All About Pocket Knives

The sparrows have taken over this morning.

bighomer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:22 pm 1000010772.jpg

Enjoyed those bh.

Glad yawl enjoyed a couple more from yestiddy.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 2:25 pm P1050594.JPGimage8.jpegimage4.jpegP1050577.JPG

Garry, your first picture is of one of our favorite birds. Wrens are such gentle little birds. One of our aunts brought the Wrens to our attention many, many years ago. I always think of Aunt Lily when we encounter them. Several years we had them nest in the nose of an old Massey Ferguson 175 tractor, the tractor sat till the babies exited their nest.
Treefarmer

Phil, I have read that Wrens can be very aggressive even puncturing the eggs of competing wrens. Yet, I am always glad to see them.

Major excitement at the suet feeders this afternoon. A Harris Woodpecker showed up, the first I have ever seen. What was very neat was that a Downy was on the feeder at the same time, so it was easy to compare the two. The Harris showed its much longer tail, thicker bill, and somewhat larger size;all stood out versus the Downey. Sadly, I scrambled so fast trying to capture a shot of both birds together that I wound up blurring the photos.

Right side up and upside down Harris

QS I bet auto correct got you. I bet you typed hairy woodpecker and it corrected to Harris woodpecker. Very cool to see them together to compare. And don't get proud, I have you beat on blurry pics.

I’ve had a couple visits from a bird I can’t ID.
My location, northern Iowa, cold! 10-15 below zero.
Bird seems to be some type of woodpecker. Slightly bigger than a Downy, similar short tail, long yellowish beak, color is mostly black, breast area kinda brown, no white bars that I have see, haven’t managed to spot any markings on head. Attacks the suet with vigor and grabs a few black sunflower seeds.
Any ideas? I will keep trying to grab a picture.

That sounds like a Starling to me.

chickenman62 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 11:26 pm That sounds like a Starling to me.

Right you are, I didn’t realize they had such a long beak. Duh!

YESTIDDY

TODAY

The burning bush is a haven for pretty birds. The Brown thrasher build their nest there every year.

I'm enjoying your pics bh.

This turkey comes all alone every day to the feeders. Been doing it since November.

Downy on top, Hairy on the bottom and a beautiful Dove all fluffed up.

I know they get a bad rap, but they are really a beautiful bird imho ymmv.

bighomer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:39 pm Downy on top, Hairy on the bottom and a beautiful Dove all fluffed up.

Enjoying your pics bh.

chickenman62 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:35 pm This turkey comes all alone every day to the feeders. Been doing it since November.

Funny to see one not flocked up with other ones.

Got a visit from my neighbors' Tom this afternoon. A couple of weeks ago his owner, my neighbor Isaiah, left early one morning in his pickup to go to his job over the mountain in Loudoun Co., Virginia, about an hour away. It was still dark. When he got out of his truck at work, there was Tom in the bed of the truck. He had ridden the whole way in the back. Fortunately, the darkness apparently kept him subdued and from attempting escaping the bed while the truck was moving. Isaiah had to get his wife to drive down and bring him home.

Thanks for looking.

Chris J.

Beautiful bird thanks for posting

Agreed, a fine bird!
Those colorful bee hives are interesting also. Is there a reason/purpose or just available paint.
Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:25 pm Agreed, a fine bird!
Those colorful bee hives are interesting also. Is there a reason/purpose or just available paint.
Treefarmer

bighomer wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:16 pm Beautiful bird thanks for posting

Thanks guys! Yea, he's a handsome boy. If he sees or hears me outside, he gets nosy and has to come over and check out what I'm doing. They also have chickens and ducks, but they flee when I try to get close.

TF: Good question about the box colors. Tom's owner Isaiah is the beekeeper. I'll have to ask him if there is a significance in the colors.

Chris J.

Not wild birds but these are going to be my Spring breeding project, German Modena pigeons.

Saw these 2 today. A house finch got into the shop and out at the warmer plant we have a Road Runner who is always out there.