Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Quick Steel]

Had a Mockingbird stay around the house for a while this afternoon. Not common around us.

[Doc B]

Great entertainment, for you and the dog! Great pictures. You would think the Mockingbird would get a headache...and figure it out.

[Mumbleypeg]

TF, the Mockingbird is also the state bird of Texas and very common here. They are aggressively territorial. One in particular has lurked around the east side yard of our house for several years and annually nests in a crepe myrtle tree there. We have a bird feeder nearby, and it's a constant show. Birds of various varieties come there to feed on the bird seed and the Mockingbird, which doesn't even eat seeds, chases them away. As soon as the Mockingbird chases after those birds some others come to feed. In a few minutes the Mockingbird returns, chases those new birds away, and the whole charade starts over again!

BTW the ones dancing around each other are "courting". They'll likely mate and start nest building somewhere nearby. Nests are typically a platform made of small sticks. The one flying into your window sees its own reflection in the glass and probably thinks it's competition for its territory, so needs to attack it. You can probably stop it by putting a decal or two on the glass.

Ken

[WillyCamaro]

Catching up after a month of super business.
Great bird pics/stories everyone .
FRJ, Dan, and Scott those 3 pics are calendar quality, especially that mallard shot. Can't get any better then that, for sure .

[FRJ]

Thank you, Willy.

Here are some pictures of a cute little Grebe and those Mallard love birds.
Also a little sparrow that was very entertaining.

Thanks for looking.

[WillyCamaro]

More great pics Joe . Sparrow shots turned out perfect .

[Dinadan]

Treefarmer, that photo of the Mockingbird with it's wings spread outside the window is very cool. A different perspective on a very common bird in our yard.

Joe - I really like the photos of the sparrow eating goldenrod seeds. I always like a photo that conveys information such as that. I hate to admit it, but even with such a perfect photo I still cannot identify the species of sparrow.

[FRJ]

Thank you, Willy and Mel.

[Steve Warden]

Treefarmer, that photo of the Mockingbird with it's wings spread outside the window is very cool. A different perspective on a very common bird in our yard.

Joe - I really like the photos of the sparrow eating goldenrod seeds. I always like a photo that conveys information such as that. I hate to admit it, but even with such a perfect photo I still cannot identify the species of sparrow.

Great photos, folks.
I'm really enjoying this thread. Thanks to JerryD for starting this!!!

Mel, I would venture a guess as to it being a Song Sparrow.

[FRJ]

I'm going with Savannah Sparrow.

[Steve Warden]

I'm going with Savannah Sparrow.

Not seeing the yellow by the eyes like that of the Savannah Sparrow (see below).
Song Sparrow also has a longer tail.

But I've been wrong before. And not saying I'm right this time.

[FRJ]

That's true, Steve, it is missing the yellow.

[philco]

Can anyone identify this strange bird I spotted on my feeder last night?

[FRJ]

Phil, that is a Soaring Marsupius, often attracted to plywood.

[philco]

Phil, that is a Soaring Marsupius, often attracted to plywood.

[bighomer]

I'll go with chipping sparrow.

[Dinadan]

After consulting my bird book again I think that Steve is right about Joe's sparrow being a Song Sparrow. Maybe.

I have been having autumn visitors in my back yard this week. Here is one that I really like seeing: a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. It is a very active bird, never settling down for more than a second or two. It often flies up to the very tips of branches almost like a hummingbird going to a flower.

First photo is in an Olive tree. Second in a Beauty Berry bush. Third photo is doing a hummingbird imitation.

[Quick Steel]

Great photos.

[Steve Warden]

I'll go with chipping sparrow.

Chipping sparrow doesn't have the streaks on the breast.

[Steve Warden]

After consulting my bird book again I think that Steve is right about Joe's sparrow being a Song Sparrow. Maybe.

I have been having autumn visitors in my back yard this week. Here is one that I really like seeing: a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. It is a very active bird, never settling down for more than a second or two. It often flies up to the very tips of branches almost like a hummingbird going to a flower.

First photo is in an Olive tree. Second in a Beauty Berry bush. Third photo is doing a hummingbird imitation.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!!

[doglegg]

Excellent photo's on a difficult subject. Wow those are clear and a very pretty bird. Great work Mel.

[Doc B]

Mel!

[Dinadan]

Thank you for the kind words, fellows. Did I mention that the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is only about 4.5 inches long. A very small bird!

[FRJ]

Mel, those are great pictures of a beautiful bird. Nice going!!
So many thing have to fall in place to take good pictures of birds and the one taking pictures has to put them there.
The bird just has to show up.
Very nice.

[Quick Steel]

I am going to add that the central photo is quietly spectacular. The reds, greens, the dappled sunlight on the bird; all this adds up to a genuinely great photo. Congratulations are in order.