It has been a few years that I've been watching Cm. There is so much to learn. It seems like I always have enjoyed them, but just trying to differentiate them is quite a task. lol Just last year, I didn't know we only get Ruby-throat hummingbirds and not Anna or Rufous hummingbirds for those only can be found on the Western part of US onto Mexico....
Countrymom, your little sparrow looks quite comfortable on that feeder.
Teddy, glad you're enjoying your hummer.
Burd, I love those beautiful warblers. Love the "do" on your cardinal-so cute.
Red, hope you find lots of birds.
Lily, your baby red-bellied couldn't be any cuter! Great job with the pictures.
This white-breasted nuthatch sure kept busy searching for food.
This immature oriole didn't like me watching while it hunted bugs.
And a California Thrasher enjoying the daily baths.
CM....your bird is a House Sparrow.
Goldfinch
Thanks Nan and Duc for the clarification on CM's sparrow.
I just had the most interesting experience, I was standing right beside the big feeder and the mama hummer came from behind me and perched on the feeder. She was so close to me I could see her little chest beating and her throat as she drank. She was so pretty, I could not get a picture of her because if I moved any she would have flown, anyway I was real close. They are really stocking up on the sugar water because I think that they are going to south and I don't really want to see that, but I realize that they have to. I just look at pictures of them and try to patiently wait until next spring to see them again, she always goes to the same spot to see if the feeder is there and we are so happy to see her again.
nanny_56 - Thanks. I guess I have a long way to to learn which birds are which. Sure is fun !
nanny_56 - Thanks. I guess I have a long way to to learn which birds are which. Sure is fun !
I just started bird watching last fall, and I STILL get confused once in awhile, the folks here have helped me a lot, even when I ask a lot of questions, so don't get discouraged Countrymom, I will be looking out the window and see a bird that I don't know if I have taken a picture of or not, and the good people here will tell you if it is a normal bird for your neck of the woods. They help a lot with flowers too;)
Teddy, I know how you feel. When I am out in my yard now, Hummers will streak by at unexpecteded times. They get so close that I am startled. I love having them in my yard, but also know that within weeks, they will be gone. I console myself with plans for the spring. I have a couple of perrenials that I plan to overwinter for early blossums next year. I am also hoping that my fall visitors will return on their northward journey next spring.
Caught a quick shot of what appear to be a couple of immature Roseate Spoonbills.
Crow flying by.
This is a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
GP, how lucky you are to see the spoonbills flying over. They're so colorful. Glad you're enjoying the hummers too.
Haven't many photos so here's one from a few days ago. A white-breasted nuthatch.
An acorn woodpecker.
I just thought I'd share...I took this Saturday morning.
Great Blue Heron at dawn on Lake Barkley (West Kentucky)
double dip!
Nice flight shot Melody!
GP you are lucky to see the Spoonbills!
Good ones duc!
Burd, has that young cardinal been into the poke berries?
--Oops, I see Lily already asked a similar question. Sorry, I missed seeing it my first time through.
This message was edited Sep 19, 2011 10:36 PM
I don't have any new pics this time, but I saw something I have been wanting to see ever since we started feeding these living jewels. Two of them on the big feeder at the same time, and if that wasn't great enough, there are at least 4 hummers flying around our house! I went out and was buzzed a dozen times or more. Sorry to say I think they are bulking up to go, but we can enjoy them while they are here, and anxiously wait for them in the spring. We have pictures of them and hope they have a good winter and survive so we can enjoy them when they come back.
Nice shots all! Dave, yes on the Cardinal and poke berries...it heard the camera and came to the top to investigate.
Beautiful photos everyone. Duc, love the thrasher. Burd, that cardinal pic is really cute. Meloday, nice capture on the great blue. All nice shots.
Went to a really cool birding spot today where there were several very experienced birders who helped me to see things that I would have missed. The only downside is that my pictures are horrible! Guess I was getting the proof shot and not the best shot. I'm sharing a couple photos anyway! This one b/c it's so amazing to have 3 vireos in one shot. I believe these were the warbling vireos.
This is a lifer for me that I never would have gotten on my own -- a clay-colored sparrow.
Neat shot of the GBH Melody, Duc, I do like the Acorn Wp a bunch. Elphy, congrats on your lifer. And how nice to see Vireos in on setting. I've been on the look out. But have not seen any thing out of the odirnary this way besides, my usual Robins, Crows and Cardinals and other residential birds. I'd love to see those R. spoonbills Gp.
GREAT photos, everyone!! I love spring and fall migration, and the drought this year has brought a few unexpected "treats" to my backyard. This immature Wilson's Warbler stopped by for a bathe last weekend.
Carla
Another thoroughly enjoyable thread. The kookaburras have been very vocal recently (it's spring). They sound utterly maniacal. These were taken in the big eucalyptus in our yard yesterday.
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I went down the beach this afternoon because I saw a couple of immature Pacific Gulls when I was driving home earlier. They'd gone, but there were a couple of Willie Wagtails catching insects on the shore. This one hopped up onto the rocks of the groyne. I also found a dead Fairy Penguin - the smallest of all penguins. It was in beautiful condition, but must have come to grief in the storms we've been experiencing. I checked it for a leg band, but discovered when I got home that they are wing tagged. I might go back tomorrow and if it's still there, will check to see if it has a tag. So sad to see.
Nice shot of the Warbler Loonie!
Love those Kookaburra's Margaret!
Great shots everyone!
Me too, I love those Kookaburras, and the Willie Wagtail too. Thanks Margaret for sharing those lovely birds with us. Are those Kookaburras juvies? Loonie, nice Warbler.
Thanks Pelle and Kim. No, Kim, both adults and quite frisky adults, too.
Thanks Margaret, every time I looked at your Kookaburras, they reminded me of the Belted Kingfishers we've here in the US. Love, love those birds. I was floored that you have those Penguins. Sorry of such loss ....
It was really sad, Kim. It was in such beautiful condition and its dark feathers were such a rich blue. They used to be seen frequently off the local beaches here up to about 30 years ago. They're still around, but farther south of where I am. There's a colony on Garden Island at the naval base. Here's a link to kennedy's images on the bird files. http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/showimage/986/
Great pictures everyone. Love those Kookaburras.
Something remarkable happened this morning, I was sitting on the boardwalk in front of our house watching the hummers eat and had a idea, why not see if any would eat if I held the big feeder in my hand? So I unhooked it from the ant moat and sat down real still and held it in my hand, nothing happened for a few minutes then mama hummer came and PERCHED and ate while I had it in my hand!!!!! I don't think my feet will touch the ground for a long time after that experience!!!!! That proves that she really does trust us, and I am not going to do anything to betray that trust!
Hooray, Teddy. My friend did that and when the hummer landed and fed, my friend cried like a baby.
MargaretK, love the Kookaburra photos. I visited your lovely country in 1985 and really enjoyed the vocals of those birds. They are real characters.
Carla
Congrats on the Lifer Elphaba!!
Congrats Teddy...I have done that too and it is so neat!
Oh neat it would be to see kookaburras in my yard...love them! Too bad about the Fairy Penguin. While walking Gus and I didn't have a camera with me this morning I saw a beautiful male American Redstart, lots of Tennessee Warblers...they were close enough to me I could tell that!! The I came and got the camera so I need to check and see if I got anything. But warblers were flying everywhere! Then I had to drive to town and on the way I saw a Cooper's Hawk across in the road in front of me and into the woods. On the way back back I saw a HUGE Red-tailed Hawk in a field and it came up with a snake in it's talons!! That was VERY COOL......a "wish I had the camera" moment for sure!!
Great Blue Heron this A.M.
