Daily Bird Pictures #377

Thanks for the fix up, I forgot and thought it was a female. But he is still pretty.

So yesterday I drove about 40 miles up north to try and catch a glimpse of the Snowy Owl. I wasn't the only one. Tons of birders driving around looking for her. She was not spotted until about and hour and 15 minutes after I gave up. Then she was spotted many times today! harumph.

However, I did get a life bird, a Lapland Longspur.cruddy pix though.

And it was odd to catch this Eastern Meadowlark amongst the Horned Larks.

And speaking of Horned Larks…

Oh what happened that prompted you to intervene with the Wattlebirds fledglings Margaret? I'm dying to know lol. They're so intriguing to me. Love the plant as well.

Nice pics. everyone. Will share some pics. in the morning.

Wait ... here is one of a pair of Mallards.

Whoa! Please pardon, those are a pair of American Coots.

Everyone be careful, we have a MAJOR ice and snow storm starting tomorrow. If you have a generator, I would advise you to get it ready just in case, here in Ohio it is not will the electric go out it is when will it go out. And with the ice we are supposed to get, it has a great possibility that it will. Great pics everyone, this summer I am going to try to get a picture of the Blue Cranes we have here. This was last winter with 14 inches, don't need that much, so everybody batten down the hatches! Here we go again.

Wishful thinking?

Saw this Red-shouldered Hawk checking out the wild turkeys.

The warblers are in the valley, but we haven't seen any this high up yet.

Myrtle Warbler

Man you guys have been cooking!

Tiger that pic of the R-t Hawk and the turkeys is awesome. How did you ever get that line-up?

teddy, I feel for my northern friends in the winter, hope you all fair well.

Mrs_Ed, that Meadowlark was nice. I've only seen them in my books.

Elphaba, love the Bluebird shot. I finally saw one here, on my driveway, but I didn't have time to get the camera - and it would have been a Lifer for me, too.

GrannyGrunt, nice shot of Gladys.

Margaret, I'd love to see papa Wattlebird's antics.

Burd, Elvis looks great. Very nice colors.

duc, nice capture of the Dark-eyed Junco. I've only seen one.

Hack

I snapped a few yesterday.

One on my rarer birds lately. A Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Hack

A pretty female Cardinal.

And a male.

I have plenty of Chickadees.

Well it was a productive day out, anyway, even if you didn't get to see the owl, Mrs Ed.

Like your coots, Lily_love. You asked what has prompted me to intervene with the wattlebirds. The first couple of days after the wattlebird chicks have left the nest, long before they're capable of anything like controlled flight, they often end up on the ground. Because they breed year round here, the recently fledged bubs will end up on the cold, wet ground in winter and spring where they will not only chill rapidly, but they're vulnerable to predation from neighbourhood cats and from birds such as ravens, kookaburras and magpies. Same in summer when the chick may end up on the ant-infested, roasting hot ground. When I'm sure that the chick is not going to be able to climb to safety, I will pick it up and place it in a sheltered position in a tree, as high as I can get it and where the parents will be able to locate it - mind you Mr Snap 'n' Glare is watching my every move, growling at me the whole time. It's been about four years since I last had to do any rescuing, but he has a long memory. (Now, do you want the long version?)

Nice shots, tiger. That would be one ambitious hawk.

You can really see the characteristic black and white tail feathers on this Downy Woodpecker. I can see a teeny, tiny bit of red on its head, so this is a guy.

My last one is a male House Finch. This thread has run its course. Who is starting the new one?

Hack

Hold your horses Hack, it's time to start a new thread! Great photos. That Brown-headed Nuthatch really took my breath away.
Tiger, that hawk photo with the turkeys is priceless! I love your caption too. Just perfect.
Mrs. Ed, so sorry that you missed the Snowy Owl. I can feel your pain, but congrats on the lifer you found anyway! Outstanding.

New thread is ready for your fabulous photos, please join me over here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1152429/