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Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 10:20 pm
by bighomer
I've got 2 pair of grosbeaks they've been coming to the feeders for several days. I hope they are nesting.the female from a distance could pass for a large sparrow. As for tree rats # 6 shot works well but it's hard to keep up with them. I shot better than thirty last year and three chipmunks.I've shot 12 this year so far and ain't hardly made a dent in them.
I got close to one of the male grosbeaks this morning when I was replenishing the black oil sun flower seeds. Acted like I was just part of the landscape, of course I didn't have my phone with me, so no photo.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 1:27 am
by Paladin
Paladin wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 12:22 pm
Mornin' guys. The Bride and I have been watching a young (fledgling?) Blue Jay in the back yard for the last 4 days. He fell or blew out of the nest early. It was too early to fly and he has been hopping around in the yard for the past 4 days. I figured that he was a goner for sure so I didn't get too wrapped up in his life, or death.
His mom has stayed with him very faithfully, feeding him and such and I am amazed he has made it this long. Today he can fly about 3 or 4 feet so I am thinking that by day's end today he will get airborne and be pretty much on his own.
Ray
Well, I'm sorry to say that the little feller didn't make it. He was just too young I guess.
Ray
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 1:33 am
by WillyCamaro
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:00 am
by Paladin
Yep,, me and the Bride, too.
Ray
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 1:35 pm
by Steve Warden
Sad to hear, Ray.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:28 pm
by Quick Steel
It appears that in the past nine hours no adults have been on the Eagles nest.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:43 pm
by bighomer
Sorry about the little Jay was hoping it'd make it. Gracious fellers I thought there was two pair of rose breasted grosbeaks.I counted six males this morning and several of what I believe to be females. Could they already have fledged a group or two. My Audubon book gives there range north and east of here, but my Stokes book shows they nest as far south as the lower parts of Tn.
all I know is they are here right now. Phone photos suck
but it's what I got.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 4:06 pm
by Quick Steel
I wonder if Grosbeaks normally travel in flocks. Mine clearly does not, but he may be a rogue.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 5:05 pm
by Quick Steel
No sooner did I confidently declare my Grosbeak to be a loner, when he decided to show up with a second male.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 5:33 pm
by philco
I've had a small invasion of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks at my feeder this week. I've counted at least five females and four males and suspect there may be more than that. They come and go so it's hard to tell. Last year a single male showed up for a couple of days and was gone. This bunch has been hanging around for several days now and seem pretty happy here. I hope they will stay around, but man do they eat a lot.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 5:43 pm
by Paladin
Good photos, Phil. I wonder if the red is so boldly visible only during mating season?
Ray
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 5:45 pm
by doglegg
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 5:53 pm
by Quick Steel
Fine photos Phil. Feel free to send a few of your visitors my way. So far I have not seen any females. And I had a grand total of one House Finch this year. If yours are still with you, feel free to give them my address.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 8:09 pm
by bighomer
Great photos philco, I also had just one last year and like
Yours just stayed around for a couple days and was gone. One thing my Stokes book says is that the ranges are changing constantly. So maybe they are in our areas to stay. Hope so. These birdies seem to be getting along pretty well ,gold finch, house or purple finch, grosbeak and cardinal.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 8:11 pm
by Steve Warden
bighomer wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2020 8:09 pm
Great photos philco, I also had just one last year and like
Yours just stayed around for a couple days and was gone. One thing my Stokes book says is that the ranges are changing constantly. So maybe they are in our areas to stay. Hope so. These birdies seem to be getting along pretty well ,gold finch, house or purple finch, grosbeak and cardinal.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 12:13 am
by WillyCamaro
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 1:04 am
by FRJ
We've got a new family at the pond.
And a Flycatcher? from another area.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 2:04 am
by doglegg
Knice pics Joe.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 2:36 am
by Quick Steel
bighomer, that is a wonderful assortment of species.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 3:05 pm
by bighomer
Yes QS we have quite the menagerie around here, as I've said before my wife and I both enjoy watching the birds and having flowers. It gets pretty expensive but what the heck. It's amazing how many birds come to the suet feeders. Its comical to watch some of them trying to hang on to the little baskets. Some critters that came by last evening.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 3:12 pm
by Steve Warden
How many stations do you have set up Big H? I'm working with just one. Been thinking about a platform feeder.
Just picked up 55 lbs. I'll mix it and hope it lasts through the day!
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 4:58 pm
by bighomer
I've got 5 metal black oil sunflower feeders,1 platform feeder, 5 suet feeder, 2 cake feeders ,one Niger bag feeder and of course the ground. I quit using the wild bird mix a few years ago, seem to me they wasted more of the millet and small seeds than they ate. I started buying cracked corn instead and all the birds seem to like it none get wasted. I scatter it and the whole kernel corn on the ground. Crows, blue Jays, turkeys, rabbits and deers love it. And so that's how I do it, ymmv.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 5:11 pm
by Quick Steel
Enjoyed your photos of the Canadian Geese, Joe. (You'd think they'd have gotten American citizenship by now.) A small flock hangs out at a pond on my neighbor's farm; out of my sight. Very good shot as well of the Phoebe. (??)
Don't know what is going on with the eagles. Have not seen any feeding activity for two days.
Was visited by my first Lark Sparrow. These are very large birds, Cardinal size but heavier and with very bold white and reddich brown striping on the face and head. Not rare, but scarce east of the Mississippi.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 5:22 pm
by FRJ
Quick Steel wrote: ↑Sat May 09, 2020 5:11 pm
Enjoyed your photos of the
Canadian Geese, Joe. (You'd think they'd have gotten American citizenship by now.)
Thank you, Garry.
I believe they are referred to as "Canada Geese". No citizenship required.
Re: Ornithology (Bird) Thread
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 3:31 pm
by Quick Steel
4 Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks came to breakfast. Just couldn't get the 4th one in the photos with the other three.