Daily Bird Pics - Vol. #409

A little Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher ...... I think this may be a juvenile.

One more Gnatcatcher. You have to shoot quickly because they are constantly on the move.

A Brown Thrasher ......

Here comes a Northern Flicker ......

A hot summer morning shot of the Yellow-breasted Chat .....

Linth, what a beautiful start for the new thread. Glad to hear your wife is doing better and hope she'll continue to do so.

Way too many birds to comment on, but each one is just fabulous.

I'm still trying to catch up on my photos. Here's a female house finch that wanted to get a turn on the tabletop fountain.

And one of my juvenile orioles that chased off a hummer to get to the pollen in the blooms.

How's this for a water soaked house sparrow?

This message was edited Jul 29, 2011 10:04 PM

Thanks, duc. That sure is one sad looking sparrow.

Here are a few more shots taken recently. Most of the shots that I have posted on this thread were taken at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD. That's about the only place that I have been in the last few months but it has gotten slow there, also. Patuxent is over 12,000 acres and is divided into three tracts. I spend just about all of my time at the North tract. The Central tract is off-limits to the public because that is where the research is conducted. The South tract has a very nice Visitor Center and attracts lots of school children in addition to hikers, fishermen, birders, etc. Most of the time that I am at the North tract, I feel as though I have the place all to myself. I can often hear the Whooping Cranes off in the distance, on the Central tract.

This is a bird that is often heard but seldom seen, at least by me. The 'Ovenbird' seldom comes out of the forest.

Photo #2 of the 'Ovenbird'.

One more of the 'Ovenbird'. The Ovenbird gets its name from its covered nest. The dome and side entrance make it resemble a Dutch oven.

Always one of my favorites is the 'Scarlet Tanager'. I just took these photos on July 13th, at Patuxent.

Photo #2 of the male Scarlet Tanager ...

One more of the Scarlet Tanager. It's obviously often tough to get the correct lighting with the birds that hang out mostly in the forest.

Great pics, linth ! Just this year I finally figured out how to spot cuckoos. I've seen more this year than any other time.

Still in Santa Fe. Check out this little Rufous Hummingbird.

I think we were cross-posting on that tanager. What a beautiful bird. I don't get to see many.

A Broad-tailed hummer on a casa feeder.

This message was edited Jul 29, 2011 6:51 PM

Red, really nice shots of the Hummingbirds. We only get the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and I have a terrible time getting decent photos.

This is of an Eastern Bluebird taken at my son's house. Three years ago, I placed two bluebird houses there, about 200' apart. Only one of them has ever been occupied and has been all three years. I don't bother them at all. They have raised at least two broods this summer, to my knowledge. I just set up my camera and tripod on occasion within a reasonable distance to the birdhouse. Since I don't live there, they must find their own food.

I have some other "water" birds that I will probably post on my "On the Waterfront" thread. If the mosquitoes aren't too bad, I will probably soon start visiting some other places that attract migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.

An immature Red-naped Sapsucker. I think. Taken in the high country near Santa Fe Ski Basin. BLM finally opend most of the forest today. Has been closed because of fire danger.

Duc, you have a really nice shot of the Oriole with the blooms.
Linth would love to see one of those Scarlet Tanager, such a beautiful bird. I doubt he'd ever come to my yard. I'll have to come to it.
Red, lovely shot of the Rufous Hummingbird.

A Song Sparrow foraging under the Maple tree.

Another shot of the Yellow Warbler.

The Chipping Sparrow was enjoying seeds in the frog feeder.

Black-capped Chickadee in the evening light.

Wow! Great shots!

Linth, great shots all but those Eastern Phoebe shots are about the best I've ever seen of that bird. The second one is my favorite. In fact, I was looking through and voting on pics in the NWF photo contest and might have voted for an excellent pic of a phoebe except that I thought to myself "Linthicum's is better."

Nanny, cool flycatcher. Did you figure out which one it is? Those pretty little ones are hard to figure out -- OK, maybe that's just me!

Red, too cool! Love the rufous!

Burn, nice ones! Really jealous of the pine siskin. Hopin' some will come my way some day.

Wasn't going to post any pics, but what the hey? Been tryin' to get a pic of this pretty little House Sparrow. You would think house sparrows would be easy to photograph and they are if you don't care which one you photograph. Turns out they are faster and more challenging than you would think. The backside of this bird is really pretty but haven't gotten a good shot of it yet. Here's the side view.

This is one of the best made post thus far. Gorgeous pix everyone. It made me a little timid to share my photo, but I was so thrilled when I caught glimpse of about a dozen kildeers at a shopping mall parking lot yesterday.

Linth, that ovenbird is just beautiful and it's interesting to learn about its nest. That tanager is gorgeous. All these photos seem to have been taken in bright shade and I wonder if you could tell me your settings on your camera.

Red, great job on the hummers. Love the sapsucker shot!

Burn great shots of all your birds.

Elphaba, cute shot of the sparrow.

Lily, you're so funny. It doesn't matter where you find your birds-at least you have a photo to show you found them.

We've been seeing a couple red-tailed hawks in the area lately and when the crows weren't chasing them away, the swallows took over. This was taken just before my swallows left our place.

Here's a pretty brown-headed cowbird.

It's been hot here too and all the birds including this HOSP are panting.

Another hot one, a juv. oriole.

Wow! Great start Charlie! You've got some terrific photos throughout this thread already! I think I like the Scarlet Tanager the best!

Everyone else has some wonderful pics too! Sorry I am not commenting individually.

I got to see some great birds while on vacation!

Believe it or not... the Cedar Waxwing is a lifer for me!

And another one from a differnt place and day...

Resin... (or anyone who knows!)
What makes some of the waxwings have the red on their wings and some not?
I thought it was a male/female thing, but in reading about them, that doesn't seem to be it.
Thanks!

Hummer girls at my Mom's feeder...

Eastern Kingbird in song...

And on a nest I spotted...

Male hummer guarding the Burning Bush he likes to hide in...

Osprey chick getting ready for flight....

Chick and Mom...

Green Heron using the boardwalk as a fishing perch...

Great Egret...

Thanks for looking!
Have a great weekend!

Wow, Wild Rose, your contribution and Duc's made this thread even more outstanding. Poor birds having to endure this heat! And the rest of us that be out there in the heat of summer! Duc, picture me, not much difference from that poor Hosp. Or the last one that was soaking wet. lol

Love that juvenile Osprey !

Great shots everyone!