Northeast birds

Some from today. Two woodpeckers and two lady cards. Like the second, abstract-looking one. Reminds me of a Japanese fan.

Neat, Victor!

My chickadee -- there's only one so far -- benefits when someone walks by: the English sparrows mostly flee as a flock, but the chickadee doesn't mind people.

The white-breasted nuthatch is more jittery, but still willing to risk a swoop to the feeder and away while I'm nearby.

There are 3 Tufted Titmouse with their huge dark eyes like Disney birds. What's the plural of titmouse? "I have titmice," sounds like something you'd tell your doctor.

I've seen a few Whitethroated Sparrows, a Song Sparrow, and an American Tree Sparrow.

My 2 or 3 pair of cardinals seem shy for their size -- the English sparrows can intimidate them. The males are more cautious than the females, presumably because they're more conspicuous. As if that weren't bad enough, I've seen a mockingbird chase them. They chase each other, too.

I like the peaceful mourning doves and their slow bobbing ground-feeding like tiny dust-colored chickens.

Great shots Victor!

Dawn sound like you have quite a few nice visitors...I like the mourning doves too...we had a pair that stuck around for two seasons, my GDs named them Eddie and Emily and now every one they see they think it's them.

A few from today

Thanks, ladies. Yes, nice lineup, Dawn!

Pretty, Ronnie.

I am happy to say that we don't seem to attract the house sparrows. There seems to be a family of titmice at the tube feeder.. Perhaps last summer's brood. We occassionly see the pair of cardinals, plus one other. they nest in our neighbors conifers.

White throated sparrow finally turned around

You all take amazing photos.

I agree....great eagle photos, Ronnie! Dawn, sounds like a good number of species for the city.....Iris, called red-bellied because there's already a red-headed woodpecker, smaller than red-bellied, head is all cherry red...saw one this spring, but they are very rare here, usually only see them during migration....I haven't been home to see wjhat's at the feeder...Victor, that looks like a nice set-up....

Victorgardener, when you use that setup, how do you decide when the click the shutter, if you aren't looking through the viewfinder? Guesswork?

And where did you find the wall stand?

Hi happy. I am watching through my window and decide when to click the remote.

I bought the Manfrotto support from Amazon.

This message was edited Jan 9, 2013 10:18 PM

It is a terrific setup!

Thanks. Also use an external flash mounted on the camera when necessary.

One of these years I may ask you for all the particulars. I'd love to be able to do that -- but right now my plate is full! We do have the perfect setup to replicate your arrangement though, right outside our kitchen window....

Any time. Ideally, I would also be able to move the camera remotely!

That would be too cool! But then, it might startle the birds.

wp could have be called 'red-capped'; grumble, grumble.

I agree, Iris.....red-bellied is a stretch....had a red-breasted nuthatch at the feeder this morn.....

This message was edited Jan 10, 2013 10:12 AM

We have both nuthatches but usually only see the white breasted one.

I've seen the red-breasted behind our dam, but this is the first I've noticed at my feeder....

Nice bird pics here, and more to come for Victor. We're sitting out the birdfeeder here until the ground thaws so we can move the feeder again. After several years the squirrel IQ went up--they leave nothing after they've leaped at it enough--baffle is useless.

Last summer I watched a kingfisher divebomb a squirrel in our yard. Our neighbor had to make a setback when they built their house because it was zoned as "riverfront property." You have to see the suburban course of Vine Brook to know how odd that is. poor birds without much space.

i was going to day what river in Lexington?

Saw a water pippet behind the dam a few weeks ago....of course, I had no idea what it was....my buddy, Buzz knew ......little brown birds are all sparrows to me!

had to look that one up
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/269/overview/American_Pipit.aspx

checked it myself, thanks, Jen.

Cute. Not sure I have seen that one.

Have not seen a single bird use the bath yet. Any thoughts?? Too close to feeder?? Reluctant because it's new? Too cold??

I've never had much luck with getting birds to use our bath. They occasionally do, but it is rare. It is not new.

That being said, the cold doesn't seem to bother them.

i think the birds like it deeper than typical shallow bath's - they love one of my stone ones that is 3-4" deep - i have seen them drink from the shallow ones although not in the winter

That's interesting.

Chickadee was taking a bath in mine last week during one of the warmer days

I have a copper one, but have only seen chicks & house finches in it....of course, the river is right below my house, so they probably prefer that....nice site showing the pipet...the best way to ID it....it bobs its tail constantly, & walks rather than hops.....

I've never seen a pipet either.

I saw a good bit of action at the bath our few warm days, a few at the pond for a quick drink. No actual bathing but there were quite a few birds bathing at the nature center pond. Only thing I can think of Victor is maybe they just have to get used to it.

saw a big flash of brown this morning and spotted a barn owl in the trees and interrupted the better half getting ready to get a look at it with the bino's. tried to get a picture of it and grabbed the zoom lens. just could not get the lens to focus through the window/screen/snow fall/branches. took off just as i was trying to manually focus. did get a couple shots off I am sure they are completely out of focus.

Cool!

Birdfest outside my window right now!

Totally cool, Bill! Not many barn owls left in NE.......

From before.

IDs on first three??

Another downy shot. Love that little fur near the beak.

House Wren, Dark eyed Junco and a Tufted Titmouse

as suspected here is my lame attempt at getting the owl shoot.