All About Pocket Knives

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.

Floyd, those are some really nice swan photos!

Great shots doglegg. Beautiful birds.

Thanks Ike and QS.

Nice shots Floyd!!!
John

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.

Thanks John.
QS, always exciting to see something unusual or out of place.

I second that! Great shots of really beautiful birds doglegg .

Thanks WillyC

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

Very neat, Charlie! Hawks are amazing creatures!

Sounds like a red shouldered hawk Charlie. At least those are as described around here. Congrats.

These might be ducks, but not sure what kind of birds these are. They are fairly large.

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 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:19 am

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.

My son showed me this video yesterday.

Apparently, the bird's wings are flapping at a rate that is in near-perfect sync with the frames/second rate of the surveillance camera.



Charlie

Amazing Charlie.

That's pretty cool!

I'm going with another theory. That bird has learned to levitate.

That would be worth sharing on YouTube. Remarkable video. Strange.

philco wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 1:26 am I'm going with another theory. That bird has learned to levitate.

John

Or there's a big updraft flowing up the side of the house.

Charlie

I was able to get within 6 foot of this beauty!!

Cool lookin bird Scott! Looks like he has a bad attitude about pictures.

That's cool! Great pic and no doubt a bit of a thrill to get that close.