Daily Pics vol. 11

Red Bellied Woodpecker

pelletory, I love your woodpecker pic! :)

WE get them everyday but I have yet to get a good photo of one!!

Gras, great photos, and the one with the Tern hovering is gorgeous with the colors in the background. Neat little bird! But what was that? Only 145 photos? LOL - I love it!

Pelle, beautiful woodpecker - and another nice photo.

Thanks for posting the pic of the terns. I've never seen one (that I know of). I used to see that word as an answer in crossword puzzles and wonder what it looked like.

Great photos folks... as always. We do have some really great photographers here on Dave's Garden. Eye candy everywhere you look. :-)

Janet

Janet, my son-in-law just told me about some on-line photography classes (free). I've checked it out a bit and it looks like it could be helpful. my101.learningcenter.sony.us/ (Hope I did that right.)

I had a good eagle day so will post a few photos.

Second one.

Last one.

Beautiful pics Murmur!

http://my101.learningcenter.sony.us/

I'll try that link again.

Thanks, Pelle!

Murmur, the last one is my favorite. Great shots. Far superior to the eagle flight shots I took on Monday. Mine weren't worth posting. I only took a few pic's today. I spent a lot of time trying to get shots of Green-winged Teal, but they wouldn't cooperate.

Thanks for the link Murmur. I will definitely check that out.

Love those eagle shots!

Gras, those little teal are such quick zoomers. Good Luck!

Janet

Janet, I've been checking the website out a bit and it gives lots of info on how to properly use a digital camera and how they work - I have great hopes of understanding something - lol!

Gras, thanks for the kind words - it was one of those great days where the weather and the bird himself cooperated!

I know this isn't the best photo of this wren, but it's the only one I was able to get. This is the first time I've ever seen a wren in my yard. I've been hearing a new song out there, but couldn't see who was singing it. This morning, I spent about 3 hours watering, adding sphagnum moss and basically just maneuvering some plants around. This little bird followed me around within just a few feet of me, at almost ground level, and was singing to his/her little heart's content. The camera was in the house (wouldn't you know it?) so I couldn't get any good close-up shots. I knew right away what it was though, thanks to you folks who've been posting photos here.

It could be that they've been in the yard before this year and I just didn't know what it was. This morning I talked to this one and we really had a lovely visit. Had it not been for his little presence, I might have finished up earlier. I can tell you all now that I felt blessed to have seen him. There are many places for him to hide out looking for bugs. I'm sure he'll give the lizards out there a run for their money. :-)

I'm sure there are probably many kinds of wrens, so I've labeled the photo wren, because I wasn't sure of his "full name".

Janet

I love wren songs and we haven't had any here that I know of. I remember the first time I actually saw where the beautiful song was coming from and learned about beauty in plain packages!

What a wonderful photo Janet! I just love wrens. That one looks like a Carolina Wren but there may be a similar wren in Tx. that I don't know about. I just love watching them. They have the cutest way of sticking their tail up in the air when they are hopping around. I will look forward to more pictures of your new friend!

Thanks so much for that link Murmur. I will check that out too!

Carolina Wrens are in the Eastern half of Texas so that could be it. I love them because they have such spunky attitudes.

Edited fpr posting in wrong thread.

This message was edited May 13, 2007 4:34 PM

Great photo, Janet - and thanks for sharing the experience!

I'm watching you.

Nice pic Marilyn! My Blue Jays keep coming by to see if I've put the feeders back up.

I did see the Red Bellied WP in the apple tree checking things out. I put a hanging birdbath in that tree in hopes he tries it.

male Downy Woodpecker

The other day, I had run out of sunflower seeds and only had raw peanuts in the shell. Since so many eat at my house nowadays, I put a whole bag of peanuts out and sat back with my camera for about 10 minutes. Rather than post a whole bunch of photos, I made a collage of my "wildlife family".

The Blue Jays were the hardest to photograph. The swoop down and grab and run (edit to say FLY AWAY instead of run HAHA). They must have invented fast food! HAHAHAHA

Janet

This message was edited May 13, 2007 6:42 PM

Nice collage Janet!

Thanks Pell I had a lot of fun making it.

Those squirrels try to sneak up on the peanuts. I have a neighbor that hand feeds some of his. I don't know that I'm THAT brave yet.


Thanks for the positive ID on my Carolina Wren. I was pretty sure that's what it was and I started to put that in the label, and then thought, but what if it's NOT!!!

I'm making myself a screen saver with the different birds I photograph with their labels. My memory ain't what it used to be. I love the variety of birds that come to visit, common as they are.

I love the look on this blue jay's face. I just wish I'd captured the entire bird. (sigh) They are just so dern quick!

Wow, great photos everyone!

I finally had time to spend watching the feeders today and had my very first ever sighting of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak!! I nearly had a heart attack when I looked up and saw him! I think it's a juvenile, the colors aren't as sharp and vivid as the ones I've seen posted here. I didn't think they were supposed to be here this late either, thought they would have already headed north to their breeding area...maybe this guy was lost.



This message was edited May 13, 2007 9:22 PM

This was about the wildest display I've ever seen from a Red-bellied WP. There was another one flying over and squawking so maybe this one was warning it away from "his" feeder, he was making a terrible sound like I've never heard them make too. He looks hilarious with the feathers standing up on top of his head!

This message was edited May 13, 2007 9:23 PM

This is an Eastern Kingbird. I haven't used the weedeater around the shop in a while and he'd swoop down into the tall grass every once in a while and catch a bug

I'm not sure about this one. I believe, from what I could find on line, that this is a second summer juvenile Indigo Bunting. A couple of Goldfinches are keeping him company.

I can't believe I finally got the Indigo Buntings to come to the feeder. I bought some wild finch feed but that has only brought more Doves and the dreaded Cow Birds. The Indigo is eating sunflower hearts from one feeder and something, maybe more s/f hearts, out of a seed/nut/fruit mixture.

This is either a female or a juvenile Baltimore Oriole. The male was chasing after it a couple of times but I don't know if he was courting or trying to chase it away. It came and looked around at the feeders and hung out for a while but didn't eat anything.

Here's the RB Grosbeak and the Indigo Bunting sharing the mixed feed. When the RBG first came, the other birds seemed afraid of it but it didn't take long for them to adjust to the new visitor.

Great pics Sadie! Such a nice variety!

I was up to North Carolina a couple of weeks ago and got some pictures of some geese, since we don't have these in FL.

One more.

Beautiful pics Marilyn. I've always liked these even though their considered quite a nuisance in most places.

Janet, super collage!!!

Sadie, wonderful photos - and you sure have a terrific variety! Love the deep blue contrasting with the bright yellow - not to mention the Rose Breasted Grosbeak's colors!

Marilyn, I love those darn geese, too - but they can become a real problem (in a suburb of Seattle they had to exterminate some because of the health issue involving their droppings - I know it was necessary, but I was a basket case, to say the least). nice pictures - love the detail of the feathers!

Pelle, glad you're still at least able to see some birds. Do you think you'll put your feeders back up at some point?

Yes, I was thinking of doing it today. I still see Starlings around but there are a lot in my developement and I see them all over the area.

I set my camera up today while outside gardening and got a few shots of what I think might be a juvenile house finch. I'm only guessing juvie because it was so much less timid of me with the camera than the other two (male and female) it was with.