Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Quick Steel]

Found a female Norther Harrier sitting on my telephone pole. A couple of birds were sitting near him on the wire but she didn't seem to be in a =hunting mood. Decades ago we called them Marsh Hawks.

Tree sparrows and White-throated sparrows feeding amidst many House sparrows.

[Waukonda]

Well, gee thanks, guys. I appreciate those comments.

Garry, I was about to note that I have yet to see any House Finches, but I looked out to see a few.

Ok, you asked for it!

[Waukonda]

Found a female Norther Harrier sitting on my telephone pole. A couple of birds were sitting near him on the wire but she didn't seem to be in a =hunting mood. Decades ago we called them Marsh Hawks.

Tree sparrows and White-throated sparrows feeding amidst many House sparrows.

You slipped in a post while I was readying my pics. I have not had many Sparrows.
Harriers are one of my favorites to watch as they cruise over the fields. I called them Marsh Hawks, as well and called Kestrels, Sparrow Hawks.

[Quick Steel]

A very nice selection of birds Ike. I too grew up with Sparrow Hawks.

[doglegg]

I am enjoying your pics Ike. And Kestrels are a favorite of mine. I have posted these pics here before. a very young one eating a snake plus a pic of his sister.

[Quick Steel]

Excellent action shots doglegg!

[doglegg]

Thanks QS

[Waukonda]

Enjoyable photos, Floyd, impressive that you got them. I have made beaucoup attempts to get a decent picture of a Kestrel, and have never succeeded.
A couple of years ago, I saw a Redtailed swoop down 35-40 ft in front of me as I was mowing and snatch a decent sized black snake. He handled it fairly easily, I would think it would be a tougher chore for a Kestrel, given their smaller size.

[doglegg]

Ike these two had only recently fledged. Both very young but the one was already a hunter. They hung around the back lot where I worked for about a week. I was on max zoom to get those pics. Thanks.

[bighomer]

Sitting on the back deck, watching sissy chew on her bone this almost landed in my lap.

[Dinadan]

Nice set of Kestrel images, Doglegg. Like Ike, I have tried numerous time to get some photos of a Kestrel, only to have the bird fly away just as I pressed the button.

Goldfinches have not arrived in my garden as yet, Homer. Nice to see that they are Tennessee.

Plenty of House Finches here all year, and now the Yellow-rumped Warblers are here. For the next few months the Yellow-rumps will probably be the most numerous bird in my garden. Here are House Finches and Yellow-rumps sharing a bird bath a couple of days ago.

Finches and warblers

Here is a photo of a bird that I love. They are only here in the winter: Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I think that only the Ruby-throated Hummer is smaller, at least among the birds that visit my area. Almost none of the Kinglets that I see have any ruby crown showing at this time of year. They almost never stop moving, and continually make a quiet call as they forage. Unfortunately, my hearing has declined and I do not often catch the call these days. I spotted this one in my Mulberry tree a couple of days ago.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

[Quick Steel]

A couple of great photos Mel, especially of the Kinglet. Haven't seen one in years but they are an exquisite bird.

[bighomer]

Beautiful photos fellers.
A couple juncos showed up yestiddy, first of the fall season. No photos because they flew away as I was snapping it. I got a few though.
Someone is watching.

[doglegg]

[Waukonda]

Nice pictures, BH, always like Woodpecker shots. I never see Cardinals until almost dark, looks like yours showed up in full daylight.

Mel, those are some good pics. I have Yellow Rumped every day and have not been able to get a good shot of that yellow patch yet. They just don't want to show their rump, you must have the more promiscuous individuals down there.
Nice seeing the Ruby Crowned, I live in no man's land for that species. I am too far South for breeding range and too far North for Winter range. We do have Golden Crowned around in the Winter.

Thanks, guys!

[bighomer]

Nice pictures, BH, always like Woodpecker shots. I never see Cardinals until almost dark, looks like yours showed up in full daylight.

Mel, those are some good pics. I have Yellow Rumped every day and have not been able to get a good shot of that yellow patch yet. They just don't want to show their rump, you must have the more promiscuous individuals down there.
Nice seeing the Ruby Crowned, I live in no man's land for that species. I am too far South for breeding range and too far North for Winter range. We do have Golden Crowned around in the Winter.

Thanks, guys!

Now that's odd to me, my Cardinals around here come early and stay around all day, although at dusk they do seem to increase along with most other species. Different parts of the country different ways of doing things even for the birdies.

[Quick Steel]

BH, Can you identify the bird in the third photo down for me? Surely its a woodpecker, but what kind.

[Waukonda]

Nice pictures, BH, always like Woodpecker shots. I never see Cardinals until almost dark, looks like yours showed up in full daylight.

Mel, those are some good pics. I have Yellow Rumped every day and have not been able to get a good shot of that yellow patch yet. They just don't want to show their rump, you must have the more promiscuous individuals down there.
Nice seeing the Ruby Crowned, I live in no man's land for that species. I am too far South for breeding range and too far North for Winter range. We do have Golden Crowned around in the Winter.

Thanks, guys!

Now that's odd to me, my Cardinals around here come early and stay around all day, although at dusk they do seem to increase along with most other species. Different parts of the country different ways of doing things even for the birdies.

When the weather turns nasty, the Cardinals will hang around of and on all day. I suppose that there are plenty of other food options at present, and they only come in late evening before roosting (I suspect) in a row of nearby Cedars.

[bighomer]

BH, Can you identify the bird in the third photo down for me? Surely its a woodpecker, but what kind.

Hairy up high, downy down low.

[Waukonda]

Good bird activity today with many species coming and going. Here are a few of them. I was able to get a pic of a Red Bellied Woodpecker which illustrates why it is so named. Also, as I was taking Cardinal and Y R Warbler pics, a White Throated Sparrow crept into view. Otherwise, pretty much the usual.

[treefarmer]

Don't have any pictures, but the Robins have arrived in the Florida Panhandle. When we see them we always know that somewhere up north of us has experienced cold weather.
When they leave in the spring, you know the cold is over.
Treefarmer

[doglegg]

Great pics Ike.

[TripleF]

Herd of White Ibis

[doglegg]

Herd of White Ibis

Very knice Scott.

[Quick Steel]

Its been a couple of months since I've had a Red-Bellied Woodpecker visit. I was pleased to see him drop in for some lunch.