Daily Bird Pictures Vol. 461

I hadn't heard that one before. The story I read said that when communicating with each other, not only do they have different "words" for different threats, they do past tense and present tense as in "watch out! I see a cat right now" or "caution, I have seen a cat in this area before". I watched a TV program that showed they can distinguish between people, or at least general appearance. They will remember who did or didn't present a threat in the past.
When my mother was young, her family had a pet Magpie. Not only did it have a large vocabulary, it used the words appropriate to the situation.
But even Hummingbirds have certain brainy abilities. Their survival depends on knowing when and where food -seasonal flowers- can be found. They remember year to year where a feeder hangs within inches (move it just 2 feet and they are unhappy about it) and they remember when an automated water source turns on within minutes (they show up and wait).

I've read about (and watched on nature shows) some amazing things they'll do. Supposedly their use of tools is also impressive.

You're so right about birds like hummers. A great example is when I wash their feeders. Even if I stagger the washing, leaving one feeder outside, it's funny to see the reaction from different hummers. Some will get very agitated, flying all around looking for their feeder while others will perch patiently and wait, as if they know I'll be bringing the feeders back soon.

But, of course, to me the most amazing thing is migration!

These shots are from yesterday around my yard.

Downy WP female, Goldfinch female (collecting "furniture" for her nest), Hummer male, Downy female, White-breasted Nuthatch male.

1) Riparian meets Desert habitat here
2) Cormorants
3 & 4) Osprey

Thanks for the correction, I meant Osprey, not Kestral

This message was edited Sep 7, 2015 10:36 AM

Pollen,

3 and 4 is an Osprey. :)

Not much going on with birds here. Maybe tomorrow we'll go to a nearby hotspot and hope that blue-green algae is not there. Also, we hope to go next Saturday on the field trip to a grassland area.

I forgot that we did have a neat visitor recently... Gray Catbird. We heard it a couple of days before getting a picture.

Great. they are talkers.

I've just noticed not many pics. have been posted lately. Besides the residential birds in my backyard. I have enjoying watching the migratory geese honing down South for the cold winter ahead. I've been anticipating American Coots, but haven't seen them yet.

Here are the distance shots of Canadian Geese arriving around our area lake.

We went outside to see the moon eclipse & could hear the barred owl calling. Still hearing it now.

This isn't exactly one of my most exciting birds, but for some unforeseen reason we have this black vulture hanging out on our ponds island. The island is not very big. He goes from one side to the other and stands in the edge of the water. Not sure what that is all about. He has been there 3 days now.

It is early morn here and I've already saw my first hummingbird of the day. I'm seeing several of them on a regular basis.

I've been out and checked on the black vulture. It is GONE. No sign of struggle - no feathers, no nothing. Hopefully it got better and left on its own. While tracking around the pond I see we have this tiny little duck. I think it is the "least grebe"? It sure is tiny as it looks like a duckling instead of a duck. The #2 pix is the least duct with our domestic ducks.

My red pineapple sage started blooming about a week ago (finally) and I went out early this morn in hopes of getting a picture of the hummingbird on the pineapple sage. I heard the hummer, but did not see it there in that area, but it may have been after the tubular flowers of the cardinal vine instead.

Always fun to watch the birds. Me & the dog.......... This dog will not ride my golf cart, she will jump on and then jump off when the vehicle starts, but NEVER can she be bribed to ride. This morn she jumped on and sat on my foot while I was waiting for the hummers. She's a hoot!

The Grebe did not stay long. Today we have a couple of teal on the pond and about 20 domestic Canadian Geese. The Kind Fishers have been harassing each other late this afternoon, and I managed to get a photo shot of one of them.

I did see 14 wild turkey this morn, by I was too farm from my camera to get their picture without them flying away.

brendak, those Kingfishers are hard to keep still for a photo opt. Nicely done. Those grebes didn't stay long there with you. They've traveled down this way with us for the season.

1) A lone Grebe
2) Great Blue Heron inland; probably dodging an Eagle overhead.
3) A flock of Grebes, am not sure which species, from a distance I mistaken 'em for American Coots arrival, but the A.Coots aren't here yet.

Migratory birds: First flock of American Coots arrival to our local lake yesterday. These will stay here with us 'til next spring.

The Coots have been in the area for a little while. Technically, I think they are year-round here, but their numbers dwindle in the winter. I enjoy those birds.

I saw a hummingbird out in our prairie patch Wednesday, a record for us! But they've not come to the feeder since late September. While creating habitat, we are seeing fewer birds at the feeders. Ach, even the Juncos are staying in the wild spots. We planted a second prairie patch that is visible from the house, but it had to remain mowed this year.

Here is one of the photos from September. This poor little thing had a case of the nerves... the mob of Jays had arrived.

Congrats on the Winter birds, Kim!

It appears ours are starting to arrive. I just saw our first Purple Finches of the season this morning! Didn't get any pics, yet. The ones below are from last spring during their northward migration.

Wow, Chilly, that is late for hummers! I haven't seen any since about the 1st of October, which is normal for us.

Love those Purple Finches NAN. I enjoy those A. Coots that come to keep us company this time of year. :) Before their arrival, we've had large flocks Canadian geese, I also saw a few Common Loons, every now and then. I still see hummers sporadically in the garden.

We have Juncos!!
I was expecting to see them any day, but I never really know exactly when they arrive since they don't use the feeders. I just looked out the window a little while ago and there was a male at one of the birdbaths.

Welcome back little ones! :o)

YAY, Nuts! Our Juncos arrived last week, but it took them a few days to find the feeders. They are bringing the native sparrows too. :) I am still waiting on the American Tree Sparrows, I usually see them by now.

No junco's here yet. I'll keep my eye open for them.

early for juncos here. We have just started with the tube feeder this week so we have our batch of resident chickadees & a couple tufted titmouse.

I haven't seen any American Tree Sparrows yet, but now that the Juncos are here they should show up soon.

I would imagine the rest of you should start seeing them shortly.

The Juncos started showing up here this past week. But I was in the mountains (9000ft) and they are still up there, too. We haven't had any wintery weather yet, but that may change in the Mountains tonight. Last winter was severe here, I had two Juncos die - one huddled against the back door, one against the front. I am still upset about it. I am going to put up a cold weather roosting box, but I am still mulling over materials, construction, location.

On a brighter note, I got a thrill Monday. I was working in the yard and heard a purring chortling sound. I knew I should recognize it, and I knew I shouldn't be hearing it in my yard. And at first I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Then I looked up. There was a flock of Sandhill Cranes circling above me! They must have been off course and arguing about it. They split into two groups and one went southeast and one went southwest. Camera battery dead - sigh.

So sad about the Juncos. :o(
I think that's a good idea about the roosting boxes. It's probably best if they're off the ground, though, since you don't want them to be easy prey for cats and other ground critters.

We have a pile of branches in the very back end of our yard that we started years ago. I know many tiny birds use it for protection because I see them going in and flying out and, occasionally, a small flock will fly out all at once.

It took me years to figure out what that "purring, chortling" sound was. I'd see and hear the birds flying in flocks overhead every spring and fall during migration.

One day I used my superzoom camera to take pictures then blew them up on my computer. The pics weren't very good, but good enough to see they were a crane-type of bird with long legs. I went to several bird sites where you can listen to bird calls and songs and finally figured it out. It was a real "ah-ha" moment for me.

We have a roosting box on a pole put on the south-east side of a tree. The top of the box is about 5 1/2 feet from the ground. It basically is the shape of a nesting box, but the hole is at the bottom instead of near the top. There are dowels in it to allow multiple birds perch in there. The thing about a roosting box is I am not sure any birds go into it except those that are already cavity nesters.

Brush piles are good, too. We are building our winter one up again.

I am still hoping for a decent look at Sandhill Cranes. They are always so far away and in fields.

Sandhill Cranes - How fortunate you are. I would love to see a flock of those guys fly over.

That is truly sad about the junco. Still no junco's here yet.

We sometimes see the eastern bluebird roost in bluebird boxes. Though, we have also seen where several roosted together in a box and must have smothered the one/ones on the bottom.

I woke to a flock of what I think were white egrets (first 3 pictures). Not the best of pictures. It was really early and I was half asleep. They were so fascinating for a brief while. They acted like they didn't know quite what they wanted to do. Then they soared here and there, went back to the tree, then kind of circled over and went on their way SW.

#4 photo - not sure what it is, but I was at the hydrant getting water and I was probably somewhat hidden and this little guy kept flitting about. Not the best of pictures - and I'm not sure what it is. Looks to have a ring around the eye and a very pointed beak. Any thoughts? I know, not the best of pictues. It was awfully busy and I was trying to stay hidden.

#5 Then there is the usual Canadian Geese that just kind of hang out here at the pond. These geese are more domestic than ones that fly high and migrate.

Brenda, I could be wrong, but the fourth pic could be some kind of thrush. We occasionally get Swainson's briefly during migration, but they don't stay.

If big a catbird for the photo? I saw a flock of sandhill cranes when we were driving to the airport in Madison WI a few year ago. I had never seen them even when I went to UW.

Winter roost: I was concerned that only cavity nesters would use it. I am familiar with poultry piling up & smothering the ones at the bottom - thanks for the warning that wild birds will do that, too. I think I will make one like an open box or basket with roosts, mounted upside down under the eaves over a porch light - that should catch enough heat to help a hardy bird like a Junco without making them Claustrophobic. Then I can make another closed box for birds like Chickadees with the entrance and main ventilation at the bottom.

150 posts . . . a volunteer to start Daily Bird Pictures Vol. 462, please!

White-rumped Sandpiper . . . quite rare on this side of the Atlantic!

Resin

Red bellied woodpecker was on the suet feeder this afternoon.

I don't know how to redo starts on the list.

OK, I've started Vol. 462, please head here to continue!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1407835/

Resin