A few more shots of my bluebirds

Nothing special. Just seems like its been quite some time since I strung one of these threads together and I don't want to overload the daily pics thread with bluebirds. These first several are from this morning.

Another male, this one in a little shadow

Here is one looking over his shoulder

I have about 10 coming for meal worms. Some obviously are visitors and the regulars try hard to chase them away. But the visitors are persistent.

There's a lot of interest in the nest box. One female has laid claim to it and guards it diligently. Here you see her inside the box, trying to chase a young male that seems too curious.

He persists, so she comes out after him.

Next

She kept after him, but I couldn't keep up with them, although you can see just his feet above her in this last shot.

This message was edited Nov 9, 2010 10:44 PM

This one was taken earlier this morning. He's a bit fluffy so you can tell it was a bit cool and also the sun was not as good an angle so the light colors tend to be blown

Same bird.

Here's one from yesterday. One female was perched on the post and another bumped her off.

Another male

Another

Here's a gold finch, for a change of pace

He stayed around for quite some time.

Back to the bluebirds. Here are two males and two females

I think this must be the boss lady. She sure was giving a lot of orders

Chipping Sparrow in a cute pose. Again, you can tell it was cold.

One more -- actually two, illustrating the way they chase each other.

Last one for tonight.

Great Dave!

Thank you! Here's one more

Here's another case where one bird bounces another off the perch. I guess that happens quite often.

One more of the bird just sitting there.

Dave, your "nothing special" is everyone else's dream. Wonderful shots.

Thank you Margaret. I have one young female with a spot on her neck. Can't tell what caused it, but it looks like I see bare skin there. I've been watching her for several weeks and it hasn't changed. No worse and no better. I will try to find some shots that show you what I am talking about.

A closer look

Here is a shot of a male. He was in the shade with the sun shining bright on the area behind him, so he's not as sharp as I would like.

And here is one in the sun. Just waiting for me to bring out some meal worms.

Incidentally, today (November 10), is the Marine Corps Birthday, so happy birthday to any and all Marines out there. I retired in 1980 after 22 years. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago and that most of the Marines on active duty today were born after I retired.

Beautiful pics Dave!

The Marines' birthday was on TV this morning.

Dave.

What wonderful pictures!

I am jealous, jealout, jealous. Can you tell I am jealous, LOL

I had bluebirds last year, they came in the middle of winter before last. Since I am only in my second season of birding, I was so excited. They are so beautiful.

I was amazed at their personalities. What characters they are.

They loved their house and had babies (4). I loved watching them grow and their funny antics.

Somehow Mrs Blue and 2 of the babies disappeared. Maybe Mr Hawk that I was not introduced to yet?

Anyway Mr Blue and the other 2 stuck around, they sure love their mealworms! I noticed Mr Blue seemed to be lonely and looking for Mrs. They finally just left but Mr continued to stop by every so often.

So.....their house is nice and clean, their feeder is hanging with hulled sunflower seeds and a few mealworms every morning. I figure they are not around, by the time I get home from work the mealworms are still there, kinda dried out. Obviously the mockingbirds have not come back yet either.

So Dave....you have quite a few.....would you spread the word that they are welcome at my house?

Boy, I sure go on and on......sorry.

taxicat

Dave, Thanks so much for the beautiful bluebirds. they are all gone now from this area. I do have several about 20 goldfinches. They will stay around all winter. For a little while I had a couple of Chickadees, but haven't seen or heard them for a week or so, so am afraid they left.

Donna

Thank you for your comments, Taxicat. My birds stay around all year long so I get to see (and photograph) them in the ice and snow as well as throughout the summer season. They come in two's and three's for meal worms throughout the day but mostly in the morning and just before dark.

I have mixed feelings about the mockingbird. He is a real bully and will eat any meal worms I put out side the cage feeder, but on the other hand, he chases the blues so I am able to get a few more in flight shots as they are trying to escape from him. Here is the mocker in the pear tree this morning.

Hi Donna. Glad you enjoy the pics and sorry you are not seeing all of your birds. I do enjoy the gold finches as well, but thistle seed has gotten so expensive and I don't see as many if I don't put the seed out.

Here is another shot from a few minutes ago. As you might be able to tell, I always look for the unusual. This shot qualifies as interesting and would be a keeper except that you can't see the bird's eye. Too bad I'm not just a little taller.

Dave

Another of my favorites. I have four titmice that come every morning for breakfast. They wait their turn and usually don't hang around long after they grab a worm.

Here is the female with the throat wound. The sun is still too low to get a good clear shot. What ever the cause, it appears (on my screen) that she suffered a break in the skin and not just a loss of feathers in that area. I can see some scabbing in some of the closeups. The other birds do seem to pick on her, so I wonder if the injury was caused by an attack by another bird.

One last shot before I go to run some errands. I like the coloring on this fellow.

This message was edited Nov 12, 2010 11:58 AM

What a great treat to see all of your beautiful photos Dave! Each one is so special and so colorful and clear. Amazing!

Thanks but none are any sharper than that closeup of the red tailed hawk you posted on the daily thread.