DAILY BIRD PICS VOL. 405

The Cowbird has not learned the fear of people yet. It was just a few feet away. I could move around and it wouldn`t budge.

These young ones do have a healthy fear. There were three of them with mom, and they scattered under the hedge, when I approached on top of the deck, still far enough from them. Not long after these two came out in the open.

Female Hairy. ``Where`s my food!``

These pictures are all wonderful! I miss the orioles and the grosbeaks! Nice House Wren too. Cute Downy. Can't wait for your birds to come back down here! Glad they are not here though as this drought is killing birds, mostly I've been reading about hummingbirds dying of dehydration but I imagine it's affecting them all.

If you live in this area, the tower at Sheldon Lake is open. The top observation deck is 61 feet in the air. It's awesome! I haven't taken many pics lately 'cause not many fun birds around and my photo software isn't working. Here though are a pair that showed up for the grand opening of the tower -- a Cattle Egret and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

One more pic of the scissor-tailed flycatcher. This is one of those almost perfect shots.

We were about jumping all over happy when we saw this one, thinking it was a lifer. Turns out it is a first-year Orchard Oriole. It is not a total let down as this is now on our yard bird list. He sings a beautiful song.

I'm enjoying all your birds. Such beauty!
Burn, has your Hairy been fed yet?

I spent some time sitting on my back porch chasing Grackles this afternoon. During that time I saw some babies. First up, a juvie Cardinal.

A cute little Titmouse thought it was hiding.

I have more juvies, but need to ID them first. In the meanwhile, high up in the poplar tree (what's left of the poplar tree) waiting for me to leave ---------- a Grackle!!

Chillibean, no, my Harry hasn't been fed peanut butter. She has a feeder full of shelled peanut a few feet away. ;)

Nice Scissor-tailed shot Elphaba.

GG,cute juvie Cardinal.

A Cedar Waxwing at the pond, this afternoon. It's mate was in the tree above me.

Poor step mom Songbird is so tired of being chase down by the juvie Cowbird. She had a hard time to fly and land properly, and needed to rest. She also flew to the Arbor and stayed there for the longest time.

Here she is trying to catch a quick nap.

This Pigeon felt very confident, to approach me.

GrannyGrunt, I enjoy those cute birds. Sorry, not the GrACKle, though.
Burn, I am jealous of your beautiful Waxwing picture. And that poor, poor Song Sparrow, glad she got a little rest. I think she needs to get a little aggressive or something. :O

My little chipping came to visit again. I just love these guys and gals. I sure wish I could tell the male from the female so I can give them the correct gender. :)

Nice shots everyone!

Burn, Shame about that StepMom. Hope she gets some more rest soon.

The Blue Jays brought their juveniles in today. They are so cute. A number of Song Sparrows on the ground looking for food.

Not a great pic but here is one of the juvenile Red-bellied Woodpeckers on the upside down suet feeder.

A Song Sparrow in the bird bath kicking up a little water with his foot.

This Red bellied Woodpecker got a chunk of suet stuck on its beak.

#1

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Ah, that's better!

Alphy Elphy, love that Scissor-tail flycatcher and the CattleEgret. GG, the juvies Cardinal have a very healthy fear of human. I can't barely get a good pix of them here. Also your series of the Redbellied wp made my morning. They're sooo cute. Pelle your juvie Redbellied has figured that upside down feeder out, that's awesome! Burn how nice to have Cedar Waxwings hanging out in pair. Do they nest near by? CB, nice 1st year Orchard Oriole. I haven't seen any sparrows except for the Hosp.

This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 11:10 AM

Nice RB pics GG!

Pelle, I LOVE that song sparrow shot.

Burn, great shots, great birds, very jealous of the waxwing!

Took this pic this morning b/c of the weird coloring of these birds. Decided they are just juvi male House Finches. I'm convinced though that one day, one of my house finches is not going to be a house finch! Highly unlikely but it could happen. Counted 11 House Finches at one time this morning and pretty sure there were more in the trees.

This hawk has been hanging around our yard a little closer than we'd like him to be for the safety of other birds. Last week our resident roadrunner almost was his dinner. Left some feathers in our flower garden. Am I correct that this is a red-shouldered hawk?

Roadrunner seems to have survived the hawk attack okay.

Another shot of the roadrunner, who likes to stay pretty close to the house and flower beds.

I missed a couple days, but enjoyed all the photos-great work everyone!

Speaking of cowbirds, I have them here too.

The Ash-throated Flycatchers seem to be all over here.

Yeah, what's with the finches coloring, or could that be pine siskins? I've quite a few of those 'finches' here too Elphy. I'm sorry I missed typed your name on my last post. Duc, love the A.T. Flycatcher. The Cowbird is one lucky parent that never have to worry to feed their young. lol He's look quite pretty there in his own way.

Great Blue Heron in early morning hours;

I love that Roadrunner LEW! That does look like a red-shouldered hawk to me.

Sweet Flycatcher duc!

Beautiful shot Lily!

Elphaba, Nice pic! Can't see most of the beaks on your birds but the top one definitely looks like a House Finch.

GG, Nice Red-bellied Woodpecker!

Doubtful that Pine Siskin would be in Texas this time of year they are usually in Canada during the summer.

Edited to say: There are apparently some "none breeding" Pine Siskin year round in parts of the US but not sure where there current (up to date) locations would be.

This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 1:08 PM

Here is a little more current information about Pine Siskin during the winter and summer.

http://tailsofbirding.blogspot.com/2010/10/winter-finches-pine-siskins.html

Lew...fantastic shots...the hawk is beautiful!

Juvie Red-bellied Woodpeckers here...I have 2 different ones This seems to be the youngest one .

Camera didn't really pick it up well, though I could clearly see it, but juvie #2 has a tinge of red developing already on the nape of its neck.

Yes, Lew I love the Road Runner, what darling bird and the tail feathers! Pretty bird. Nan, how sweet of the juvies RBWP! Nicely done. Thanks Pelle for the Pine Siskin info.

White Breasted Nuthatch;

LOVE the roadrunner! Excellent shot with the tail up. I didn't know they had that coloring.

Nanny, nice juvi. I'm watching one too. She's a terror. She even chases away Blue Jays if they get too close to her.

Love that nuthatch Lily_Love!

Pelle, fascinating article. I hadn't heard of "irruptive species" before. Thanks for sharing it. I decided that my dark birds were house finches based on the bills, but I'm going to go look again just to be sure.

I've been seeing weird colored birds lately. Took a bad pic of a bluebird with a yellow breast and belly. I showed it to this guy who's the bird expert at the park, and he said that it was probably from its diet. No doubt the drought has something to do with it. This bird was on a dead tree at the edge of a mostly dead prairie that normally abounds with native grasses. I imagine bird diets have to be affected. Hope they can hang on -- or I guess those irruptive species will move on -- good for them!

I want a Roadrunner!!! beep beep.

A juvenile Spotted Towhee............I think.

Mom getting ready to take a break (Tree Swallow)