at that I could find the owl, I seen one spot where it was shadowed and looked like a huge bird and I thought , That can't be him, It was too big.... But, Guess what , It WAS him!!
He flew right out past me going the other way! I couldn't believe the size of this one!! It was the Biggest Barred owl I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!! And I just missed getting a photo of him!! Thats a shot I would have loved to get, but, I missed out by a few minutes!!!!!!! Was still happy to have gotten to see him though!! It surprises me that here in the South, I have seen and heard the Barred and Screech Owl more during the day, Early evening hours then at night! It doesn't creep me out to see them at anytime, Even night, I just love the owls! We used to go Owl prowling and calling them in and it worked quite a few times, We even had one land on the car once one night!
Got a few photos today ( Actually, Yesterday evening, It's 1:45 AM right now) ...

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Very nice thread IRIS! Nice variety you have. Nice capture of your bird (Whitehawk)! I,m having a hard time trying to Id that bird...the best I can do is a leucistic Merlin but cant be for sure.

Thanks! I was pretty sure it was an albino hawk? But, If you come up with something, Let me know. got a ton of different birds here right now, Just haven't had the time to catch there photos, but, I will!

Great shots Iris! Your Bluebirds are looking very content.

Nice ones!

LOL at the owl story...Once I was walking in the early evening....and I heard this bird just having a fit. I finally found saw it ..some little bird. Anyway I am watching and just wondering what the heck was its problem....silly little bird. I finally turned just a bit to my left and looked up right ther not more than 3 feet in another tree was this big Barred Owl. No wonder that little bird was having such a fit!!

I watch the crows since always mob the hawks and owls.

Thanks pelletory!
Nanny, 3 feet is close, You must have gotten such a great look at him! It is a little scarry when you don't expect to see one and then when you turn and look there is one right in front of you!! lol! The small birds mob the hawks and owls too when they are in the trees but the crows ( And some others) chase them in flight. Anytime the birds are acting odd here, I always know somethings going on just the sounds they make. I'm always worried that one of these times I'm going to see a snake going in the nestbox and then I'll have to become and instant snake wrestler!! Those Doggon Racers are huge here so I'm hoping it doesn't happen! lol! Hubby seen whitehawk today, He said he was sitting by the fence and whiehawk swooped down just a few feet away from him behind the shed and got something.

Nice thread Iris, a wonderful way to share our joy and thought on various birds. The Eastern Blue Birds are beautiful to see. Nan, I'm glad to hear that Crows mob the big bad raptors, they have to eat too. But I'm glad there are 'warriors' out there to deter those getting too close to the little guys feeding grounds. I saw two crows chasing a Hawk for the first time a couple days ago. I couldn't believe my eyes--glad you mentioned they do indeed chase after big birds.

Iris, we cross posted. It's fascinating to watch their (birds') behavior. For instance, this Redheaded Woodpecker--would loudly protest when it arrived at the feeder this morning and found a grackle was there first. It bobs its head up and down and "screamed" at the grackle to get lost. lol. And the Grackle flew off.

OMG...I would lose it if I saw a snake going for the box....

Nan, I'm snake shy too! I saw a wee bit-size snake the other day while gardening. I quickly ran inside hoping to get a pix for I.D. but failed at it. Since then I was a little timid getting back out there and plant all annuals -- afraid that little snake still is around. Yike!

On the other hand, I do know we've moles and voles in the garden. If it were a water snake, or the harmless non-venomuous snake will keep the rodents in check.

I finally got some pics of the chickadees zipping in and out of the box to feed the babies. I have a new respect for pelle and the other who post pics of chickadees. These little birds are fast when they zip in and out of the box!

Nice one ladybug!!
They really are fast, the female here is especially fast in and out of the box. A lot of times I only get her tail when she's zipping in. :-)

You aren't kidding. I have yet able to capture a good pix of them at the feeder, let alone at the nest. :-)

I just saw a Carolina Wren hops hops on the ground away from the nest. Then comes a Brown Thrasher was also hops hops from another corner of the garden. Guess who the agressor was when the two collided? The tiny tinsy bit little wren of all thing! LOL.

Nice one ladybug_pc! They really are tuff little buggers to catch in action, Good job!

( I know you are going to get one Lily_love!)

Those little wrens can be quite aggressive to other birds, Got to be carefull when there are wrens and bluebirds wanting the same box ( Even when the bluebirds already have babies) last evening, I literally seen a cardnal (male) fly in a knock a sparrow right off the feeder, I was quite surprised to see that.

Ok, I'm a newbie at this. Could you help and explain what the differences b/w house wrens and Carolina Wrens please.

Hi Lily, I'm not sure if you mean physical or their habits.

Here is a page on the Carolina Wren- http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Wren/id They have a white eyebrow which is one of the differences from the House Wren

Here is the House Wren- http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Wren/id

A page from Sialis. The House Wrens will destroy eggs in other birds nests and even sometimes remove small chicks / newborns dumping them outside the nest box.

http://www.sialis.org/wrens.htm

Pelle, the two do look similiar to untrained eyes (HOWR vs Carolina). I think the ones that nest in my front rose arbor's gourd nest are Carolina Wrens. These were the Wrens that bumped the Brown Thrasher. Both birds were nesting. Wrens in the front, and Brown Thrasher in a shrub to the side yard. I hope they're good neighbors that just had a little minor disagreement. lol.

Carolina Wrens are usually very sweet birds.

The House Wrens don't normally come to feeders, I've never seen them eat anything besides insects.

Ah eating habit-- another distinction between the two. Thanks Pelle.

Their voices are much different too, you can listen to them at the first 2 links I posted. :-)

I believe this is a carolina wren ...

The baby Bluebirds have flown the coop! There was one that choose to fly to one of my feeders today ...

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Daddy BB was keeping an eye out at all times .. He was on the feeder hangers watching the baby...

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The baby finally flew to an oak tree.. (Blending in quite well) and then finally flew up higher into another tree ..

Beautiful shots of the precious bub on that gorgeous feeder, Iris

Iris, These shots are just wonderful!!!
The baby is so adorable looking around from the feeder!