Daily bird pix #424

You can't be prejudice when making the loop around Squaw Creek, so if the Blue Heron insists on posing for us then pictures it shall be.

Fly away my friend!

A good distance away but capturing this beauty on the limb next to it's nest couldn't be passed up.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2011 8:59 PM

And the great bald eagle up close!

Just when I think the day can't get any better I am greeted by my first every Golden Eagle and it's a photogenic one at that....woohoo! In the bird surveys over the past month at Squaw Creek I had kept seeing 2 golden eagles each of the last 6 weeks or so, but never did I dream I would get to see one of those two.

What could possibly top the day off? How about driving 1/4 of a mile down the road and finding that 2nd Golden Eagle and it being a photogenic one as well...What a great day it was. Hope everyone enjoys.

Good tongue shot there, Dave.

Duc, I love your little Bushtit (typed with great caution)

Well done to get the hawk in flight, Kim.

Red the Scaups must be amazing to see.

I don't blame your little birds from vacating the area with that hawk around, nanny.

Doug, it must be a wonderful place to visit. Your excitement comes through in your writing.

Another couple of photos from yesterday. First, an Australian White Ibis and a Silver Gull. Although the Ibis is at the back it was only about 2' from where the Gull was on the log. The Ibis always look like big birds, but I was amazed at how small it looked against the gull, even taking into account that the gull was in front. Silver Gulls are not big birds.

Australian White Ibis

Half-grown Black Swan Cygnet.

Last one for now, of a Purple Swamphen.

Doug, That looks like a great place to visit for birds!

Love the pics everyone!

Gosh, what beautiful photos everyone. Dave, love the woodpecker shot. Margaret, that Black Swan Cygnet shot is fantastic.

Does anyone have a guess what this bird is?

We couldn't get a closer shot, but most certainly did not see any other birds like while navigating around Squaw Creek yesterday. And naturally this particular one didn't want to cooperate and pose for us, so that's the best shot we were able to get.

It's hard to tell in the photo, but it was about the size of a small duck, but can't say I've ever seen a duck 50 feet up in a tree.

From 12-4-11 at Squaw Creek NWR. Here's some trumpeter swans.

Guess the number of snow geese and you win! Not sure what you win though.

Dave, love that tongue on your red-headed wp.

Donna, you should be using that walker in the house if you're by yourself.

Red, great photos.

Lily, nice one of the hawk.

Nanny, too bad your Cooper's is sticking around too.

Doug, lots of nice photos. So many eagles and geese! What a thrill for you.

Margaret, my first thought also was the size of the Ibis to the gull-interesting. Beautiful photos of all your birds.

The California Gulls are everywhere on our lake.

My friend the Sharp-shinned Hawk has been here the past few days. I do wish it would move on but I can't stop feeding my birds.

Hey, you have peanut butter on top of your bill! Brewer's Blackbird.

Here's a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Wow. Doug...lots of neat shots, and all those eagles!!

Love Purple Swamphen, Margaret!

I don't really mind the Cooper's hanging around at all since for now it is going after the House Sparrows. It was out there again this morning!

Our male Pileated is coming pretty much every day now with the onset of cold weather.

Nan, it's nice to know your Pileated wp is coming back on a regular basic. Duc, nice RC Kinglet and that Brewer BB is funny. Doug, it's nice having you on board with so many interesting photos to share. Those Snow Geese are awesome! Did Resin win on the guessing number? LOL

Resin, thanks for your correction on the previous hawk, now I'm totally confused on which hawk this could be. Please help out.

Looks like a Red-shouldered to me.

Yep, another Red-shouldered.

Resin

Thanks Nan and Resin. Got myself some Canadian Geese the other evening just as the sun about to set.

I think I need to take a trip to Squaw Creek. Like that hawk shot, duc. Always enjoy the Oz birds-- different but many have similar species here.

We had a little bluebird family reunion today. Mama and Daddy were in the back yard with a couple of first-winter males. Wondering how long Daddy will continue to tolerate them.

Mama having breakfast at the New Orleans Diner.

One of the young male bluebirds.

Looks like everyone had a great weekend with their birds, some really great shots this thread. Margaret thanks for the new thread with some super shots!! All of them are excellent!
Reddirt, nice shot of the Harris's Sparrow and your BB's!
Resin, great job on your Desert Wheatear shot! Love getting those rare one's.
Grasmussen, that Altamira Oriole is beautiful...great shot!
Dave, beautiful shot of your male Eastern Bluebird and the female Red-bellied Woodpecker!!
Duc, great shots as always...but that Sharp-shinned Hawk shot is stunning!!
Lily, nice capture of the Red-shouldered Hawk taking flight!
Nanny, nice shot of your beautiful Pileated!
dougNKC, nice shots of your bird's...awesome capture of the masses of Snow Geese in your area!!

Well, had a really nice weekend and was able to add 2 more bird's to my life list....the Northern Shrike and this Purple Sandpiper.

the 2 bird's gets me to 219 on my list...a close up of the Purple Sandpiper..

a few other image's from this past weekend...a Tundra Swan work's to take flight at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor, Ohio.

the refuge was loaded with Tundra and Trumpeter Swan's and a few Mute Swan's were also present.

this scene of the Mute Swan and the ice reminds me of Pipe Creek which will re-open for the year in the first week of January.

last shot...a Horned Grebe came in close while Ladi_Burd and I photographed the two Purple Sandpiper's at the Huron Pier. Have a great week everyone!

Edited to say: that shortly after my success in the DG's photo contest..one of my Horned Grebe photo's was selected to be placed in a new book being published by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory located at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. The hard cover book is called The "Ohio Winter Bird Atlas".

This message was edited Dec 12, 2011 1:26 AM

Nice ones, Burd. Congratulations on the Purple Sandpiper. It is very pretty.

Congratulations Burd for having your photo selected for the book!
Very nice images!

Wow, look at that intricate detail on the Horned Grebes! Congrats Burd. I'd love to see all those beautiful swans as well.

Great photos from all!
Thanks for the kind words on mine.

A male House Finch on a gray winter day.

Nanny, I'm so glad you're enjoying the pileated-great photo.

Lily, that's a nice photo of the red-shouldered hawk.

Red, love your bbs. Cute house finch shot.

Burd, WOW, congratulations on the book photo and the new lifers! Love your photos!

Here's a white-crowned sparrow.