Bird Watching Club

lyzzysmom

Lisa, Thanks! I love the shot of little sparrow against the blue sky. I am very fond of my regular backyard birds. It is the same little group this year pretty much. There are a couple of song sparrows that will just plop themselves where the food is and eat themselves silly while other birds come and go.

Lisa and Jazzy, Yes it is a blue heron. There were 2 large birds who both wanted to be in charge of the lake I think. That spot had just been vacated by a white heron or egret. I get confused. This guy below was getting a little annoyed by the blue heron, and me too I think.

this is the prime real estate that they both like! I think somebody needs to clean the deck!

These were taken with my little fuji finepix as I was standing just near the other end of the deck.

SoCalLisa

Those are great...I really have a hard time getting the birds in flight...I am not fast enough any more..

SoCalLisa

SoCalLisa

lyzzysmom

Those are beautiful Lisa. Is that the little hummer that likes to rule the feeder? What is the first one? I have a bird book that I always forget when I travel. Grr!

I was concentrating on the spot that the birds were interested in as I knew they would take off or land near that spot and they obliged for me. I had to hang around for a little while to capture them!

Jazzygirl

Lizzy and So Cal- wow, look at those pictures! Just gorgeous, all of them. The white heron in flight is spectacular too.

Lyzzy- You have quite the amazing birds where you are staying!

The blue heron we saw last weekend at the bird refuge was a solid grey and is called a Lesser Blue Heron now that I have researched it.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/lbheron_glamour_abate.jpg

SoCalLisa

lyz.That hummingbird is my nice one

bandwoman1234

Hey ladies, loving all the bird pics. Haven't had much time to post. Jazzygirl, wow so many birds to take in. That must have been awesome. I have never seen a sandhill crane in person. So neat.

Lizzysmom. I love that heron in flight. So majestic.

Lisa, loving your shore birds and your little hummer.

I won't go into all the emergencies that happened after Thanksgiving while I was at my moms as I have posted on Picture This if you want to check it out. Before all that happened I got a pic of this sweet lady cardinal.

 

 

Teka

The following was taken from on-line.

It's almost time for the 115th annual Christmas Bird Count, the world's longest-running citizen science survey.

Each year, the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count mobilizes more than 70,000 volunteers in more than 2,400 locations.

Birders who want to join a count circle in New York state can sign up at the New York State Ornithological Association website (nybirds.org/ProjCBC.htm ).

This year, the count runs from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5.

The count adds to a comprehensive data set showing the fluctuation, range and movement of bird populations across the continent. Scientists use the data to better understand how birds and the environment are faring and what needs to be done to protect them.

Last year's count documented the record flight of Snowy Owls in the East Coast and Great Lakes.

lyzzysmom

Nancy, she is a beauty!! I so love the cardinals. I actually feel guilty because I know that the feeders are empty and the weather is cold but my next door neighbor also has feeders so they should do just fine. I feel bad if the bedroom window feeder is empty even when the one at the front of the house is not as some of the regulars are a bit slow to catch on that they need to go round front!! When the clocks changed I had to empty it before I went to bed as they were turning up at dawn and the woodpeckers made such a racket!!

The ducks were great this morning and the light was so nice.I must have spent two hours just standing on a dock and then wandering around taking photos. I find taking photos makes me feel so at peace, especially in the morning when its just me and the birds (and the lady that has got up to teach a yoga class LOL).I would have been there earlier except for waiting for that space craft to launch, which it didn't.

I got some pics of them eating. These are some of my favorites.

I think this one is yelling "come and get it"

Not eating but he/she did some nice poses

not a duck but a crackle, much more attractive than the crackles we see up north. I think its called a bottle tailed crackle and its colors are gorgeous, although I missed the end of the tail on this shot.

lyzzysmom

Teka, that is interesting. I will try and find out if Mass. Audubon is doing something similar, as there are a variety of birds that frequent the feeders in our yard.

Wren44

I'm pretty sure the Christmas count is nationwide. I know it happens in Oregon, Washington and California.

bandwoman1234

Lizzysmom, thank you and great shots. I love the first one. I have never seen a duck like that.  That duck looks so sweet. One looks like it is doing it's stretching exercises. You will enjoy your  bird book from the Audubon Society.

Teka, I have heard of this count but I am not sure where I heard it. I imagine they do one here in the Chicago area. Sounds interesting.

Jazzygirl

Hi bird friends- I saw this video today on FB of an owl swimming. Watch the short video and read the story. Incredible!

Great Horned Owl Swimming

bandwoman1234

MJS I love your little Peeper. So cute. I imagine he is great entertainment. We had parakeets growing up and they were lots of fun. We only had one at a time though. One would look like it was playing cards with me and pick up a card and walk around with it. I still find his little beak marks in pages of old books. They were lots of fun.

lyzzysmom

I am so glad that the owl flew off safely. He looked like a good swimmer!!

I saw a couple of birds of prey the last couple of days. First is a Turkey vulture, poor ugly thing he was, and second I think may be an Osprey. I think I had another shot where it was carrying prey but it was very unclear. Its funny actually. The vulture was waiting at a race track where DH and others were being driven or driving around at 100+ mph in exotic and stock cars. DH had wanted a ride in a stock car for years!! Did that vulture know something we didn't?!

SoCalLisa

I saw these at the SD zoo

lyzzysmom

I love those shots Lisa!! The ospreys are so beautiful and the vultures are definitely different!!

SD zoo sounds wonderful. There is a small zoo not too far where I live. Its limited but nice. If the weather permits I would like to get there soon if its not too cold and snowy. Brrr!

SoCalLisa

we have to get you out to our zoo!

SoCalLisa

SoCalLisa

These too, at the zoo

lyzzysmom

An amazing collection Lisa. What are they? They are such a colorful collection. I do so love birds.

I got some the last couple of days including Sandhill Cranes, egrets and ibis. I was really excited about the preening shot, so lucky. The light and the way the bird had its neck positioned just worked. The cranes seem to like gardening!

Jazzygirl

Lyzzy- great shots. You got a super good shot of the red marking on the sandhill too. I love your photos!

SoCalLisa- do you have any of those green parrots that are common in Southern Cali? My sister has them around where she lives in Newport Beach.

SoCalLisa

no but my son sees some in San Dimas CA

SoCalLisa

lyz. Those shots are great absolutely love the preening one

bandwoman1234

Wow, ladies. Love those pics. Lisa, I especially love the colorful parrot.

Lizzysmom, my favorite is the egret preening. Wow, such a great shot. Are you using your 300 lens for these? I keep debating whether I want to get one or not. I think it might be too heavy for my neck issues to haul around. I still like the Canon for my bird shots like Lisa has that I got. I wish I had more opportunities in the winter for birds. I have checked out the Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago area and might pay them a visit after the holidays.

SoCalLisa

I used to go to that zoo when I was in Jr high and lived in Kenilworth.

lyzzysmom

Nancy, the sandhill cranes were taken with my Fuji as they were close and it is more convenient. I used the 300 zoom for the photos on the lake, varied from about 125 to 300 depending on where they were.

SoCalLisa

love the crane with the same color flowers

bandwoman1234

Lizzysmom, I suppose I should rent a long lens and see if I could handle it. There is a place around here that I understand have rentals. Enjoy your warm weather.