Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[bighomer]

I'm gonna give you my idea what hummers do in my area, I put out a feeder the first day of April the boys begin showing up around the 2nd. week , my first sighting was April 9th this year. The little girls started showing up a week or so later. I put out 2 more feeders out then. They visit several times a day, but I throw out much more sugar water than they eat. What I think goes on is when the are raising their brood they feed them small insects. Now about the end of May they start showing up with a vengeance, I'll but out eight to ten feeders and will fill them every day and some twice a day.

[OLDE CUTLER]

We are seeing these Eurasian Collared Doves in our part of the country. Over the last 2 winters, we have had this pair here. My understanding of them is that they are not a native species, but originated in the US in the south and have been working their way northward. Kind of surprising to see the local mourning doves leave in the fall to migrate south, and these Eurasians stay here at our bird feeders all winter. They are a little bigger than the mourning dove, lack the dark spots, but have a black band that goes part way around the neck.

[treefarmer]

We see the Eurasian Collared Dove occasionally here in the Florida Panhandle. Several years ago we had a pair that came along with the Mourning doves nearly every morning, haven't seen any this year. They are not a common sight in our area. The info on them says they were originally from S.E.Asia. I suppose they are the size between a Mourning Dove and a common Pigeon.
Treefarmer

[Doc B]

We are seeing these Eurasian Collared Doves in our part of the country. Over the last 2 winters, we have had this pair here. My understanding of them is that they are not a native species, but originated in the US in the south and have been working their way northward. Kind of surprising to see the local mourning doves leave in the fall to migrate south, and these Eurasians stay here at our bird feeders all winter. They are a little bigger than the mourning dove, lack the dark spots, but have a black band that goes part way around the neck.

IMG_3664.JPG

OC, they are definitely increasing in number, here in south Texas. During dove season...they do not count against our limit, being a non-native species. Over the last 10 years, that I've had my property...they went from getting one or two per season, to getting 1-2 most hunting days. They are definitely bigger, appear slower and more "lumbering" than morning or white-wing. Almost a cross between a pigeon and dove. They taste the same and you get a bit more meat off them. I wouldn't mind a few more being around.

[Mumbleypeg]

The Eurasian Collared Dove are becoming more common here, seem to be more of them every year. They’re an invasive species, not protected by any hunting laws here in Texas so you can shoot them year around. Which I do whenever I see them. Doesn’t seem to be making any difference though.

Ken

[doglegg]

See them here in DFW as well.

[Dinadan]

I have seen a few Eurasian Collared Doves in my area in Alabama. But they are not what I would call common. On the other hand, the White Winged Dove has made itself right at home here. There are a few pairs of White Wings and a few pairs of Mourning Doves nesting in my subdivision. I enjoy the contrasting calls of the two species of dove when I am out it the garden or especially when taking my morning walk. The White Wings seem a bit chunkier than the Mourning Doves, when I see them together under the feeder.

[WillyCamaro]

Lovely doves feller .
Here's a small slide-show, of one of are first robins, this season, last day of march...

[WillyCamaro]

I can't remember if I showed this handsome feller off, are not...
A great horned owl decided to drop by one evening this April. Even from a hundred yards out, still a magnificent bird .

[WillyCamaro]

Here's a ruby hummingbird that dropped by this morning, he was a very very nice birdy... Let me snap a few shots, before he carried on his journeys .

[Quick Steel]

Hummingbirds never fail to impress.
When I went for the mail I discovered a couple of Cliff Swallows were nesting under the bridge. Zooming around like little jet fighters.
Couldn't get pictures.

[Dinadan]

Nice Robin, Willy! Seems like your first Robin appeared just about the time that our last Robin disappeared. Robins occasionally nest here along my section of the Gulf Coast, but mostly they go north a bit. There is a gap of only a hundred, maybe two hundred, miles between the common winter range and the common nesting range in this area.

I did not have a hummer feeder out for the spring migration, and I did not see a single hummer. My wife put a couple of feeders out a couple of weeks ago, but I guess the hummers were already established in other areas. I will be sure to be ready for the fall migration.

[Mumbleypeg]

Robins are only late winter/early spring migrants here also. They pass through in large numbers but don’t stay around long.

Hummingbirds stay around all summer, until mid to late fall. I think this one is a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. That’s about the only ones we have here, and this one doesn’t have the brilliant coloring of the males. I suspect the others are around also, just didn’t see one when I was watching. We have two feeders on the porches and this one was using them both, flitting from one to the other, off into the trees for a few minutes and then back to a feeder again.

Ken

[Quick Steel]

Mumblypeg, Your first (top) photo is fabulous. Your 2nd shot is merely superb.

[doglegg]

A good combination of hummingbird and Memorial day with the flag in the back ground.

[Mumbleypeg]

Thank you! I hadn’t thought about the flags in the background. FWIW here’s the un-cropped version. That’s my front yard, with the south pasture across the driveway. American flag and the Gonzales Battle Flag (first battle of the Texas Revolution).

Ken

[doglegg]

Thanks Ken, even better.
"Come and take it"!!!

[Mumbleypeg]

Tried an experiment this morning. I put the camera lens of my phone together with binoculars. After a brief trial and error, it works! Well, sorta.

Ken

[doglegg]

Works pretty good.

[Steve Warden]

Way to go, Ken!

[TPK]

That's a pretty cool trick Ken! Never thought of that.

[Dinadan]

Cool photos, Ken! I have used a similar technique with a camera and a monocular. As you say, it sorta worked. It needed steady hands.

Yesterday the Great Crested Flycatchers started taking nesting material into a bird box in my garden. Very nice birds to see - and to hear.

[TPK]

Cool photos, Ken! I have used a similar technique with a camera and a monocular. As you say, it sorta worked. It needed steady hands.

Yesterday the Great Crested Flycatchers started taking nesting material into a bird box in my garden. Very nice birds to see - and to hear.

Great picture! Nice looking bird!

[WillyCamaro]

You nailed it in me book Ken, lovely hummer, and neat affect .
Beautiful bird DD .

You ya'll wondering where all the robins end up... Well, I can tell ya... In me dad's grain bin yard, that's where!

Yes, we have several pairs built nests on the hopper bin, fan tubes. Ran across momma laying on 2 beautiful eggs, never knew what robins eggs look like before... Look allot like those bluebird's shown here earlier, just darker shade of bluish green, and larger, I think .
I accidently scared momma away, when I was walking by... Took a quick peak, then continued on in me travels .

[DM11]

Thank you! I hadn’t thought about the flags in the background. FWIW here’s the un-cropped version. That’s my front yard, with the south pasture across the driveway. American flag and the Gonzales Battle Flag (first battle of the Texas Revolution).

Ken

Great pic Ken!