Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Mumbleypeg]

Winter is officially here in north Texas. Not because the calendar says so. I saw the first Robin in the pasture this morning.
I know many of you northerners think Robins are the harbingers of Spring. It’s the other way around here. There will be more soon and they’ll be around all winter before going back north next spring.

Ken

[Steve Warden]

Normally the Nuthatch is a "grab and dash" visitor.
Today this one gave me the time to get my phone, select camera, zoom in and click.

[Waukonda]

Winter is officially here in north Texas. Not because the calendar says so. I saw the first Robin

Ken

Ken, I am in my 60's, and it wasn't until just recently that I realized Robins weren't common throughout the entire United States during the summer months.

Nice pictures BH and Steve!

[Waukonda]

Sometimes, ya just get lucky! I was on a late afternoon outing with the dog, and come across this Barred Owl. I got the first pic before he flew, and felt fortunate. I felt extremely fortunate when he only flew about 30' before landing, and I got more pics.

[bighomer]

You aughter went to the parking lot looking for billfolds or at least bought a lotto ticket.
Great photos of a absolutely gorgeous bird.

[Waukonda]

You aughter went to the parking lot looking for billfolds or at least bought a lotto ticket.
Great photos of a absolutely gorgeous bird.

Actually, I am feeling really lucky and I just bought a couple of lottery tickets. I left out part of the story. Within 5 minutes of me seeing "my" owl, my youngest son (5 miles away), sends me a picture. It is of a Barred Owl that had landed on his mailbox. It is a little difficult to see, so I did not include it with my original post, but I gotta think.....it means something!

[doglegg]

Very cool Ike. Great experience.

[bighomer]

WOW how neat is that.

[Steve Warden]

Ike, that's some cool!!
I haven't had such good fortune when it comes to spotting an owl in the wild.
Maybe someday!

[Quick Steel]

Great photos Ike. Wonderful captures of a wonderful bird.

[Dinadan]

Great owl photos, Ike!

[Mumbleypeg]

Love those owl pictures Ike.

Ken

[desmobob]

Last month, on the way to my hunting spot in the pre-dawn dark on a few mornings, I saw a barred owl sitting on phone/power wires that cross the road. It was on a hilly road and my headlights lit him up so I could see him. I always enjoy seeing an owl because it doesn't happen too often.

One morning, as I sat in my stand waiting for it to get light, I heard an awful scream from nearby. It wasn't the usual kind of raspy "mystery scream" that might be a fox or bobcat or whatever; it was of pure and clean note/tone. Just as I started wondering to myself what the heck it could be, it trailed off into a "Who, who, who-who who-who!"

I never heard a barred owl start its call off with a scream like that. I mentioned to a woman who lives in the area and she said she heard the same call in her yard a few days before.

[jmh58]

That is AWESOME Ike.. WoW!!! NICE!! Thanks for sharing...
John

[treefarmer]

Last month, on the way to my hunting spot in the pre-dawn dark on a few mornings, I saw a barred owl sitting on phone/power wires that cross the road. It was on a hilly road and my headlights lit him up so I could see him. I always enjoy seeing an owl because it doesn't happen too often.

One morning, as I sat in my stand waiting for it to get light, I heard an awful scream from nearby. It wasn't the usual kind of raspy "mystery scream" that might be a fox or bobcat or whatever; it was of pure and clean note/tone. Just as I started wondering to myself what the heck it could be, it trailed off into a "Who, who, who-who who-who!"

I never heard a barred owl start its call off with a scream like that. I mentioned to a woman who lives in the area and she said she heard the same call in her yard a few days before.

Along the same lines, I've heard crows and their different voices and ever so often one will be totally off key. Makes me wonder if he had a sore throat? Cows can be identified by their bellowing (mooing) just as hound men can tell what dog is baying or running the coon , deer or whatever. I suppose as we recognize a familiar friends voice, animals are all a bit different, too.
Treefarmer

[bighomer]

First time I've caught one on my feeders, hope he makes a habit of it. Gorgeous bird imo. I had a redhead last winter and spring that came every day, but hasn't visited lately.

[Steve Warden]

Great pics BH!!

[TPK]

Great pics BH!!

[doglegg]

Love the pic bighomer.

(I wanted to ask if you had a pic from when you had a red head last fall.....but I'll not)

[Waukonda]

First time I've caught one on my feeders, hope he makes a habit of it. Gorgeous bird imo. I had a redhead last winter and spring that came every day, but hasn't visited lately.

It doesn't get any better than that!
My hands would have been shakin, and I would have been whispering "don't fly, don't fly don't fly", until I got the picture.

[Quick Steel]

Congrats bighomer on having such a magnificent visitor.

[bighomer]

First time I've caught one on my feeders, hope he makes a habit of it. Gorgeous bird imo. I had a redhead last winter and spring that came every day, but hasn't visited lately.

It doesn't get any better than that!
My hands would have been shakin, and I would have been whispering "don't fly, don't fly don't fly", until I got the picture.

You hit the nail on the head, I ran to get my phone saying to my wife there's no way I'll get back before it flies, she jump up and ran to see what I was talking about and we got several pictures. It must of stayed there for 5 to 10 minutes eating it fill. Then went up the pole and sat cleaning off it beak, then flew away. I was ecstatic.

[bighomer]

Don't be bashful ask and you shall receive. Also some of an earlier encounter with a pair of pileated wood peckers. Excuse the poor photos please.

[desmobob]

What cool birds!

I love to watch them fly through the woods and to hear their "jungle" sounding calls. I was sitting about 20' up in a tree stand, bowhunting, one season when one flew right in front of me. They flap their wings a time or two, then tuck them in tight and streak along like a missile. They are awesome. It's amazing to see them popping silver-dollar-sized chips off a maple tree. That takes some doing!

A friend of mine built a new log home from a kit. He was pretty proud of the finished product, which was beautiful. After about a year, he had issues with pileated woodpeckers drilling into parts of the house. It turns out he had a bunch of carpenter bees (they look like big bumblebees) drilling holes and laying eggs in the wood. The woodpeckers were after the carpenter bee larvae for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[Dinadan]

Looks like you are the woodpecker man, Homer!

I had a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the feeder yesterday. His avian sixth sense told him that someone was about to take a photo.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Lots of birds around now. Mr. and Mrs. Dove.

Doves

Plenty of House Finches.

House Finches