Backyard Birds #3

We came from here - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/982682/#top

Backyard, front yard, it's all the same to us here. Share pictures of the birds in your neighborhood.

DP,
I love the pair of ducks on the previous page of this thread. Way pretty. Do they live on campus?
Thanks for sharing. Glad you are getting some practice on the new camera. Keep up the good work! ^_^
WIB,
SW

Yep! They showed up here last week and they're here every morning. They seem to disappear during the day when the activity level rises. I started feeding them along with the crows. (not in the same place) I keep buying corn for all these critters, before long it'll be a large bird sanctuary.

The Pekins are our residential lake patrollers which can be seen from our backyard. I've enjoyed your thread, can't help but jumped in. Hello everyone.

Welcome, Lily! I don't know what it is about ducks, but I always enjoy seeing them.

Thanks KaperC, for me perhaps it reminds me of the memory growing up in the country site ... They're gracious and peaceful, that's until they squabled around mating season. lol.

During the summer time, I noticed the Pekins getting along so well with the Mallards, but right now in the midst of the mating season, they chase these poor guys/gals all the time. I guess there is invisible boundaries, limitations even in the birds' world. lol.

editted for typos.

This message was edited Jun 2, 2009 12:52 PM

DH says he is amazed we haven't had a duck in our pond. Not wishing for one - the herons and egrets are quite enough, thanks very much - but we have so many ducks around, it is odd. We always spend some time at the Wild Animal Park watching the varied ducks, geese, etc. in the big pond there. Never know what you will see. There are official residents, but visitors come in, too.

Hi Lily,
Glad you shared your Pekin ducks. I've never seen them before. They are quite pretty. In mating season, even the hummers that normally coexist squabble. Rather amusing at times.
KC,
I can't believe you haven't had any duck visitors? Maybe it's too close to the road? Naw, I've seen them build nests in puddles next to the fwy offramp. Ours don't like the little pond out back, they visit but they like to nest down at the big pond, where it is quieter, and more natural, that is if we actually get normal rainfall! One of these days, when you don't have your camera in hand, they'll show up. LOL!
You get orioles. Sigh. How are yours anyway?
WIB!
SW

The orioles are still here - in fact, the hummers just came to the window and fluttered at me to fill the feeder. LOL When it gets so low that the orioles won't bother with it, the hummers take over and drain it. Better go do my chores!

Ducks really are great entertainment. I love watching them fly...they come off as rather comical to me. Lily, wow, living on a lake must afford you all sorts of wildlife viewing opportunities :-). A friend and I take walks at a lake near my house, and I always bring my camera. Here is a pic of mom and baby Goosander.

SW, I'm glad you've enjoyed the pix. Birds from different regions are fascinating to me too. I've noticed that y'all birds some are common there and I barely see them here. :-)

Hummers, they've returned here. Let's see if I've got one here in the garden....

Here is one's enjoying my Salvia guaranitica.

Sunnyg, what lovely pix of the Goosander! May I have a copy of the pix for my screen saver? The setting is marvelous!

My black and blue salvia is just starting to bloom as well, Lily...I just love that blue!

Here are those cute little goslings

Thanks Lily! I'd never seen these birds before, and took tons of photos (and got the ID on the bird ID forum). You are most welcome to use that pic as a screen saver...would you like me to send it to you without the copyright on it? Here is another one of my favorite goosander pics...it almost looks like she is pondering her reflection (although I think she was pondering a bite to eat LOL):

Here's a closer shot of mom and baby:

More pics of the "flufferbutts"

standing at attention:

Sunnyg, I'd appreciate a copy of the picture. Please dmail it to me? My middle son is contemplating moving to Ca. and settle there with his future bride. I sure would like to share some of these pictures with him in the near future.

Also will you consider sharing that pix with a link on photo forum? I'll be back with the link.

They all seemed to have a lot to say:

Sure Lily, I'll send you a dmail...my pleasure. What part of CA is your son considering?

Last pic...here is one of the dove babies in the nest next door. I'll stop hogging the thread now. LOL.

How fun is that? those babies are adorable!

Okay, here is the link that I request the 'reflection' pix to be posted. Many DGers would enjoy that picture. Many thanks.
Kim from Al.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/994323/

Our son is considering central Ca. Where his bride is from. DH and I we both are looking forward to visit and learn more about the State and people there. Home is where the heart is. I think, hope and pray that applies to the young couple.

sunnyg, all I got to saw is AWWWWW!
Lily, would love to see more people moving back to CA. Most of my friends had to leave because they couldn't afford to live here any more. Lots of great people in CA, lots of things to do too. Besides, (eye brow shifting, wink, wink), doesn't that mean you get to come visit?
WIB,
SW

Sunny, more great pictures! I've never heard of a Goosander. That first photo looks like mom is doing yoga. LOL

LOL I like that idea of yoga for moma Goosander, KaperC, lol. SW, yes, yes, that's the bonus as being parents -- I guess we get to visit.

Lily;
I visited so much for so long, I just ended up moving out here. Saves money on travel, almost enough to make up for the difference in housing cost.

Tehehehehehe, I heard that. Something for us to ponder about. lol. House finche on birdfeeder in our backyard.

We have lots of house finches here, Lily. You'd feel right at home! :-)

OMG those baby ducks!

We found this little guy behind the fountain on this rainy, Saturday morning. I only saw him because the mom was incessantly going back there!

On that same afternoon, he got himself a little further away behind the bushes. We kept checking from afar to see if he was OK. The mom kept going down there and feeding him for 3 days in a row!

Cute little lad there Rob. This 'lil Moma is expecting the next brood. Those young ones they're fascinating to watch when they fledge. These are Eastern Phoebes:

I love Phoebes - wish we could catch sight of some babies here.

Rob, what a cute little guy. Glad mom was feeding him.

Oh good, I found you. Nothing special to report, just didn't know where the thread went.
Back when I got something good.
WIB,
SW

I've a new bird to add onto my backyard birds list today; an Eastern Kingbird. First I thought it was a Phoebe then I realized there is some thing difference. It's a larger bird, the plumage is slightly different too.

Nice picture!

Congratulations Lily!

Thanks Pelle and Sally, SW it's nice to 'see' you. I hope this pix turns out okay. I spotted a couple 'Redhead' Woodpeckers. They probably are nesting? I'm going to try to capture a pix of the pair one of these days. (dreaming, lol).

My dream came true! Look:

Wonderful!! That must have been a sight to see!

And the sounds. I was very lucky.