Daily Bird Pics. Vol. 460

Here goes, the next vol. of our daily post of Birds, near and far.
First 3 pics. are Pelican migrate through our lake, they are still here x2 days since these pictures were taken. 4th pic. our willow is just now breaking leaf buds. Late Spring. A pair of lovely Eastern Bluebirds.

Just some Western Meadowlarks...

Can you see what is wrong with the first one? I was concerned for it, but it tucked that foot under its feathers, which would melt the ice off.

Hormones are kicking in! The Meadowlarks were peaceful this winter, but there was this brief spat near where I put feed. You can see which one looked dominant. After this happened, they went about their eating again. The males are starting to sing from high spots, so I hope they stay here for raising their young again.

Thanks for starting the new thread!

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1376922/

Thanks Resin for forwarding the last thread.

Those Western Meadowlarks look very attractive Chillybean, I too wish them will nest nearby for you to observe and enjoy as spring arrives. I so wish winter would bid us goodbye soon.

Our song birds are as busy as can be around the feeder, the Pelicans hung around for 2 days, but this afternoon when I came home, they have apparently left us. Last pic. is my cut flowers from the garden as a token for "Spring-please arrive".:))

To my surprise, the smaller flock of Pelicans has decided to call this small island a temporary home--for now. They apparently disperse else where during the day, but early in the morning I once again found them at the same site where I found them on previous days.

Also, the lone Baltimore Oriole still hanging around our backyard. I noticed its feather begins to molt just as goldfinch feather begin to change.

1st pic. Pelicans
2nd Bluebird.

I tried to capture the Baltimore Oriole, but he was much too fast and didn't stay for the photo op. :)

Brown Thrasher with peanut treat.

1. First Cedar Waxwings migrating through for the year. Unfortunately the pic. didn't come out very clear.
2, 3 and 4. My lone Baltimore Oriole which has stayed here all winter long, and still hasn't left yet.
5. Not sure of these little ones; they were enjoying a bath and the Cedar Waxwings saw the water splashing, and decided to join in. They only drank, and didn't bath. :)

Looks like maybe those little ones are Yellow-rumped warblers? At least two I think.

Thanks Marna for the i.d.

Thank you Resin, Pine Siskins, they're so sweet!

Really Resin! That's cool

I was reading just a couple of days ago, it's a Pine Siskin 'invasion' winter in a lot of the USA this winter - larger numbers, and moving further south than normal, due to a good breeding season last year and/or a seed crop shortage in the far north (Canada).

Resin

For some reason, I have not had Siskins for two winters now. Hope to see some in the next month as they work their way north.

Howdy y'all! Can you believe I live in one of the country's best places to bird watch and I never really got into photographing birds?! I pretty much stick to butterflies and moths but recently I invited some Texas Parks & Wildlife friends to come look around the ranch and we met up there yesterday.

I drove them around to look at wildflowers and they were excited to see barn owls flying out of old deer blinds and great horned owls perched on the telephone post close to the house.

As we drove around they called out bird species that I had no idea about. I kind of look at birds like I do the skippers of the butterfly family - if they're gray or brown they all look the same to me!

Well, I was pleasantly surprised and my interest has been piqued. As we were talking out in the ranch driveway they pointed out Hooded Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Eurasia Collared Dove, Golden-Fronted Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Virio, Curved-billed Thrasher, Long-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Red-Winged Blackbird and a Savanna Sparrow along with the usual Green Jays, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia perched in the trees and eating birdseed I'd tossed in the yard a mere ten minutes earlier.

You be careful, TexasPP. Once this birdwatching disease takes hold, you've got it for good. :)

Tehehehe, isn't that the truth, Margaret. Wow, TexasPP, the Hooded Oriole, sure is a lot more colorful than the Baltimore Oriole, which I had a pleasure to host-- so to speak over the winter. Adore those birds. I'm glad you're posting, hopefully others will chime in with more photos. :)

Here, is my first sign of spring. Trees are budding out, my first time Tree-Swallow sighting in the backyard Gourd houses. Hopefully they will find these are suitable for another nesting as last year. Other waterfowls probably circling to say good bye before they head north. Just as my camellia are bursting out to welcome Spring.

Oh Cat, you picked a good time to get interested as the neotropical migrants will be coming through!

Shhh, don't tell many people about the Barn Owls. Illinois Department of Natural Resources is so concerned about disturbing them that they won't tell anyone where there are nesting pairs.

They do that here in Iowa, too, with regards to Barn Owls. I was so glad to hear they are nesting in our state even if I don't know where. I thought they pretty much were gone.

Partial solar eclipse this morning!

Had a Buzzard flew over while I was watching it, not often I see one from home ;-)

Resin

Cool! Double pleasure!

Resin-tell us how you captured this image?

Oh I thought you used a deadfall trap ;-)

1. It's spring! It doesn't really start when the Robins arrive, but when they start fighting.

2. We were birding a couple of weekends ago when one of the children spotted a shore bird. We got all excited thinking an early arriving sandpiper. It was a Killdeer. Oh, that looks cold!

If this is a Pine Siskin it is the first I have ever seen in this area. There seem to be several around.

:), until Resin identified mine (Pine Siskin), I used to think they were female Goldfinches. lol. Chillybean, I hope some of your Robins will stay down here during Spring migration.

My highlight the past few days were Tree Swallows, they're shopping for houses to nest in the garden. I hope, I hope.

Mrs_Ed,

There were two eggs last Thursday and when I went out there on Saturday there were three. I set up a game camera in the deer blind too. Dad says they always lay four eggs. So guess I'll find out this weekend when I drive to the ranch. Hope they didn't knock the camera over!

I also came upon a great horned owl with one chick perched in a tree. The adult flew off and the chick tried to fly but landed on the ground a few feet away. I got some nice up close pics and video of it. Will have to log onto the computer to upload - maybe this weekend if I remember.

Cat

Can't wait to see pix, Cat.

Cedar Waxwings migrating through. A bonus view as we left our grandchild's Easter Eggs Hunt area. A beautiful, blessed day!

This could be the final flock of American Coots getting ready to migrate back up North? I'll be missing them, until next Fall.

Kim - We'll say hello for you when they get here, but I promise we'll send them back your way later in the year.

Thanks. Has spring started up there for y'all?

Well, it's trying to be spring. Crocus have been blooming and Daffodils are starting to bloom... but we've had some wild weather.

We had violent thunderstorms all day yesterday and tornado warnings last night. We don't get tornados where I live, but the farm areas relatively near had a really huge one doing major damage, so we got those scary warnings that take over the TV and say to take cover.

My husband was working late so just to be on the safe side, I grabbed a few things and spent the next 1-1/2 hours in the basement. We have a TV down there for when we use our treadmill so I turned on the basketball game I'd been watching and waited till I felt it was safe.

Today is sunny & beautiful.

The storm that hit hard there, it was scary to watch on the news. I'm glad that it wasn't near where you're. Down here, this is named "Tornado Country", and this time of the year, although beautiful, but it could be "hazardous" for us due to storms and such. Do stay safe.

Male Northern cardinal at the feeder. I've been watching the male courting his mate, he feeds her when the pair come to the feeder together. It's as if for him to re-assure her that he will help take care of her when time come that she has to sit on the eggs, and will care for their youngins. This is nature at its best!

You also stay safe!

As hard as I try, I've never been able to get a picture of a male Cardinal feeding his mate. It just happens too fast. But it's fun to watch and such a tender scene.

Have you thought about video them? We can then cut a still picture from the video. :)

It's a good idea, but sounds like too much work. I've barely learned how to use the video feature on my cameras. Maybe...someday.