Daily Bird Pictures volume 458

It is amazing how long a Green Heron's neck is. Here is a shot of it going after a snack.

I have not seen much new or interesting
1) Female Mallard and ducklings
She really hated these guys
2) Double-crested Cormorants

Lots of beautiful pics, everybody!

Interesting ant moat, Hack. Some of my feeders have built-in ant moats. With the others, I usually spread a little Tree Tanglefoot one or two feet below the feeder and cover it with a clear plastic cup of some sort so the birds or critters can't get any stuck on them. It's cheap and a thin coating lasts a whole season. I use shepherd's hooks, but if you hang the feeders on a cord or chain, you can do a similar thing above the feeder. It really works.

My nesting fluff has really been going fast over the last couple of months. Now it's mostly Goldfinches using it, but still some of the other birds.

I have a few pics to share.

1- Wasn't sure what this was, until I photoshopped it. Then I realized I was seeing a Carolina Wren at the suet feeder.

2- Thanks to Resin, I know this is a jury Cowbird.

3- Here's a male Goldfinch.

4- Here's a female House Finch up on a limb.

5- Taken through my side-door window, a Song Sparrow.

Spring is just around the corner and our birds are becoming more active. Here are a few from yesterday.

1. Laughing Turtledove
2. Singing Honeyeater
3. Red Wattlebird
4. New Holland Honeyeater (for Mrs Ed)

From a couple of days ago.

1. Black Swans
2. Little Corellas
3. Pink & Grey Galahs checking out a nesting hollow

Great Margaret--the nesting birds are an especially lovely photo, although I enjoyed all. Fun to see such different birds.

I sure would like to know what a Laughing Turtledove sounds like. :) Does it really laugh? I could search, but I do not have sound on the computer. You have some interesting birds, Margaret.

There just have not been as many bird sightings, so I've been taking lots of pictures of bugs and plants. Between all that, I did get this cute Dickcissel. The sound of my zoom caused him to pause and look about for that strange noise.

Margaret, I always enjoy your pics, but that New Holland Honeyeater is really pretty.

Chilly, that's a nice capture of the Dickcissle.

Hack

Got a few to share.

1- Saw a Gold Finch and a Chickadee feeding.

2- Later spied 2 GOFINS and a Cardinal. One of the Goldfinches took off.

3- Here's a male GOFIN feeding.

4- Not a good shot, but I did see this Hummer at the feeder.

5- Spotted this female Red-bellied Woodpecker up on a branch.

Got some more pics to share.

1- This Downy Woodpecker was enjoying the suet.

2- Raining, darkish outside didn't allow me to crank up the shutter speed. Here's a female ruby-throated hummer.

3- Nice profile of a female Red-bellied Woodpecker.

4- Same conditions as with the female Hummer. Here's a male Red-bellied Woodpecker.

5- I have many Titmouses (or is it Titmice?).

☺ Hack It is titmice.

New turkey broods are appearing, tough on the garden as the adults take dust baths which uproots plants. Protecting by hardware cloth over the beds again.

Thanks iris, I never was sure about that - but it makes sense to me.

Do you raise turkeys or are these wild turkeys?

Hack

Wild turkeys. they were reintroduced in the area in the 1970s.

Darn kids always sneaking in my yard to use the pool!

Fantastic, Marna. What a wonderful sight.

Isn't that something, Mrs_Ed! Great photo.

Fantastic Marna. Congratulations!

Funny & great. Mrs. Ed.

Here, one was finished.

Two Kestrels were released on our property last week. Of course, they didn't stay... The male was hesitant, so I wasn't ready with the camera when he flew out. I got a distant shot, but that's it.

Our lake loons were succcessful this year hatching an egg and having it survive for 5 weeks. The parents were both escorting it around the lake yesterday. It was a good day to do it as the usually one boat lake had about 6 on it so the Bald Eagles were giving the lake a wide berth. Ten years ago the eagle got the baby loon that was even bigger than this one. The parents dove and the baby was picked off in front of us. This little one has survived the snapping turtles and they Northern Pike, now the worst of all is waiting in the wings. It is so nice to see a baby loon after so many years.

Marvelous to see.

That is great, outtahand! We finally saw our first Common Loon in breeding plumage earlier this spring. Ah, I forgot.... it's my profile picture. :)

No picture for this, but... we got our very first YARD Carolina Wren! Yippee! They are not supposed to be in this habitat, so this was doubly neat. It was a passer by at just the right time, when I was out tending to the feeders.

Mrs Ed, what a wonderful shot!!!

Chilly, glad you got a pic of the Kestrel heading out.

ottahand7, maybe nature will give it a break and let the little fella make it.

Hack

This photo was yesterday. The Bald Eagle was very present yesterday. Last evening he swooped down right in front of our place and picked off a small fish. I hope his fishing is better than his Loon hunting.

All is well with the baby loon so far. They come close by but not too close. Mama is sleeping and the baby is peeping. This was yesterday.

The other is a female Goldfinch who flew right in front of me as I was taking Hummingbird photos about 5' away from our feeder. Look at the suprised Hummer in the background. We both thought at first, what a big hummingbird!

Great photos. shame on Mama goldfinch to pick on a hummingbird.

Another day on the lake and the Mom and baby Loon come in closer each day. I am glad that they do as the fishing has been dead for humans (but not for loons as you can see) so very little activity on the lake. She is comfortable diving and fishing with her youngster close to humans.

Has baby loon learned to dive with the parents?

pollengarden - No it hasn't - it looks under the water a lot but I haven't seen it dive yet. They stayed at the other end of the lake yesterday and it appears that they are allowing another pair of loons to spend time on the lake. We saw a pair with no chick yesterday and were worried but then another loon flew up to them. We lost sight of them but there was no squawking so maybe after young are born they allow other loons onto the lake for early warning.

Here is what they have to worry about. These are poor photos as the boat was rocking when I got these. The eagle likes to keep an eye on fisherman too as fish like walleyes and northern pike that take a long time to get unhooked may either die or struggle on top of the water for a while when released. An easy supper for the eagle family.

The little grey birds I have seen around here are phoebes. They are not calling at the moment. Fingers crossed for the young loon.

Peek-a-Boo - female Ruby-throat Hummer.

Hack

Some one on a garden site has mentioned seeing more robins. I am beginning to agree--probably this years young's?

The last robin I saw was back in the middle of June.

3 more on the lawn today, plus a catbird in the tree.

It was interesting around here the last 10 days or so. Spotted the Coot all by its self on one of the local lakes. Many real birders told me it is the earliest they have seen on around here. This weekend two immature Little Blue Herons showed up on another lake in Harrisburg PA. No one remembers ever seeing any of them around here so it was a treat.
While I was watching the Blues I saw this Wood Duck hen and an immature on the log. Lucky that he opened his wing just as I was ready to shoot.