Daily Bird Pics (and Conversation) #453

N.A.N, For the last several years, I've made note of our Juncos coming and going, and for us, they are just a day earlier from last year. Most often it is closer to mid- October.

This picture is not of a bird, but a couple of our "projects" for the birds. That wonky tree trunk will be moved into the feeding area and holes drilled in for a woodpecker feeder. The other thing is one of two Chimney Swift towers built into our new garage. Because construction was late, we missed the southerly migration for roosting, though we did have Swifts fly over in August. We hope they find this in the spring.

how cool is it that you built a swift tower. So did you know for sure that you were in their migration route or how did you find out? I'd like to see if a couple of places I know could put one up.

so were's that awful pix of my FOS junco. Last year's FOS was 10/2, but previously it has been 17, 21, 28.
Some other Migrants:

Tennesee Warbler
Hermit Thrush
Yellow-rumped (myrtle) Warbler

Not here yet.

Mrs. Ed,

We just guessed based on Swifts being seen 9 miles east and 9 miles west of here using old chimneys. What is kind of sad is we think they closed up the chimney east of us because the last time we went there specifically to look for swifts, they were no longer there. They need habitat badly, this is why we did it.

Then after the plans were made and dirt work beginning, we felt it was the right thing to do when we saw some Swifts flying overhead. The actual towers were finished after they all were gone, though. I am so very eager for spring.

I would really like to get a camera into at least one of the towers to see all the activity, but the cost would be too much. I am not sure I have the courage to go to any organization to ask for a grant for something like that.

We bought both books from this organization. http://www.chimneyswifts.org/ One is about the Swifts and the other has plans for the towers. There are many different designs including those that could fit right into a residential area. We kind of improvised as we were connecting them to the garage.

Finally got a nice shot of our little Junco. He was so cooperative to sit there, even though I was outside at the time.

Next bird is a Lincoln's Sparrow, taken by a young one. I looked back at my notes and the Lincoln's have been here since 2 September! I had no idea they stayed so long.

Nankeen Kestrel on the hunt along the dunes at the beach.

Pacific Heron.

Nice Kestrel, Margaret. I got some shots of our Kestrel hovering, but it was a cloudy day, so not quite as nice.

These Bluebirds were having a discussion. I couldn't hear if they were talking about the box, or the suet nuggets on the box. :)

MY SUET!

Steller's Jays in my backyard underneath the suet feeder. A first for this location - they are usually a furtive forest bird, not a suburban/prairie feeder bird.

Pollengarden, It's nice to see a Stellar Jay again, we haven't seen one for a while on the forum.
Might have been discussing the suet, Chilli. it's getting cold out there. Nice shot of the junco too.
Looks like your N.Kestrel is on the hunt, Margaret.
We're getting ready to close the pond here too, Marna. Great pic of the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

1. Hairy Woodpecker
2. Mourning Dove
3. Junco
4. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Morning doves are busy under our feeder. Something has knocked our suet feeder cockeyed. It might have been a squirrel. We use suet embedded with red pepper so they usually leave it alone.

White Winged Dove, a first for me. Rare but not unheard of for this area this time of year. The photos aren't quite bad enough for "Appallingly Bad Pix", but they don't show all the ID marks. I could see the check-marks on the cheeks clearly with the binoculars, but they are barely in the photos. When I looked again a few minutes later, the dove had turned into a Squirrel.

This message was edited Nov 1, 2013 10:53 AM

magician

The one thing I love about fall is that when the other birds are gone the Blue Birds come and hang around and play in the bath!

Love the little Blue, Nanny. They are on my wish list.
Pollengarden, is that a Pine grosbeak with the Dove?
1. Junco
2. Blue Jay
3. Mourning Dove

Nice shots, everyone. I have some in my camera but they haven't been downloaded yet due computer problems.

I've enjoyed all your posting everyone. Margaret, I hope your computer issues will be resolved soon. I'm looking forward to seeing your pics.

Here are couple shots of the increasing number of Canadian Geese arrivals in our local lake. During this migratory period, I was fortunate to have found 2 more species of waterfowls this year. 1. Northern shovelers. 2. American Wigeons. (no pics. of these two mentioned species here).

Burn - I think the little bird with the dove is a house finch.
I am going to put a feeder with the more expensive seed closer to the house and put cheap seed out further away - because these pictures are more typical of what I get:
1 Doves waiting for Squirrel to leave feeder
2 Eurasian doves fighting over empty feeder
3 What I actually saw while walking the dogs (didn't have my binoculars)
4 Buffleheads, which I was able to tease out of a photo, but I don't feel like I actually saw them

I am sharing a photo of a Brown Creeper that I took at our home in Northern MD. It hit our window but was able to fly off after about 30 minutes. The low light and the color of the deck added blue notes to the bird which were not the bird's true color. We are beginning to get our northern arrivals. I like to note when the Juncos show up too. Our first arrived at the feeder 5 days ago.

Nice pics all! As this thread is getting long, I'm starting Volume 454 here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1340395/

Resin

edit: add link

This message was edited Nov 4, 2013 7:06 PM