Daily Bird Pics #425

Wonderful shots everyone.

Elphaba...hey girl....nice shots you got there!! That Vermillion Flycatcher is on my wish list!

That Margaret had a Spotted Cake there for a minute! Get new glasses in hopefully next week! How far is the lake from your home? I wish I could see more herons....they are such a pretty group of birds.

Tiger Snakes....Boo!

Thanks, Pelle.

The lake is about a three minute walk, nanny.

Margaret, I am betting that if a Tiger Snake appeared it would be a three second walk home!

lol GG. Tiger Snake? What's one look like? Great pix everyone. I have been enjoying everyone pix via my wireless phone, but unable to post during my vacation in Maryland. I came home yesterday, and just now catching up.

I saw this small group of Hooded Mergansers getting along just fine with Canadian Geese in a small lake called Elkhorn lake.

Pretty Mallards are also seen at the same location.

I found out what has my birds scared off and if I can I will get a picture of him, it is a hawk and he is not a teeny weenie one, he was on the wire across from the gas station and I heard him when we got home, don't know what kind he is but he is sizable.

Margaret, great shots of the Cocatoos! Ref. my daily visit by this hawk-that might be one explanation, but I think he just knows that I won't hurt him. I caught him sitting in a tree today with 2 hummingbirds and a black phoebe just above him. I'll download the photo tomorrow, but I'm guessing he'd already filled up for the day. Great photo of the crake and grebe. Do the grebe chicks climb on the backs of the parents like our grebes do? That heron looks like its feathers are so fine and smooth.

Countrymom, cute photo of your little titmouse. Looks like a great variety of food you have there.

Elphaba, love that vermillion-it's gorgeous!! Such a wonderful variety of birds, they're all great photos.

Chillybean, thank goodness for rescue homes-that poor eagle wouldn't have lasted long in the wild.

Red, beautiful bb catch!

Lily, welcome home. Cute pictures of your ducks.

Hubbie and I got a rare sighting alert email and went in search of a Falcated Duck that found it's way to the Colusa Wildlife Refuge which isn't far from our home. This duck normally lives in Asia and has been at the refuge for almost two weeks. Needless to say, the visitor/photographers count is way up from a.m. to p.m. I was lucky because the duck was pretty active all morning, but some visitors are saying it slept all day. Actually, I was just glad to get a few photos.

Here's another photo of the Falcated Duck.

We also found an American Bittern at the refuge.

A Snowy Egret.

And a Northern Shoveler.

As you can see from this photo, the refuge is beginning to fill up with all kinds of birds.

Wow Duc, the last pix is mesmerizing! That large number of birds. Love all the colorful ducks. Great shots.

Nice shots, Lily_love. The tiger snakes are generally black and yellow striped and mean. At Lake Herdsman, which is about 10km from here, I wouldn't for one second contemplate going anywhere near long grass as you'd be almost guaranteed of a not too pleasant encounter. They are highly venomous.

Wow, due, what a treat to see the Falcated Duck. A real stunner. Yes, our Grebe chicks do climb up onto the parent's back.

Ooooh I'd stay away too Margaret.

Congrats on the Falcated Duck...duc! Your others photos are lovely too!

Not much here at all and the chance to go out is almost nil due to rain nearly everyday. So tired of dark and gray....

We just got home from the club and papa rb wp was on the suet cake feeder, my hubby got a apple one and he was just going to town on it. I am glad he is back, I thought maybe he was gone for good because the feeder had been empty for so long. Saw some sparrows today too, was even glad to see them.

Step by step. LOL

If ONLY you had a bluejay to scare away the Heron.

Said who? What Heron? This one? lol

LOL. We looked into those whacky tube men with the waving arms but they're huge and expensive. Even if it didn't scare the Heron off, it would be a source of endless amusement.

Nice heron, Kim.

Very nice Kim!

Yes, great photo of the heron.

Here's one of many American Coots in our area.

This message was edited Dec 23, 2011 8:49 PM

My friend the Sharp-shinned is still guarding my backyard feeders. This time he landed near a birdbath just below me.

Three feeders and yet they all want this one. The other two feeders have dominating males guarding them.

Here's a White-faced Ibis from a few days ago at the refuge.

We also found an American Kestrel.

And a Black-necked Stilt. One of three new lifers for me.

This message was edited Dec 23, 2011 8:57 PM

Duc, I enjoyed all the pics. but especially love, love the one with those many hummingbirds.

Hoping everyone has a Very Merry Christmas...heading out today in hopes of getting bird # 100. I have the best boyfriend in the world!!!!

I hope you have a very merry christmas and yes you have a good boyfriend that he would help you get your bird pictures.

The robins are really enjoying the berries here.

Here's another one...

HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS-STAY SAFE!

To all my friends here..

Merry Christmas you all!

Lady_Burd, Did you get #100?

Yesterday, we spent a good part of the day driving around in search of the Snowy Owl seen in the area. We never saw it, but saw other birds, including a Bald Eagle in a field. And hundreds upon hundreds of crows. We've never seen those kind of numbers but for Starlings and Blackbirds. That was amazing.

I did want to ask if anyone who knows photo editing would be willing to take a stab at the full-sized version I have of this bird. I've tried adjusting color, but it ends up looking weird. I am glad for the Undo option. :) We were driving into a big city and saw this. I couldn't get the picture quick enough and ended up getting the shot through the blue part of the windshield. My husband could not slow down being there was traffic behind us. It's a Red-tailed Hawk, an Intermediate Morph. I learned this is somewhat rare here in Iowa.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Duc, the photo with all the Hummingbirds is incredible. Gorgeous shot of your resident hawk.

Interesting effect through the glare shield, Chillybean. Sorry I'm not able to help with the colouration.

An adult New Holland Honeyeater, with the white eyes, and a dark-eyed juvenile.

Little Corella overflying a couple of days back.