Dinadan wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:07 pm
Very interesting, Waukonda. Where are you located? The terrain in that photo looks flat enough to be the Mississippi flood plain. I have never seen a Trumpeter swan - I do not know if my area was ever part of their winter range. Certainly not now.
Thanks for commenting, Mel. I am in Southern Illinois. The picture was not actually of the flood plain, but I live close enough that we see different species of ducks, geese, and other birds which use the flyway in winter. They make for a nice addition to the birds which stick around for the winter. Thanks for commenting and I always look forward to seeing the great shots that you post.
Had a brief visit this morning from a nice fat Fox Sparrow. Couldn't get a photo. According to a range map it was somewhat north of its usual winter range. Or maybe it was a late migrant heading south.
As we have done for the past fifteen years, we spent Christmas Eve night with our son and his family.
I took our dogs out this morning at 0630 and these two were sitting in a tree in their next door neighbor’s yard.
Sun was not quite up, so it was low light and iPhone cameras have their limitations. This is the best I could do.
They definitely had some color on their breasts, a rusty red, I think.
They were calling when I went out the door. So, I was looking for them.
I have seen them multiple times before, but usually in flight. They hang around the neighborhood. Lots of squirrel nests around. I actually watched one take a grey squirrel off the side of a tree one day while sitting on the front porch.
I was on the porch, not the squirrel or the hawk. Thought I’d head off the snappy comments.
Charlie
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RalphAlsip wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:59 am
These might be ducks, but not sure what kind of birds these are. They are fairly large.
I would guess they are Pink Legged Egyptian Geese, at least, they sure resemble these in this picture I found. They are non-native to the U.S. I have never seen one, or heard of one, before just now. Unique looking
RalphAlsip wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:59 am
These might be ducks, but not sure what kind of birds these are. They are fairly large.
I would guess they are Pink Legged Egyptian Geese, at least, they sure resemble these in this picture I found. They are non-native to the U.S. I have never seen one, or heard of one, before just now. Unique looking
Waukonda, impressive research. I think you identified them.
Here's a cooper or as we call'em chicken hawk, it came around yestiddy trying get one of my fat cardinals. He chased one under the bosses building but missed this time , he'll be back you bet.