Daily Pics Vol 193

these two look like cartoon characters

Burn, love the Pine Grosbeaks!
Dave nice to see mama!
Gardn~ great shot of the Herons!

Mallard Duck

I know Blue Jay's can be aggressive but I love to hear them!!!

Fabulous shots of the Pheasants, Wallaby. What wonderful colours.

Burn, you won't know yourself when the snow finally vanishes. Not long now. Beautiful birdies.

Dave, as always, your images are just marvellous. I initially misread Marna for Mama and wondered how you'd managed to get pix of her. LOL

gardn_w, I just love waterbirds.

Nice birds, luvs.

I went a couple of hundred km south yesterday. Kookaburras and Osprey aren't the only things that Willie Wagtails feel very comfortable sitting on the backs of. They aren't actually trying to chase the Kangaroo off. They sit on their backs, using it as a viewing and launching platform in their endless quest for insects. They also keep the insects down on the Kangaroos, so it's a symbiotic relationship.

The white spot on the Kangaroo's back is a Willie Wagtail deposit.

It was a really dull day, although the sun was trying desperately to burn through the clouds. I saw lots of these gorgeous little Black-faced Woodswallows.




This message was edited Mar 17, 2009 1:58 PM

Australian's have the best names for birds! Willie Wagtail -- seriously, that's just great! The kangaroo is cool too!
Wallaby, BEAUTFUL and action packed start to this new thread.
Dave, you have the best bluebird shots.
Gardn, love those herons.
Luv, that mallard is stunning.

Inca Doves

"Look how sexy I am!"

Necking

Intruder alert -- White-winged Dove on the left and Inca on the right.

Gorgeous doves, elphaba.

I managed to get one shot of a native Bronzewing Pigeon in the scrub at the side of the road before it took off.

There were so many birds along this area of the Leschenault Inlet, but I was on my own and it's a really isolated place so didn't want to venture too far from my ute. I'll go back again soon to the area of the inlet that is actually a conservation park.

Grey Fantail.

Hey Dave what is that plugged into the back of the bird house? Just curious

There were between 300 and 400 Black Swans along a section of the inlet. This is a very small sample

Hi Al

It is a cable connecting a bird cam to a TV in the basement. It allows me to see inside the box without disturbing the Mrs. It has infra red lights so you can see even in the dark and it also has a microphone so you can hear the birds talk to each other.

The nest cam is designed to go inside the bird house but with the Gilbertson style there is no head room and nothing to attach it to so I cut a hole in the roof and aimed the camera down from above. The dome you see is a 3 inch PVC cap cut down and attached above the camera. Hopefully it will keep the rain off the camera (and the birds).

So far I am enjoying watching the Mrs building her nest. She is very meticulous (and methodical), so I'm sure you would appreciate that. I am disappointed in the picture quality, however, but so far all there is to see is the straw she is using for the nest. Maybe when there are eggs and nestlings the picture will improve.

Dave

Wow great pics all!

Margaret, Wonderful shots but I love the one of the Black-faced Woodswallow!

Elphaba, Great job on the Doves. Love that you caught that beautiful wing!

Hi Dave, Will you somehow be able to capture a still from your nest camera to show us later?

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way -
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day !!!!


Great photos, everyone ......... here's a local Mute Swan. I haven't seen too many recently so they apparently are being kept under good control.

Good morning Everyone! As usual, all of the beautiful photos have started my day off on a very good note. I especially like the pics from Margaret, our Friend from The Land Down Under. Blessings to all of you today. I almost forgot: very early each morning, I hear a Cardinal making all kinds of beautiful music in the shrub right next to our front door. I'm hoping that we'll have baby Cardinals there before long. They have nested several times before in our yard, but never this close to our home.

Beautiful pic Linth! Thank you! Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

BTW, someone asked about the American Robin the other day. I found this map at Journey North.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/robin/robin_range.gif

Wow Wallaby...what a way to start a new thread, those Pheasant pics are awesome and the colors and behavior are captured well!

Nice start everyone...love all the beautiful pics and so happy to see Dave's Blues and Margaret's birds down under!

The Dickcissel is still here...I think he is waiting for his flock to show then will fly the coop.

Mr. Harris' Sparrow is also still here.

The Red-winged Blackbirds are in full display, this pic was taken in low light and hope get one with some sun. I just wanted to share the way his tail looks worn out!

The male Cardinal with the deformed beak is still around...I noticed he also has a humped back. I see him at the same brush pile and have grown very protective of him. I make sure there is alway feed at "his" area.

Here is one more shot of him.

Here is a female Cardinal that landed on the back fence.

This one landed on the platform feeder and has a lot more red on her.

Margaret, love the Black-faced Woodswallow, it's so pretty!

Elphaba awesome shots of the Inca Doves, I love there wings!

Linth great shot of the Swan!!

Dell love the Dickcissel!

Excellent shots Dell! Love the Dickcissel and Harris Sparrow!

Thanks Luv and Pelle!

DH and I went to a local conservation area known for it's Great Blue Heron rookery. It was overcast all day so this is a terrible pic but hope you can see some of the nests and birds in the Sycamore tree. There were several nests and many GBH...I hope to go back on a sunny day!

Very nice Dell! That would be a great place to visit!

Thanks Pelle...it is less than an hour away so I hope to visit often. There were tons of birds in there I felt like a kid in a candy store and I need to go back and sit and wait and just enjoy the view!

Here is a long shot of the Sycamore trees just to give an idea of all the Herons and nests!

Edited to say I wonder if Resin can count the birds and nests! LOL!

This message was edited Mar 17, 2009 7:41 AM

Good morning Rose. Nice cardinals. We are having the same gloomy weather here but the female BB continues to build her nest, even though she has to use wet grass. She sure seems desperate to get it done. Here is a shot of them both taken through the window about 5 minutes ago.

BTW, Happy Saint Patty's Day to all!! Great idea, Linth.

a new bird for me the St. Patrick Gull

Oooow, I'm green with envy!

Wow, you have all been very busy! So many interesting birds and pics, too many to comment on! Thank you all for the comments, I hadn't thought they were that good as it had turned dull and the dead winter stuff got in the way!

Love the Wagtails on the kangaroo Margaret, they look very comfortable, lol. Elphaba, I got a laugh out of the sexy dove, and Mrs Ed that is a rare bird you have there LOL!

You're kidding me, it seems not long since it was St. Patrick's day!

Mrs Pheasant a few days ago, she was so close to me waiting for her food I could hardly get her in the pic!

Nice photos, Rose. I really like the Dickcissel.

Dave, I really like the bluebird house. Looks inviting !!!

Mrs. Ed, I used to see those all of the time ........... in my younger days.

Love the pheasants, Wallaby. Burn, I like the Pine Siskins. Dave, those Bluebirds are lovely--fantastic shots! gardn whisperer love the cartoon character herons. So many great pictures already--gosh, luvsgrtdanes the Mallard is beautiful. Margaret, beautiful bird the Black-faced Woodswallow. Elphaba great Dove shots, "necking"? Rose, I'll miss seeing the Dickcissel if he leaves. Beautiful cardinal shots.

Linth, love the swan.

Lastly, Mrs. Ed, what can one say about the St. Patrick Gull----except, what Margaret said!! LOL

Well, off to do chores.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day folks. You made my day with your wonderful pictures.

GG

Thanks everyone...today is so sunny and is supposed to be that way all day. Can't wait to see what shows up! Maybe I will see one of those Green Gulls...LOL!

I spotted this hawk (Coopers ?) on the ground and was snapping pics and realized it may have a broken wing. I went to get a blanket, welding gloves, laundry basket and DH and it was gone when I got back. I will keep the supplies handy just in case it is injured and I can get it to rehab. What a beauty and hope I can help if it needs it!

Here is another pic...any opinions?