Daily Pics. Volume 331

Those juveniles are really cute duc!

Yes, it is hot and humid in North TX. But we got out for a walk in Woodruff Park, Plano, this a.m. Saw a few interesting birds. Highlights PRT Warblers, Summer Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, GH Owl, and a pair of Painted Buntings. Pic of the male bunting.

The Juvie House Finch is really really young. Papa is here to teach her how it's done; she flapped her wings, and he came running. :-)

Red, I meant to say the male Bunting is beautimus! What's a colorful, beautiful bird!

Close up of the parent-child portrait. ^_^

GG, those pictures you took of the Grackles bathing were really nice. I so enjoy watching birds bath.
Nanny, I was hoping to see some Purple Martins this year, it didn't happen. I notice you get a lot of shots of them on the beach.
Little- thing, what a thrill that must of been, seeing that Whale . Not very many people, gets to see that from their porch. That Hoopoe is very nice. congratulation on your Forest Canary.
Rose that a fabulous shot of the Dickcissel, on the sunflower, the colors goes so well together.
It would be lovely to see a Kookabourra and hear them, Margaret.
Nice to see Lord Byron again Lily. Great capture of the parent House Finch feeding baby.
Duc love how you got that shot of the Crow. And the confused juvie Oriole. It's interesting to see the expressions too.
Beautiful colorful bird, so great your able to see those beauty. Red

Another yellow bird, the Yellow Warbler.

The young Chickadee, shows no fear of me.

I sure missed my computer, but the hard wood floor looks great and the wheelchair just glides across it. You guys really moved.

I only have 4 pics to share.

The first two pics are of a male Robin at the Bird Bath.

Here he's looking to my left.

Hack

I don't believe he could have looked any straighter at me.

Hack

I used to think that the bright yellow of a male Goldfinch was a disadvantage, but I when it lands up in the leaves, with some of the leaves reflecting bright sunlight, it really blends in quite well.

But on the feeder, its a "sitting duck"

Hack

I have a couple of Blue Jays who visit every day. Here's one of them.

Hack

Hack, that is one gorgeous Goldfinch! Glad your floors turned out well. My photo for the day was of a Red-headed Woodpecker. I had spotted a RHWP, 2 days ago, excavating a new nest. Today I got the pictures I wanted. Here is a pic from the first day I noticed the pair working on the nest. You can see that the tree has been topped (probably by Katrina) and there are nest holes that have been dug out.

Today I got a good shot of the new nest hole.

here he/she has its head in the nest hole.

gazergirl, I wanted to see if I could get a better look at your RHWP, so I used Elements 7 to tweak your pic.

That is one pretty bird.

Hack

This message was edited Jun 23, 2010 11:41 PM

Hack ,that robin was giving you the EYE !!! too funny,got time to do another floor ?? ...LOL I was wondering where you were...

Red, that Bunting is such a beautiful bird.

Lily, that baby finch already has captured dad's heart. Cute!

Burn, great photo of the Goldfinch. I especially enjoy seeing that Yellow Warbler. Such a pretty setting for a photo.

Hack, welcome back, we missed you. Glad the new floor makes it easier for you to get around. Love that straight on picture of the Robin. That Jay sure is pretty, same with the Goldfinch.

Gazer, you're so lucky to be seeing those wps and now you'll soon be enjoying the little ones. Hack did a great job of lighting up your photo.

I found this Green Heron at our local state park yesterday.

Still not as clear as Margaret's or Pete's photos, but I checked on one of our Osprey nests yesterday and found there was still a family on the nest.

You can see at least one baby under mom.

The photo didn't come out, will try again.

I got this picture of another Osprey on a nest with an Acorn Woodpecker on the granary.

We're pretty sure this younger Osprey was born last year. It flew from the nest to a tree limb just above us and I had to back up to take a picture. It continued to eat on the remains of a fish while we stood below and enjoyed watching the bird.

Oh Duc, those pictures took my breath away!!! What wonderful time to be had to see all those beauties in nature. I love, love that pic. of the Osprey nesting right next to the Acorn WP's storage tank. Do those WPs nest there too? Duc, agreed, the Finches pix is a keeper. Such sweet moment in the bird's world.

Burn, I so enjoyed those yellow birds, both the Warbler, and Goldfinch. I'm glad you're glad to see Lord Byron. I kept thinking to myself. One of these days, they will leave the nest, or the tree will succumb to nature deteroriation process and falls. I'll miss their presence in the garden terribly. So I'm thankful everyday that I get to see them.

Hack, welcome back my friend. I was missing you and your posting too. I'm pleased to know you're (pleased) with your renovation project was a success... Back to the topic at hand, I'm glad you've shared BJ and Robins pics. Believe me, I'm still trying to attract Robins and Blue Jays to the feeder without avail. Do your Goldfinch stay there with you all through spring? Mine have left, only a few will pass by every now and then. I bought some raw unshelled peanuts for the birds, thus far no taker? So I move the 'feeder' to a different location. Wish me lucks everyone.

Red Bellied WP at the feeder, I'm not sure if this is Mitch (short for Mitchell), or his offspring. A pretty bird regardless. :-)

Gosh darn...with the girls here I just get to pop in a couple times a day....but I do look! I do have to comment on ducs silly crow....that is sooo funny! And man, Rian, that is so cool that you saw a whale jumo like that from your porch! Whale sighting is on my BUCKET LIST!!!

I think this is a male juvie Red-winged Blackbird. I found a bunch in a small pond that is down by the lake. I was very happy since there were what seemed to be several fledglings around!!



This message was edited Jun 24, 2010 4:32 PM

Close encounter with a White-breasted Nuthatch!

This bird favors the White-eyed Vireo

I'm back, Thanks all for the "Welcome backs", it's nice to be missed. And huggergirl I'm done with the floor business. We had to unload all our bookcases, break-down the computer, empty my gun cabinet, disconnect my stereo system, take all the lower-hanging clothes out of the master bedroom closet. The floor installers then moved the empty furniture around as they ripped out the carpet and laid down the hardwood floor. We're gonna be putting stuff back for a while.

burn_2007 - the Cedar Waxwing is a great start to the new thread great composition. AND I liked the Chipping Sparrow, too

Little_things - wow, your birds from S. Africa are a treat to see. But I thought the African Hoopoe was cool looking.

VA_Wild_Rose - Those little Green Herons are precious.

ducbucln - You sure did a great job capturing those Bushtits. AND you know that photo didn't come out, the one you tried again - well, its a beauty - loved it. AND what are you feeding that crow?

thebestmissy - congrats on the White-eyed Vireo lifer. I've never seen one.

Wow, MargaretK - that shot of the Kookaburra is crystal clear.

GrannyGrunt - link to the other pics of the bathing Grackle worked great. Well done.

dellrose - great pic of the Dickcissel, I've never seen one.

reddirtretiree - your male Painted Bunting is beautiful.

Lily_love - with you being in Central AL, I'd think that BJ's and Robins would be regular visitors. I do nothing special. Though, I have noticed that after a rain, while my yard is soaking wet, the Robins are numerous - getting worms, I reckon. I see one or 2 BJ's everyday. Both will loudly announce their presence and then fly from a limb, down to the ground, forage, and then return to a limb, often the same one. I do place whole raw peanuts (in the shell) in my platform feeder and only once have I observed a BJ take one back up to a limb. Usually, Grackles get them, but the Grackle often takes the peanut to the bird bath and works it over there - in the bath - strangest thing to watch.

nanny_56 - Great snaps of the White-breasted Nuthatch. AND I agree with that being a juvy RW Blackbird.

Hack

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We have just renewed our suet cakes after quite a few months. The red bellied wp has been coming to the feeder & hope he likes the new cakes. Glad to see you on line again Hack. I enjoy your reports.

Wow! I love everyone's photos, as always! Too many to comment on individually! They are all great! Hack... welcome back.

Went out a bit today, but our high temp was 101 degrees! I am a lizard when it gets that hot! (Being that lizards crawl under rocks to keep cool in the shade.) Did get a few picks of our Osprey nest... working on the photos now.

Worked this one up first, as I need an ID please.

Thanks!

**Edited to add that it has been ID's as a male Red-breasted Mergnaser.**

This message was edited Jun 25, 2010 12:19 AM

Tehehehehe, did I hear Wild Rose mention Lizard? LOL,lol. I've no idea what that 'duck' real identity is. But it's soooo pretty Wild Rose.

LOL! But he's out in the sun!

Like Lily, I did some looking and I think I found your duck in my National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. I'm thinking your duck is a male Red-breasted Merganser.

Oops, just saw that VA_Wild_Rose beat me to it.

Hack

This message was edited Jun 25, 2010 7:24 AM - is a male Red-breasted Merganser

This message was edited Jun 25, 2010 7:26 AM - VA_Wild_Rose beat me to it - now I know I'm right.

This message was edited Jun 25, 2010 7:28 AM

Here are a few more pics I took.

This Brown Thrasher was cutting loose.

Hack

Female House Finch stretching.

Hack

Here's a male Cardinal, stretching, too.

Hack

My last is a Chipping Sparrow.

Hack

Welcome back Hack! I love all of the wonderful pictures.

I fear I may have to stop feeding for a while. The Grackles have taken over. They empty all of the feeders and suet cages in a day's time. And, they have practically run all of the favored birds off! Here is a shot from Wingscapes taken yesterday morning. It is like this all day long. I put out millet which they do not like, they merely destroy it, but refuse to leave. I have never experienced them in the numbers that are here this year. Any suggestions?

That's a shame GG. I have the same problem here and haven't found a solution. Unfortunately when we put feeders out we can get a lot of these pest type birds.

Great shots everyone!!