Daily Bird Pics (and Conversation) #452

Orioles have already left here - they leave mid-summer and I don't know whether they head north or south. Goldfinches are usually a winter bird here.

Oh, I envy you, nanny! We never see any Orioles on their return trip. Once they leave here that's it till next year. I've never even heard their singing in the trees this time of year so maybe they take a different route south.

Pollengarden, even seeing Goldfinches in winter is very special. My brother lives very high up in the mountains near Denver. He has lots of birds, including tons of Hummers, but he doesn't get any Goldfinches up where he lives.

Bet he has House Finch. We saw those at 4000 ft. in Hawaii on the way to the Mauna Kea Summit!

So, here are some catch up photos. House wren - towards the end of the second nesting. Cormorants and White Pelicans. Goldfinch on Ehinacea. And then, a cute little juvie chipping sparrow. This one decided to take a little bath after I had washed off the patio.

Love the pics...the little Chipping Sparrow is just precious!!

My brother lives at 9500 ft and you'd be surprised at all the birds he has that high up, plus deer, fox, assorted squirrels, chipmunks, etc.... and a couple of bears!

Nanny, you must be a good luck charm. First thing this morning a male Oriole came to my kitchen window looking for his grape jelly. Sooo...I raced outside with half an orange and some grape jelly (before I even had my coffee!!).

I haven't seen him since this morning, but I hear them in the trees so I know they're still around. This is the first time I've ever seen them in late summer.

N.A.N. *big grin* that you had an oriole!!

Eurasian Collared Doves - non-Native nuisance, but they have their cute moments
Male Black-chinned Hummingbird

Nanny :-)

Cute, pollengarden!

This morning a juvie hummer hovered at our kitchen window just looking at me. It was close enough to see it was a young male. The feeders are getting a lot of activity now and one of their favorites is just outside that window.

I've been lurking and enjoying everyone's bird pix. I finally got around to getting photos ready to post. Some are from several weeks ago.

First, a couple (? a pair) of Glossy Ibis
Second, a few Carnaby's Black cockatoos from a larger flock
Third, Great Crested Grebe
Fourth, White-cheeked Honeyeater
Fifth, New Holland Honeyeater



This message was edited Aug 24, 2013 4:19 PM

Pied Oystercatcher
Purple Swamphen
Willie Wagtail
Tiger snake (I know it's not a bird but it was taking a leisurely swim next to them)

Are the snakes a danger to young water birds?

Margaret ~ your pics are gorgeous...and so many unusual birds (to me, anyway)!! It's really hard to pic a favorite, but the Glossy Ibis pair look so sweet and loving!

OMG...the Tiger Snake looks really long (or maybe it just looks that way in the picture). Are they dangerous?

We still have Goldfinches everywhere and the numbers are growing as more of the babies fledge. I haven't had any luck getting good pics, though. We really enjoy listening to their constant singing.

That's funny... I cross-posted with IrisMA and we were both wondering the same thing about the snake!



This message was edited Aug 24, 2013 9:44 AM

Spotted Flycatcher, Curlew Sandpiper

Resin

Iris and nuts, the tiger snake is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. They will usually retreat rather than confront, but if covered, will strike without hesitation. And yes, they do take birds.

Australasian Shoveler
Caspian Terns (from yesterday)
Red-capped Plover (female, with male in background)
Red-capped Plover (male)

One more of the Glossy Ibis

Beautiful pics, Resin!! The landscaping in the second one is also very unique and attractive. Where is that?

Thanks for the info on the Tiger Snake, Margaret. I'm glad to be way over here! I certainly hope you were a good distance away, as well.

Lovely pics!! Is the Glossy Ibis as iridescent as it appears?

Thanks, nuts. I was probably 30' from the snake. At this particular wetland, the tiger snakes are so prolific that you really do have to watch where you're putting your feet. It's a place where you don't venture into long grass because the chances are pretty good that you'd step on one. I don't know if they've ever done an estimate of the tiger snakes and dugites at Herdsmans Lake, but I reckon there'd be tens of thousands of them.

Yes, the glossy Ibis really is as glossy as it appears in the pix.

Beautiful variety of birds there Margaret. The snake population must keep rodents in check there. Resin, the flycatcher and the sandpiper are neat as well.

Brown Pelicans from Gulf Shore Al.

Today I have seen 3 adult male and 1 female Baltimore Oriole. I am thrilled that the migrants keep finding us. It just amazes me....how do they locate our 2 little dishes??? I am in awe of nature yet again!

Also have a shot of a humming bird checking out the jelly dish!

Hi everyone, Nan, it's so neat that you've migrant Orioles. N.A.N. no it was a lucky shot setting on 'sport' for moving objects.

Here goes! My thrill! Wood duck sighting for the 3rd time. I so wanted to set up wooden houses for them, but the area is full of predators. So I wouldn't dare.
1. Female Wood Duck
2. Wood Duck babies' adversary; the GBH

I found this interesting

http://www.youtube.com/embed/2CFckjfP-1E

Great shots, LL!
You're probably right about not putting up Wood Duck houses. They might not be any safer in the wild, but hopefully they're well hidden.

Amazing video, Adel...especially the slo-mo shots!

Just a couple of pics to post.

1) Female House Finch cooling off on a very hot day.
(the birdbaths get so much use in the summer, I change the water at least twice a day and wash them weekly)

2) The early evening light did interesting things to the colors of this Mourning Dove, plus the shadows made it look two-tone.



This message was edited Aug 28, 2013 2:01 PM

Oops...forgot the birds :-o

[quote="Mrs_Ed"]Bet he has House Finch. We saw those at 4000 ft. in Hawaii on the way to the Mauna Kea Summit!

I can't recall seeing them. Maybe I was blinded by all those lights!

LOL. All three lights.

They were in those conifer trees above the dinner site.

Wow...I just spent a while looking through about 6 pages of the past Bird Pics threads! Haven't done that in a while, but I love seeing all the old pics. Each time it's like looking at most of them for the first time all over again. I'm so glad those are all saved.

I saw my 1st Goldfinch for the duration. Are they migrating South?

Hah! I'd love to go through the rest ...someday when I have about 5 years to spare!





This message was edited Aug 30, 2013 8:53 PM

Please head on to here for the next volume!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1331352/

Resin