Do you like watching birds?

[Stephanie]

Speaking of flickers, for the past few weeks, we've had one in the 3 palms which frame our front bay and regular windows. I'd never seen this species so close up before!

Our subdivision is one street which encircles a "lake" (more like a pond) with 32 homes backing up as waterfront property. Since Wilma, we've had much more bird activity, especially large blue herons, the very large egrets with the "curly" feathers, ibises, and others. I've heard some beautiful birdsongs that are new to me, as well.

I've always been interested in learning more about birding, but this thread has boosted my curiosity. Thanks, friends!

LOL southflorida! I guess it's a good thing he is referred to as a "nuthatch".

I'm so glad that the thread has "peaked" your interest. It really is alot of fun and I think that the Great Blue Heron is a magnificent bird. They are so graceful when they fly throught the air - just like the egret.

[Stephanie]

Also, I've learned this season that the irridescent black birds that visit my yard and are pretty much all over this area ARE NOT starlings but grackles. I realized this when I put in my observations for Atlantic City the other day when I found out that the black birds with brownish wings I've seen down there were the REAL starlings. Very interesting!

[JenBayles]

But Steph - would they be Common Grackles, Boat-Tailed Grackles or Great-Tailed Grackles? And let's not get them confused with the Brown-Headed Cowbird either - those little parasites who lay their eggs in other birds' nests, and eat the original hatchlings out of house, home and life.

[SouthFloridawx]

Speaking of flickers, for the past few weeks, we've had one in the 3 palms which frame our front bay and regular windows. I'd never seen this species so close up before!

Our subdivision is one street which encircles a "lake" (more like a pond) with 32 homes backing up as waterfront property. Since Wilma, we've had much more bird activity, especially large blue herons, the very large egrets with the "curly" feathers, ibises, and others. I've heard some beautiful birdsongs that are new to me, as well.

I've always been interested in learning more about birding, but this thread has boosted my curiosity. Thanks, friends!

LOL southflorida! I guess it's a good thing he is referred to as a "nuthatch".

I'm so glad that the thread has "peaked" your interest. It really is alot of fun and I think that the Great Blue Heron is a magnificent bird. They are so graceful when they fly throught the air - just like the egret.

Yeah it is a good thing cause he really was a "Nuthatch". ... Hmmm

that is the best word to every describe him. When I get my digital camera I'll go out and take some pictures of birds and post them here. You guys can help me start my love of birds.

[Stephanie]

That sounds great southflorida!

My final entry for the count - 4 mounrning doves, 1 northern cardinal, 2 blue jays and 5 juncos.

I don't know where the chickadees, nuthatches and tufted titmouse were this year. I had alot of them for last year's count. I have seen them around earlier in the winter.

[alicia-w]

they must be here because we have TONS of them!

[Stephanie]

they must be here because we have TONS of them!

Perhaps! They're enjoying the warmth!

[alicia-w]

we counted quite a few tufted titmouse, carolina chickadee, cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, heron, egret, osprey, flicker, thrush, cedar waxwing, and a couple of others I cant remember right now.

[SouthFloridawx]

i got a couple of bird pics and want to know what they are ... i'll post them in a moment when i get they up here.

[SouthFloridawx]

First one


second one...

[artist]

the first one is a green backed heron - we have a pair that nest in our pond every year.


http://www.hylebos.org/statepark/Heron.htm

[Cookiely]

Speaking of flickers, for the past few weeks, we've had one in the 3 palms which frame our front bay and regular windows. I'd never seen this species so close up before!

Our subdivision is one street which encircles a "lake" (more like a pond) with 32 homes backing up as waterfront property. Since Wilma, we've had much more bird activity, especially large blue herons, the very large egrets with the "curly" feathers, ibises, and others. I've heard some beautiful birdsongs that are new to me, as well.

I've always been interested in learning more about birding, but this thread has boosted my curiosity. Thanks, friends!

LOL southflorida! I guess it's a good thing he is referred to as a "nuthatch".

I'm so glad that the thread has "peaked" your interest. It really is alot of fun and I think that the Great Blue Heron is a magnificent bird. They are so graceful when they fly throught the air - just like the egret.

A Great Blue Heron was in our yard yesterday. I had never seen one in the neighborhood before. Sort of spooked me. I felt like I was in Jurassic Park. We have a woodpecker, an owl, two redbirds, one blue bird, a couple of doves, and some really tiny birds about the size of a thumb.

[Stephanie]

The second picture is of a Great Blue Heron. I see alot of them flying around here since we do have a creek nearby. They seem to be very adaptable and they are so graceful when they fly. You can tell it's them just by the legs. Down at the Jersey shore we have egrets which are white and look alot like the Great Blue Heron, but are smaller.

If anyone has a pond in their yard with Koi fish, etc., it's like setting out supper for the Great Blue.

[alicia-w]

our neighbor has a koi pond and we strung several wires at varying angles about 8 feet from the top. This discourages the herons from getting in their since it interferes with their wingspan.

we are traveling to AZ this Friday for our annual bird watching event. We go to Patagonia for several days to help a friend who is a hummingbird expert band and record species activity, and then on to Portal and Paradise to record as many other birds as we can. From the porch steps of the house we stay in, we've recorded over 100 different species in as little as two hours. it's wonderful!!!

[SouthFloridawx]

Birds are cool...

I live in an apartment and there is this squirle that comes around about every other day. The first time I saw him I started making squirlly sounds and he come right over to me. I live on a balcony so he was on the ground and I was up above. He started raising his hands up to me so I went in and looked in my cupboard. Well all I had were some cashews so I threw one down at him. By golly he loved it so he ate that one and looked back up at me and I threw him a couple more. Well after the third one some birds started coming around and I threw a few more so everyone could have some fun. Well he started going around picking them up and taking them into the nearest tree. Anyway he comes around every other day and looks up at me it's soo funny.

[alicia-w]

cute! we have a flying squirrel that comes to our seed feeders almost every night. it's the sweetest thing and has become quite trusting.

[Stephanie]

That sounds like a cool trip alicia! Actually, along the boardwalk on the various Jersey shores (and I'm sure many other places), they do the same thing with the wire so the seagulls won't steal your food.

That squirrel is adorable! You're going to see him everyday now. We throw out unsalted peanuts to them and we get some blue jays that come and get them as well, along with chipmunks.

[alicia-w]

Here's a mated pair of cardinals who visit our feeder regularly:

[alicia-w]

we're off tomorrow morning for our weeklong bird watching trip! we were invited to attend a hummingbird banding session for 5 hours sunday morning!! i'm really excited about that.

[SouthFloridawx]

we're off tomorrow morning for our weeklong bird watching trip! we were invited to attend a hummingbird banding session for 5 hours sunday morning!! i'm really excited about that.

Have fun alicia!!!!