Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[treefarmer]

We have 3 humming bird feeders and there is almost always activity. Yesterday as Miss Joy leaving to go shopping I noticed no bird activity at all around the Humming Bird feeder and the regular bird feeders just off the front porch. In addition to the Humming Birds there are usually Tit Mice, Chickadees, Sparrows and Red Birds (Cardinals to some of y'all) getting the Sunflower seeds or the mixed bird seed from the assorted feeders. Well something was wrong, no avian activity. I quickly discovered the problem, can you spot it?:

Can you see the problem?

Here is the other end of the problem, one of the barn cats camping out on the porch roof:

The problem.

Treefarmer

[samb1955]

Looks like he in attack mode

[Waukonda]

That is an hilarious post! I keep going back and looking at it and laugh every time, maybe you didn't mean it to be funny but I can't help it. I had the same problem a few years ago with a fat cat that belonged to the neighbor. I ran it away from the feeder nearly every day one winter.

[cudgee]

A while ago i posted some photos of the magpies nesting near by that come over for a feed. In the last week they have been coming over very frequently not eating themselves but taking a beak full of food back to the nest. I can hear the chicks squawking for a feed. Anyway this morning, the first chick came over with mum, mum had a big feed, but the chick was very flighty and scared of me and would not come down. I tried to get a photo, but could not get close enough. Will try and get a photo of both of them and post.

[Doc B]

We, on rare occasions, will catch a glimpse of a hawk, in the back yard. This guy is hanging out, this morning. Mama thinks it is a Cooper's hawk.

[treefarmer]

Well we haven't seen a hummingbird in 3 days. According to articles posted they migrate individually and will fly across the Gulf to Central America. There was so much activity the last week or so, I noticed they were gone overnight. I suppose they were putting on the needed extra weight for them to survive the long non stop flight Another interesting fact was that oil rigs and fishing boats some time have hummingbirds land and rest before continuing their journey.
Isn't God's creation amazing?
Treefarmer

[Paladin]

.......... Isn't God's creation amazing?
Treefarmer

Absolutely amazing!

Ray

[Quick Steel]

Amazing is right. Thank goodness for oil rigs. Its a 500 mile trip. Most make it non-stop.

[Dinadan]

Cool hawk photo, Doc. I sometimes see a Cooper's or Sharp Shinned in our back yard. They are experts at raiding the feeder and avoiding my camera.

Treefarmer, I still have at least one hummer today. Based on my personal observations the hummers usually leave this area between October first and October tenth. We have had a straggler hang on longer a couple of times. Once the hummers are gone I can pull up the cypress vines.

Here are two photos of a male taken seconds apart. The difference in the light as he turns around sure changes the brightness of that ruby throat.

[Waukonda]

Great shots Mel, hummers are gone from my area of Illinois. Looking at your pics I just wonder if that may be a Rufous in for the winter?
Nice Cooper's Doc, they are handsome birds. I occasionally have a Red Shouldered in my backyard but never a Cooper's to my knowledge.

[FRJ]

Nice pictures, Mel.

Here's some local Canada Geese.

[Waukonda]

You sure take some nice photos Joe! I am particularly impressed that you were able to persuade those three geese to simultaneously go into a tipping pose!

[doglegg]

Very good pics!

[Steve Warden]

Great pics, guys!!!

[Quick Steel]

Fine photos Joe. Small flocks of geese fly over the house occasionally. I do enjoy listening to their calls and wonder what they are talking about as they fly.

[cudgee]

Nice pictures, Mel.

Here's some local Canada Geese.

They could be in the "synchronized " swimming at the Tokyo olympics next year.

[FRJ]

You sure take some nice photos Joe! I am particularly impressed that you were able to persuade those three geese to simultaneously go into a tipping pose!

Thank you, Ike. Throw a few glass beads in front of them, they fall for it every time.

Fine photos Joe. Small flocks of geese fly over the house occasionally. I do enjoy listening to their calls and wonder what they are talking about as they fly.

They are probably talking about food and the Red Fox.

Thanks to every one for your nice comments.

[doglegg]

Fine photos Joe. Small flocks of geese fly over the house occasionally. I do enjoy listening to their calls and wonder what they are talking about as they fly.

They are probably talking about food and the Red Fox.
[/quote]

FRJ, I think you nailed it. You think like a goose, and that is a compliment.

[bighomer]

Was visited by 3 chickadees this morning couldn't get a picture. Beautiful little birds. My bird population is increasing daily.

[FRJ]

Thank you, doglegg.

[Montanaman]

Stellers Jay stopped by this morning, very loud birds

[doglegg]

Steller photo MM. We don't have them here but I have seen them in Seattle where my son lives and they are loud. Thanks.

[doglegg]

The only owl in the wild photo I have was taken in northern Yellowstone in 2016 in the middle of a snow storm. Not clear but it looks like it did when I took it.

[doglegg]

On the same trip I spotted this one busily making a straight line of holes in this conifer. I think it is a Williamson's Sapsucker but I am open to correction.

[doglegg]

Same trip, down in the Tetons, I spotted this Mountain Bluebird. 2016 was a good year for Bluebirds as I spotted an Eastern, Western and Mountain all in the same year.