Daily Bird Pics Vol. 371

On this cold and windy winter night I am privileged to start a new thread. Many nice photos appear on the previous thread. So if you have not visited the thread, please take the time. You will be glad you did. Here’s the link.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1147892/

I have not snapped a photo since December 4 which was the last time I visited the Conowingo Dam to photograph the Bald Eagles. Unbelievably, since I first started visiting four years ago I have taken nearly 20,000 photos of the Bald Eagles. So, I apologize to those who would prefer more variety.

They often appear magical as they perform their aerial acts. One tenses up as they circle the water below knowing that they are going to soon make their move. And, in a matter of seconds they strike their unsuspecting prey.

The water is rough below, in this photo, which makes it more difficult for the eagles. But farther down river it becomes more accessible in their search for a fish.

This is the same eagle moving farther down river. The white spots in the background are sea gulls.

Finally, success !

Here one glides by some of the surrounding dam structures ........

They are very majestic! I have always loved Bald Eagles.

Thank you Linth for the great new thread, we can't never get enough of Bald Eagles pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us. Pair of Pekin Ducks, I guess there is no distinctive features to differ the male and female. There are 2 pairs of these ducks that frequent here -- year round.

Burn_2007, as per your suggestion I move the pair here. :)

Great start to the new thread Linth!! Going to try next week for some more Eagle photo's...hopefully some adult's, I see a lot of immature ones at Old Woman's Creek. Really like that success shot!
Nice shot of your Pekin Duck's Lily!
Great stuff on the last thread as well all!
Have a couple from today...a Cooper's Hawk

an American Tree Sparrow...lots of these wintering at Pipe's Creek

not a lot of luck with the Horned Larks so far...just need them to be a bit closer.

a Red-breasted Nuthatch from the backyard...

female Red-bellied Woodpecker...grabbing a peanut.

a little closer this time...last shot.

Wonderful shots of the Eagles Linth! Thanks for starting the new thread!

Lily, Sweet Pekin Duck!

Burd, Lovely photos! So nice to see the handsome American Tree Sparrow and Horned Lark. Your backyard visitors are beautiful, love the nuthatch and red-bellied!

Beautiful shots of the Eagles Linth. I never tire of seeing these majestic creatures.

Lily, I really like that shot.

Burd, wonderful photos, I particularly like the American Tree Sparrow.

My Flicker returned in the snow yesterday and enjoyed some suet.

Another Flicker shot.

Not the best shot of a White Throated Sparrow. I think these little birds always look like they would like to rip your head off!! LOL

Mr. Red Bellied Woodpecker making sure the coast is clear!

I had a female flicker some time ago, I hope she comes back, they are so pretty. It got down to a whopping 2 last night! I HATE these single digits, even if you are not cold yet, just thinking of that temp will make you that way. Our nuthatch is on the feeder right now, I have to go feed the other babies their bread and Sunflower Seeds, they will go crazy over it. I wonder if our little red bird will come back again, I know I have already taken photos of him, but he is so beautiful, I just can't help myself! You know what I mean? Could I find a mesh bag, like a bag that onions come in and put peanuts in that, or will the mesh holes be big enough?

All was clear, so he enjoyed some suet.

Actually, this fellow sometimes dines with his lady. He would eat a bit, then hop up and look over the top of the tree; then, hop back down to the suet. He did this a number of times. Interesting to watch.

Awww Burd! I love, love those Redbellied wps close-up shots! Nice job! GrannyG, I am glad to see your flickers visiting the suet feeder. Mine is being hung too close to the window where movements from inside the house would easily spook potential visitors (birds) off. Fortunately, the Redheaded WPs, such as the Byrons are more tamed. Here is one just arrived this morning. This particular pix was taken yesterday.

Linth, your Bald Eagle shots are always awe inspiring. If I saw a Bald Eagle, I'd take 20,000 shots too.

Lily, beautiful duck shot and love the red-headed woodpecker.

Burd, dang! Nice ones. Really like the tree sparrow.

GG, what beautiful birds! How lucky you are to have a flicker and a white-throated sparrow.

This was a lifer for me and a pretty cool one since there were hundreds of them -- Snow Geese.

A sweet bluebird on a scary lookin' fence.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Yellow-rumped with a seed.

Northern Harrier

Savannah Sparrow I think.

I was walking around the park at Sheldon Lake and this Orange-crowned Warbler kept following me. I thought that I shouldn't take his pic b/c I can take pics of orange-crowned warblers at home, but I just couldn't resist. Wow, a beautiful cooper's hawk just landed outside my window. Too dark today to take pics though.

I'll make this my last one, part of a huge flock of ducks -- Mallards I believe.

Lily, those Flickers are frightened away by the red-bellied woodpeckers! Go figure.

Elphaba, seems to me that beautiful Blue Bird could find a safer, more comfortable place to sit! Wow, those Snow Geese are wonderful. And lifers, to boot. Love that shot. That Harrier is beautiful. That little Warbler wanted his picture taken. LOL

Here is a different shot from yesterday. This Mourning Dove was half buried looking for something under the snow.

Eagles are always a great way to start a thread!

The largest critter I observed yesterday. In the Cheyenne language 'hotoa'e'.

A Common Goldeneye on Lake Lawtonka.

And a pair of regular visiting Eurasian Collared Doves, although they don't usually sit on a feeder.

My Carolina Wren was back today, but sadly my stupid camera battery decided to crap out on me, so did not get a shot, gonna keep trying. He seems to like hiding under the bowl of the birdbath, then he sticks his head out.

This blue jay was a pig, trying to get as much bread as he could in his beak at one time, nice to see him back again.

Teddy, I'm sure you are well-intentioned, but.... You aren't doing birds a favor by feeding them bread in winter. It fills up their craws, but doesn't contain enough calories to keep them warm. They need grain and suet to make it through the cold winter nights.

Thank you Burd and Resin! That's so cool! It was a big group. Here's a shot just of the front of it leaving the area before I could sneak up and take pics.