Bird Watching

[Artemis Windsong]

Here are some new birder webpages:

www.eNature.com - bird migrations
www.hummingbirds.net
www.BirdNation.com - bird migrations and ETAs for your area
www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html - The Great Backyard Bird Count

[Artemis Windsong]

The female thinking over the gift. ;D

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The female thinking over the gift.

Ya know.. I think you may be right, Artemis.

[suek1958]

Today I saw a Nut-hatch and a Downy Woodpecker on my suet feeder together!

and at the regular seed feeder I saw a Chickadee, and a Mourning Dove below on the snow-covered ground sharing with about 7 Juncos

What bird looks like a Sparrow, only much smaller? He was sitting in the seeds eating. A male Finch?

[suek1958]

HI TT How's it goin? I'm not sure but I don't think we have Wrens around here in winter
Kinglet... hmmm... I'll have to look that up, not familiar with that bird.
I saw this little bird in the feeder, thinking it was a Sparrow... then saw one on the ground eating, but he was much bigger! Like 3 times the little bird's size, so I realized only one of them was a Sparrow! LOL
I'll have to do some research..........

[suek1958]

Well, I searched around the web and I think my tiny bird was a Pine Siskin! They are in the Finch family, and are seen more often north of me and in Canada, but sometimes come farther south in winter. Maybe someone can post a pic- I don't know how.

Artemis, what was that book you were reading? (your post above #66) I may want to read it!

[Artemis Windsong]

suek1958 - I apologize for such a slow response. The title of the book is Red Earth White Earth by Will Weaver. There are a lot of larger themes in the book but I did notice the birds.

[Artemis Windsong]

I added your link to my faves. Thanks.

[Artemis Windsong]

The seed in the new feeder is going down quickly. It's nice to have a clear container. I cleaned the bird bath but haven't seen any activity.

DH made a plan for his topsy-turvey hummingbird feeder. It's way early for our climate to plant. The spot needs to be picked, also.

[suek1958]

Artemis, Thanks for the book title! I found a summary of it online, and it sounds like just the type of book I like to read! I'm just finishing one called "Heart in the Right Place" by Carolyn Jourdan.
It's a memoir - but reads like a novel- of a woman from east Tennessee whose father is the local country doctor. I highly recommend it!

TT, that was wonderful how the Kinglet landed right on you and stared at you! ;D And thanks for the bird links!

Artemis, I haven't got my bird bath out yet, I probably will tomorrow. I LOVE watching the birds in my yard! My mother is a big bird-lover too. I usually have a pair of cardinals nesting in one of my bushes each year, and I've seen one around recently, so I'm hoping!

What is a topsy-turvey hummingbird feeder?

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[Artemis Windsong]

The topsey turvy humming bird feeder is the same as one with tomatoes but with different plants. I can scarcely wait as we usually don't plant things.

www.topsyturvy.com

[ktunes]

i need to bring a camera outside when i'm milling around outside...we now have a resident hawk...i've been trying to follow it to see where the nest is but can't determine where it resides...

it flew overhead when i was getting ready to mow the lawn last weekend...about a month ago i saw it out back, it was messing with a squirrel...the squirrel was trying to go up a tree and the hawk, who was on the ground would fly up and cut off the squirrel who would then try to run back down the tree...this went on for quite some time...

anyway, i'll try to get some real photos of it...

[Deleted]

we now have a resident hawk

Ktunes, I've had resident hawks over the last five six years or so. The only way I know where they've nested is after the leaves fall. I can see their nests almost at tree top levels.. Their wing span is massive and when flying low to the ground you can actually see their wings shadowing the ground below.. Their size can be a bit disconcerting at times if they get a bit too close.. Ours have become somewhat comfortable in our backyard area..



The stunning Quetzal bird resides in Costa Rica and other tropical, mountainous forests in Central America and is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the Western Hemisphere. The males have extraordinarily long tail feathers and resplendent coloring unlike any other bird.

[Artemis Windsong]

The whopping cranes are coming. The whopping cranes are coming. If any are spotted they need to be reported to the fish and game.

[Artemis Windsong]

I heard and saw the sandhill cranes migrating north. The songs of the birds is wonderful. The gold finch are changing to gold.

The eagle cam is running.

www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

[Deleted]

I had to run back to the house for the binocs this am. Group of small ducks on the river which I have now identified as Ruddy ducks. I have never seen them here before but may have just missed them.
Does anyone kow what a bird with a two note call would be. Over and over, second note a lower pitch than the first and from high up in the trees. I have been trying to figure out what this bird is for a couple of seasons now. Have gone thru the bird song sights and can't find it.
Love the eagle cam!

[Deleted]

This is a link to the Ruddy ducks I saw this morning tt. I can't get the pic to stick.
www.bing.com/images/search?q=pic+of+ruddy+duck&view=detail&id=283F01B32AC896FD67A716AA98523986A58F1061&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR

This is not the bird with the 2 note call that I keep hearing in the trees. The bird in the trees reminds me of a cuckoo clock but lower pitch . I can't seem to zero in on him with the binocs but he's here all summer and I will!

We do see the wood ducks in the trees and have a nest box for them. They had some babies last year in it and hope to get some again. They are really shy ducks. Usually you see them flying away as you approach the river.

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I know what these are after seeing the book. Distinctive bill, tail, and male coloring. Nothing like a coot.

[Deleted]

They were not in the trees. They were in the river.
Different bird in the trees. Have not gotten a good look yet at that one.

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The bird in the trees is not anything like a duck.

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lol! think smaller.

[Deleted]

I see those occasionally but that's not it. Think about a cuckoo clock sound. 2 notes, last one lower, kind of nasal sounding. Same two notes over and over.
I will spot it this summer sooner or later. It calls all throughout the day . Moring, afternoon, early evening.
I hear him. Going out to see if I can spot him.

[Deleted]

He flew as soon as I got outside.
Not a mourning dove, I know them .
It could be a common bird though, just don't know.
I will continue to hunt him with the binocs!
Keep thinking cuckoo clock, nasal, longer notes though, higher to lower, over and over, hee who, hee who. Voice carries, pretty loud.
Mystery bird.

[Artemis Windsong]

A friend called last evening and was nearly dancing around her kitchen. A juvenile bald eagle was paying a visit to their slough. He'd been there two days. She didn't know what the attraction was but I'm thinking something dead washed up and it was there for fast food.

I asked her about any blue herons, which have been spotted in some ditch waters. They were feeding closer to the river.

Now is a great birding time as the birds are back and the foilage is sparse. Happy birding.

[ktunes]

I've had resident hawks over the last five six years or so. The only way I know where they've nested is after the leaves fall

hey heart, i found where the hawk(s) are nesting... ;D...i was doing yard work last weekend and heard a racket like an animal catching another one...it got my attention and before the noise subsided i got the general direction and eventually saw some movement...

i had to break out the binoculars but sure enough, it looked like mama hawk feeding...i am assuming the racket i heard was the young one(s) when they saw there meal coming...

i'll try to get some pics if i can get close enough...

[Artemis Windsong]

The flowering trees were filled with cedar wax wings sucking on the nectar, eating blossoms, then they would water at my bird bath. I did get a photo after several tries as they were spooking even when I moved in the house. I was bragging about them, showing the photo to a friend when she looked up and there they were watering again.

After they darted away, I filled the bird bath again. I leave a little bit of dirt in the bottom so the little house finch and gold finch birds can see there is a bottom then they can wade and splash.

A broadwing hawk has been gliding/viewing the golf course for gophers and mice. I saw what I thought was a roughed leg hawk in the borrow ditch with a writhing snake. It would have made a great picture with the hawks wings spread up and the snake head striking, but I was traveling on a highway too fast to stop.

[Deleted]

hey heart, i found where the hawk(s) are nesting..

Ktunes.. I just noticed the above this morning.. It sure would be nice to see some of our personal wild kingdom pictures posted here for all to see.. I have lots of cute little rabbits in my backyard this year.. I try to be camera ready, but sometimes you spook them little critters like Artemis said, just by slight movement inside your home.. I would say they definitely have rabbit ears to hear.. My children would whisper how mama had rabbit ears when I caught them talking to each other through the walls when they were supposed to be sleeping..

Maybe some of us can kodak our in the wild adventure moments and post them here.. I look forward to seeing them and will try to bring a couple of my own here..

[ktunes]

hey heart...i wish i still had my old 35mm camera...i don't think i could get a good shot with a camera phone...especially now with the trees bearing leaves...but i'll be trying...

[Artemis Windsong]

Grackles and starlings are hanging around peeps yards.