Bird Watching Club

auntienance

Looks like a magpie.

SoCalLisa

Thanks..I must get going on my bird watching..

SoCalLisa

I just have to throw this one in because I like where I saw the swan..

in Bruges..

Teka

Lovely photo, and I also like black swans.

SoCalLisa

I have never seen a black swan..where would be a good place to find one?

coraleliz

Heated bird bath? Had no idea they existed. Perhaps I get one if I ever move to a place with temps below 35. Actually I need to get a new birdbath. The raccoons toppled mine a couple of years back & broke itNeed to get out & take some more photos....

Teka

SoCalLisa,

I saw a black swan years ago at the Granby Zoo in Canada.

coraleliz

Teka-cute little bunting. I don't see those here. Thanks.  Also nice to see snow!

SoCal-To find scrub jays, hmmmm....I usually don't see them along the actual coastline. But inland, maybe 1/2mile. Parks with picnic areas are a good place to look. When I lived in northern Calif, I noticed more stellar jays. Since I moved south, these scrub jays outnumber. Just my obsevation

curveball

@SoCalLisa, if you want to travel I believe the black swans are native to Australia.

SoCalLisa

Now there is an excuse for a trip!

Teka

That would be some trip!

Today, even with high winds and blowing snow, the house wren was at the suet feeders.   Maybe living in a small old wooden birdhouse that is hanging in a huge old honeysuckle bush.   I would love a photo of sweetie.

SoCalLisa

I didn't take these in the wild, but here at the zoo..here are the flamingo stages from

egg, to chick to teen to adult..

Teka

Cute when flamingos stand on one leg!

By the way, sweetie the house wren is no friend to the eastern bluebirds.

auntienance

Teka, I still welcome the house wrens because they will run the sparrows out of the bluebird boxes. But we also put out special houses just for them. Love their singing.

pj12

We went to lunch today at an ocean front restaurant. There were two Northern Gannets in closer than usual diving for their lunch. Quite a show

Teka

Nancy, our neighbor has bluebird boxes in an old apple orchard with nesting pairs of bluebirds every Summer. Our land has bushes and low branching trees with a pair of nesting house wrens every Summer. Sing! Sing! Sing! The european starlings and pigeons are the only birds that I hate to see at the feeders.

SoCalLisa

It has been eons since I have seen a bluebird..we don't have them here...

SoCalLisa

This hummingbird is a favorite of my neighbors...it comes to talk with her almost every day..

coraleliz

SoCal-The Western Bluebird is found in in southern CA. Not as bright blue as the ones to the east. I've also never seen one come to a feeder. I've only noticed them in open spaces. It's a cute little bird. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_bluebird/id  Maybe you have a pic already? I'll try to get one.

The only birds I talk bad about are crows & sometimes gulls(OK,maybe the European Starlings). Love the swallows.

coraleliz

SoCal- that would be an Anna's Hummingbird.

coraleliz

Here's a couple of shorebirds standing around on one leg

Longbilled Curlew-one of my favorites. Love the color & the way they prance around.

A Dowitcher     Apparently birds stand on one leg as a way of conserving heat. Although I wonder why they don't step out of the cold surf.

auntienance

Would love to see an anna's. We only get ruby throated and I have to wait 10 more weeks for them!

SoCalLisa

We have them both year round here..a good thing..

curveball

@auntienance, I think you will have to pack your suitcases and come out west to see Anna's hummingbird. I don't believe their range extends east of the Rockies.

voraciousreader

Here's a great link to a new documentary on the Birders of Central Park.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2310157/

I got the DVD from my local library.  After watching the documentary last year, my friend who is an avid bird watcher (and helped me identify my red-bellied woodpecker) took a wonderful bird watching tour with Starr Saphir who was included in the film. 

SoCalLisa

This is my favorite hummingbird..

coraleliz

I think this hummer is a Green Violet-ear Hummingbird. Where did you find this one? While travelling? I don't think it's a Californian

SoCalLisa

That one I took in captivity, I just posted it because he is soooo pretty!

luvmygoats

Lisa - Beautiful. I'm certainly no expert but I think the only ones I see at my feeder are ruby throated. Goldfinches out - got out and refilled all the feeders today.

coraleliz

SoCal- It is very BEAUTIFUL!!