Daily Bird Pics - #387

Time to start a new thread! I got too far behind on the last one to comment individually, but there were some wonderful pics from all! Keep up the great work!

We came from here... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1163466/

Starting this one with a shot from last Spring... This GBH is waiting on a passing Shad. That's what I am waiting for too! For the Atlantic Shad spawning run to start! Great photo ops! I am also waiting on my camera to return from yearly servicing and cleaning! And lastly, I am waiting on new glass! I have ordered the Canon 100-400mm L lens... YIPPEEE for me!!!

I did get a chance to visit the local wildlife refuge last week before sending my camera in. The Osprey have returned to our area! Yay!!! Folks around here love the Osprey too! We saw our first ones on March 3rd this year.

Here is a pair staking claim to the best nesting platform on the refuge.

Here, a GBH finds a little snack!

I don't get Bluebirds to my backyard (an 8x12 third floor balcony) like so many of you...
But they were certainly busy in the refuge and along the river, searching out nesting sites.

Here a female...

And here, a male...

A lovely little White-throated Sparrow...

And lastly, a Pileated Woodpecker male. I wish this had been sharper (can't wait for my new lens!) but I really liked the way the sun showed through his crest!

What a fantastic start to a new thread, thank you Wild Rose. It would be so neat to see Ospreys nesting. Love the P. wp and the rest. Most of all congrats on your new lens.

VA, That is a great shot of the Heron! I love seeing the Osprey returning. Their starting to see some in Cape May, NJ now.
Congratulations on buying a new Canon lens. Can't wait to see your pics with it. Be sure to let us know what you think once you get used to it. I'm sure you'll love it.

Thanks so much for the great start!

Fantastic new thread VA_Rose! Gorgeous GBH...love that your pileated has its knot up...lol!

We had almost had one hit the car yesterday....driving along and it was taking off from off the side of the road at a small stream. It just barely made over the top off the car & I could see the pupil of its eye!! That beak is really large too!

We seem to very prone to having birds fly to close to our vehicles. DH had another owl almost get him again.

Decent shot of a female Downy Woodpecker.

Great start with the Heron, WR. You always take lovely pictures, I can just imagine, what you'll do with the 400mm!
Great shot of the Downy Nanny.

I don't frequent this forum, but since I caught the first bird photos with my new super-zoom camera, I thought I'd pop in. Here's a cardinal I came across today singing his heart out in the cool almost-spring air.

And he was being a bit shy, but here's the first robin of spring for me!

VA, your shots are wonderful. Makes me want to take my camera and head out to find some sandhill cranes, since they've just returned to my neck of the woods.

I saw the sandhill Cranes for the first time last June as we were on the way to the Madison airport.

MrsEd,love the ducks an goose ,cute ,cute

and the Snipe always makes me giggle,snipe hunting ,I always thought there really was no such thing,haha

Rose nice shots ,love those pileateds

KaylyRed, That Cardinal shot is really nice! Very detailed. Thanks for posting it!

Nanny, Cute Downy!

Thank you, pelletory! It's actually my first bird photo and I like the way it turned out. Here's another...

Hi KaylyRed and welcome! Oh please do go and try to find some Sandhill Cranes for us!! lol I see them fly over during migrations but otherwise it is only thru photos I get to enjoy them and I think they are soooo cool!

I went outside to fill up the Finch feeder and heard a call that I thought was the Pileated, so I get my camera and my coat(still chilly here), and went looking. Didn't see anything, but kept hearing the bird, came back home and found out I had gotten the calls mixed up, I was chasing the red-bellied woodpecker instead! No wonder I could not see him I got back and found that and felt so stupid!.

Kayly, Is that a crabapple tree?

teddy, I mix up calls after a long winter too. :-)

Yes, it's the crab apple tree in my front yard. It will look like this in May. :)

That is really beautiful!

Beautiful pictures VA Rose. Nice shots all. Love the Cardinal KaylyRed. Look forward to seeing more of your posts.

This is not a good shot, but I think it is amusing -- a "Who's there?" shot, with each looking around opposite sides of the feeder.

Male House Finch looking pretty.

Nice ones GG!

Got a questionthat is not bird related, when I planted my flowers, I put a lot of leaves on them,when do I take the leaves off? This next week is supposed to be warmer, not in the 80's yet but upper 40's and 50's. This fellow has been around a lot today, maybe spring is not too far away.

Cute robin, Teddy! Not sure I understand your other question, though. Are you talking about cleaning up last year's perennials?

I would clean up the dead leaves if your going to put down mulch.

I would ask on the Beginner Gardening Forum

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/b_gardentalk/all/

Had an unusual visitor today. An American Goldfinch with a deformed beak. You see this from time to time. He didn't appear to have any problems eating from the feeder in the photo. In fact, he was quite aggressive. He knows how to use that long beak as a weapon to run off other birds.

Another view.

GG...you feeder pic is cute & funny!

I have been practicing with a different camera, I stepped outside and saw this fellow silouetted against the sky, thought I'd try it, don't think I did too bad..He looks like a king surveying his kingdom.

Nice pics guys!

KaylyRed, welcome to the Bird thread, always fun to have new ones join us, and share. Love the Cardinal and the crabapple is lovely.
Red, good to know your Goldfinch is able to make due with his deformed beak.
Teddy sorry it wasn't the Pileated WP, that would have been quite a thrill for you. You did good with the Robin.
GG, your House finch is pretty, and remind me of my Purple Finch, that should show up, sometime this month, can't wait.

The Crows are calling for a mate.

Here he is calling.

The Starlings are adding up in numbers back here.

This message was edited Mar 14, 2011 9:02 PM

When I went out this afternoon, all I could see was crows, they are all over the place! That and the dogs, I got this one,he looks mean! I was glad I was inside when I took it!

A Redpoll showing his sweet side.