DAILY PICS VOL 168

And here is a male. Not sure if it's Papa, since I can't see his toe.

This cardinal seems to ponder whether he wants to drink the starlings' bath water

Great pics Dave! Thanks for starting the new Daily Pics thread!

Wonderful pics Met,OP and Gary!

What a fun start to the thread. Wonderful pix Dave. I chuckled out loud at the Starlings.

From the previous thread… I"m not sure that is a chokecherry is that tree because i thought they were more clustered. They sure do look like that berry though. We had this tree when I was a kid. We'd whip the green berries at each other. Nature's BBs! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1610/

Burn and waxing fans. I wonder if you can put out frozen or canned red currants.

I loved those pics at the end of the last thread showing the birds eating pears etc.

Anyone try to get a good picture of a chickadee? Talk about quick!
I feel sorry for them since they are on the lowest end of the feeding chain (at least here in my yard.) They like meal worms but.the blues chase them, the Carolina wrens do too. Even the song sparrows.

Here's one I caught just now that is probably the best I have managed in the full sun. I gather this is a female Tell you why I think that with the next picture.

She finally managed to get into the feeder and get a worm, which she was eating (and posing for me), when another chickadee ( I presume her mate) gave her the dickens and caused her to drop the last part of her meal worm. You can see it still in her grasp in this shot, but trust me, it dropped to the ground and the other guy swooped down and grabbed it.

Bet he'll be sleeping on the couch tonight.

This message was edited Jan 3, 2009 11:20 AM

LOL, Bet he'd be sleeping on the couch tonight. I bet you're absolutely right! Great pics. everyone. Dave I'm dreaming of owning your camera, and wish to have a fraction of your skills on photography.

Nice shots Dave! You have the Carolina Chickadee's while I have the
Black-capped Chickadee's here. They are quick but if they get used to seeing you regularly their quite cooperative for close shots; at least that's been my experience.
In my yard the chickadee's are probably at the top of the food chain since their so small and quick they seem to have no fear of the hawks that come and continue to eat while pretty much everyone else leaves.

A real sweet and sassy bird. One of my favorites!

My hardest bird to get a good pic of has been the Golden-crowned and
Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Super fast little birds!

Unbelievably beautiful photos on this thread and the last two! I can't believe all the bald eagles. Dave, I can't believe how those bluebirds just hang out with you all year!

I took a bunch of bird pics in CA, but since I can't seem to ID them, I'll just post one from today at home.

A pair of American Goldfinches came to visit. My finch feeders are broken, so I ran to the store for a new one. Home Depot was selling the cheap one that I bought last year for $3.98 for $8.98, so I went to Lowes and bought one for $12. That'll show 'em!

Nice one Elphaba!

Too cold here to be outside so all these were taken through the window. Here is a
male Northern Cardinal getting his peanut half.

A female Northern Cardinal in the juniper. Very overcast today at times.

At the feeder.

Last a White-throated Sparrow in a funny pose.

Tufted Titmouse at the suet basket on New Years Day

Great start Dave, superb shots. Lotsa birds.

Gary those berries and Waxwings are very nice, makes the picture pop.

So does your Cardinal, Meth.

Thanks for the name of the tree, Pinkpanther. I might go pick berries next fall.:)

Mrs Ed, I'm pretty sure that currant would work too, will have to try it when DH is not looking,;) I'm also thinking of cranberries.
I tried the peas, but they don't seem to go for it much. Maybe if they didn't have so much of a choice, they might go for them.They love grapes, they tore at them all day, today also. They haven't touch the crabapples yet. And I read that they need a cycle of thaw and freeze, before they get consumed. I remember the Robins eating them with the Waxwings, last spring.

Well if they love grapes then you are set because they are readily available!

no takers on my grapes yet. Guess the cardinals aren't interested

Love your Cardinals shots Pelle, Your White-throated Sparrow is checking out that big noisy bird in the sky.

Lol Elphaba.

Cute Titmouse Nanny.

Mourning Dove, checking out the flower box for seeds.

The photos are just all outstanding!! Love all of them.

My Cedar Waxwings are still loving the Toyon tree berries here.

True grapes are easy to come by.


Redpoll

Great pics everyone!

Dave,

Thanks for starting the next thread!

Dave and Mrs Ed,

By the way, have you thought of cuttting up the grapes in halves and/or quarters for the birds? They might be interested in them, then. I haven't done that, but I'd thought I might make the suggestion.

Gray,

What are those red berries that the Waxwings enjoying?

Marilyn

This message was edited Jan 3, 2009 4:06 PM

I love our Northern Flickers which are here year round.

The Mourning Doves are waiting for their morning treats.

Nice pics everyone!

Love the Cedar Waxwing and Flicker duc!

Yes, I thought about cutting the grapes, Marilyn. I think I might move some too. Right now they are in a hanging 3-tier basket. Peanuts in the top, then grapes, then a suet mix which no one is interested in either. Go figure.

Mrs Ed,

LOL!

My books show the Eastern Towhee spending winter a little farther south in Indiana, but the I found a group of them yesterday. Just couldn't get a good pic tho!!

Canada Geese walking on the frozen pond down the street.

Bigger shot

There are always a few American Robins which over winter in Anchorage, Alaska. Today I decided to check a neighborhood where a flock over wintered last year. There was a flock of about a dozen there again this winter.

There is a second flock near the University of Alaska Anchorage also. But, I wasn't able to get pictures, of any birds, in that flock, without trespassing in someones back yard.

There are actually seven American Robins in this picture, but the hoar frost is obscuring five of them. Can you find all 7?

Nice pics guys!

We still have Robins around too. I wonder if they'll leave. Gary yours look so nice with the hoar frost!

European Starlings taking off.

We have a Green-tailed Towhee showing up in my area!
Their normally on the west and southwest. Here's a page on them.

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/617/_/Green-tailed_Towhee.aspx

Here's a real photo from bird chick. Photo by Dave Cahlander
http://www.birdchick.com/uploaded_images/cahlander-750131.jpg

This message was edited Jan 3, 2009 9:06 PM

This message was edited Jan 4, 2009 5:40 AM

Here's a shot of one of my many American Gold finches I got today in the backyard.

This message was edited Jan 3, 2009 9:12 PM

Excellent shot, Meth. Nice and clean. Those guys are hard to capture

Dave

That is a beautiful shot Met!

Pelle, that is cool about the Green-tailed Towhee!!

The Eastern Towhee are suppose to winter in the very southern part of Indiana. But I found some yesterday and today. The pics are not good. Here is one of today's shots.