Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Steve Warden]

Cool pics, Mel!

[FRJ]

Very nice pictures, Mel. I enjoy looking at that Owl.
It always pays to have a camera with you.

[Quick Steel]

Very fine photos. Thanks for posting. I have a deficit of owls around here.

[Dinadan]

Thanks, fellows. Regarding a deficit of owls, QS, I miss hearing owls call at night where I live. I am on the very edge of the metro area, with natural habitat nearby, but no owls hoot within earshot of my home. Sometimes the Barred Owls are quite vocal along the river, but today I did not hear any.

[doglegg]

Thanks Mel, love those owls.

[Steve Warden]

Had a pair of gobblers visit this A.M.
Of course I didn't have my camera ready, and when I did, one decided it didn't want its picture taken.

[Doc B]

I like the action picture...like he didn't get caught!

[doglegg]

Now, if they will just come back in November. Exciting to see, happy for you Steve.

[Paladin]

I had some colorful visitors at the feeders today. The male cardinal stopped in for a bite but he is hard to photograph and my camera isn't set up for this very well. Also, had a pair of yellow something or others. You guys can help me with the name on these if you would. I had put some flax seed out to try to attract this sort of bird about a week ago and they finally found it.

Ray

[philco]

Ray those little yellow guys are goldfinches. My personal favorite visitors to the feeder. I put thistle seed out to attract them. The ones here are just now starting to display their breeding color. Up until now the males have had a dull brown/gray color for the most part.

[Doc B]

Ray, I don't know what those yellow ones are..(edit after Phil's entry) i.e. goldfinches. I've never seen them here, around San Antonio. They sure are pretty!

[doglegg]

Great pics Ray, I love the goldfinches. I have never had any at my feeder but my kin on the east side of the Metroplex get them.

[Dinadan]

Cool Turkey photos, Steve. Anytime I want a bird to leave the area I pick up my camera. Ninety percent of the time that sends birds flying away.

I like those Goldfinches and Cardinals, Ray. I have both of those at my feeder this month.

Doc, I never saw a Goldfinch until I was in my thirties, in spite of being a bit of a birder from age seven or so. Then one winter I put up a tube feeder like Ray's with sunflower seed in it. Within a month or two I had dozens of Goldfinches in my yard. Looking at at distribution map in my bird book they are as likely in San Antonio in winter as in my area, so a feeder might bring them. It is getting toward the time that they head back north, though.

[Doc B]

Doc, I never saw a Goldfinch until I was in my thirties, in spite of being a bit of a birder from age seven or so. Then one winter I put up a tube feeder like Ray's with sunflower seed in it. Within a month or two I had dozens of Goldfinches in my yard. Looking at at distribution map in my bird book they are as likely in San Antonio in winter as in my area, so a feeder might bring them. It is getting toward the time that they head back north, though.[/quote]

Got the feeder...and our mix has sunflower...just never seen the goldfinches, in this neighborhood, or property, south of town. Enjoy watching the birds and these pictures!!!! Will have to keep my eyes peeled!

[Steve Warden]

Nice pics, Ray
Goldfinches do reside in our area. I may have to buy and try a thistle feeder.

[Paladin]

Thanks, guys. I said I put out flax seed but it probably was thistle seed instead.
Thanks for the ID on those Goldfinches as I had no clue.

Ray

[Dinadan]

Ray - I am betting that the Goldfinches are only eating the thistle and sunflower. I think they just remove and drop most other stuff. I put pure black oil sunflower seed in my feeder. Pretty much everything seems to prefer it, from woodpeckers and jays to Chickadees and finches.

[Paladin]

Ray - I am betting that the Goldfinches are only eating the thistle and sunflower. I think they just remove and drop most other stuff. I put pure black oil sunflower seed in my feeder. Pretty much everything seems to prefer it, from woodpeckers and jays to Chickadees and finches.

Mel,
I think you are correct. The feeder out in the yard and hanging by the 'Grandparents' sign has nothing but thistle seed in it. The tube hanging by the patio has a mixture in it. The cardinals browse on the ground beneath it and I guess they are feeding on the seed that is dropped. If I put out sunflower seed in an accessible feeder, the grackles move in and they are not desirable.

Ray

[doglegg]

This little fellow paid a visit to my feeder this afternoon. About the brightest male house finch I have seen at the feeder.

[jmh58]

Well.. Its with a touch of sadness that I am posting this.. The 3rd egg is looking like it will not hatch..
But the other 2 eaglets are doing GREAT!! Growing nicely!!
John

[doglegg]

jmh I've heard that lots of time the 3rd one doesn't make it even when hatched as the other two hog all the food and bully the smaller sibling. Fun to watch the 2 you got. Thanks for sharing.

[philco]

Canada Goose at a local park

[doglegg]

Cool Phil.

[Mumbleypeg]

Saw the first Scissortail this year today. By the first of May there will be a lot of them. One of our most beautiful and graceful birds.

Ken

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Saw the first Scissortail this year today. By the first of May there will be a lot of them. One of our most beautiful and graceful birds.

Ken

Ken, we don’t have those around here at all. Those look like they were made for the jungle. Beautiful.
SSk