|
Post by HighCotton on Jul 22, 2022 15:25:28 GMT -5
I've always been a "bird watcher." Most of that time is from a tree stand. But, a few months ago my son really got me into the addiction with the Cornell Merlin app! Sometimes I will use the Sound recording to identify a bird. Other times, I will use the photo ID. I am finding that the photo ID is a blast and usually very difficult to get a good image. Recently I have had my grandson help me with his digital camera as it is a lot easier to tag team a bird rather than go solo. I have also found that other "birders" nearby (for instance on our recent trip to the Grand Canyon) will love to share photos and/or recordings. I even picked up the California Condor while hiking the Grand Canyon but the pics did not turn out well. My grandson and I were so amazed that we did not attend to the task at hand and were taken off guard by the mere wingspans of these amazing birds! I recently picked up an Apexel 18X telephoto lens that attaches to my iPhone. This works well to get a good ID but not the best quality pics. So far I have accumulated 104 birds on the Cornell Life List. Anybody who has a pic, recording or just a cool story or bit of info, feel free to post here as well! Below are some of the photo ID pics of recent: Western Tanager: Ash-throated Flycatcher: Spotted Towhee: Violet-Green Swallow: Great Egret: And probably my favorite so far, near Wichita Kansas, The Black bellied Whistling Duck:
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jul 22, 2022 17:02:57 GMT -5
Being in the different states that you are, you will be seeing more birds than we are seeing up here.
|
|
|
Post by bullseye69 on Jul 23, 2022 23:52:43 GMT -5
I like that green swallow!
|
|
|
Post by Sasquatch on Jul 24, 2022 5:30:11 GMT -5
It is a worthy thing to learn more about the critters around us. My ignorance of birds is shameful, really.
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 26, 2023 7:44:24 GMT -5
I recently picked up on a few woodpeckers frequenting my suet feeder. The red headed or red bellied are fairly easy to distinguish. However, I was not sure how to differentiate between the Downy and Hairy woodpeckers. Even with the Cornell University, Merlin App, it pulls both as options. They look very similar, though the Hairy is a bit larger and has a longer beak. I thought that would be enough for me to ID them but it's hard to gauge size and length without comparing them side by side. After a bit of research, I read that the best identifier is the black bars or spots on the under side of the Downy's tail feathers. The Hairy's are totally white. I kept seeing the woodpecker land at the feeder but I couldn't see the under side of the tail feathers. So, I repositioned the feeder and was able to get a good shot. As I guessed, mainly because Downy's also tend to be more residential and tolerant of such surroundings, it is in fact a Downy woodpecker.
|
|
|
Post by Mean Gene on Jan 26, 2023 9:54:58 GMT -5
We have very few birds right around my house, but in the spring we get a few bluebirds. One got in the house one day and I had to chase him all over with a fishing net before I could catch him and put him back outside.
|
|
|
Post by bgiancola on Jan 26, 2023 10:14:23 GMT -5
Awesome photos, thanks for sharing! I used to see Black Belly Whistlers at one of the ponds at a previous employer
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Jan 26, 2023 11:09:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jjas on Jan 26, 2023 11:26:14 GMT -5
Before she died, our cat used to sit @ the sliding back door and watch the birds all the time. I caught myself calling her the other day to get her to come watch the birds.
It's amazing how ingrained things like that are.
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 26, 2023 15:48:57 GMT -5
Definiteley! I always love watching the Pileated Woodpeckers. They sure can get noisy out in the woods! Recently, I've also captured a few other good woodpecker photos. The Red Bellied: and a juvenile Red Headed male(having yet to gain the bright red coloration):
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 26, 2023 16:05:58 GMT -5
This is another of my favorites I picked up a few months ago down near Cape Girardeau, MO off the banks of the Mississippi River. This is a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. They are often mistaken as Downy or Hairy Woodpeckers: As Norton from the old show the Honeymooners notes in this clip, "It's got a yellow belly and it sucks sap, Its gotta be a yellow-bellied sapsucker!" www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY72hNUhC0k
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jan 27, 2023 0:17:23 GMT -5
There are 2 different white egrets here in the States. Is the other a cattle egret? One is big, the other is about 1/2 that size.
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 27, 2023 9:05:10 GMT -5
There are 2 different white egrets here in the States. Is the other a cattle egret? One is big, the other is about 1/2 that size. Correct. Generally we see the Great white egret and the Snowy egret, which I’ve picked up in my travels. We do have the grayish a style egret which I have yet to spot. There also exists some variants add “white heron” sometimes mistaken for egrets.
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jan 27, 2023 11:35:14 GMT -5
There are 2 different white egrets here in the States. Is the other a cattle egret? One is big, the other is about 1/2 that size. Correct. Generally we see the Great white egret and the Snowy egret, which I’ve picked up in my travels. We do have the grayish a style egret which I have yet to spot. There also exists some variants add “white heron” sometimes mistaken for egrets. I should keep a list of birds just seen here on the property. The pond attracts some that you'd not usually see. It all depends on the water level of the pond too. I never see any divers when the pond is low, but they land here regularly when it's at full pool. Time of year makes a huge difference too, I see more during migration, then breeding season when everybody is looking for a place to make a nest. On the other property, I will put up Wood Duck nesting boxes and Mallard tubes once the ponds are done. Just waterfowl: Canada goose Mallard Duck Wood Duck Gadwall Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Lesser Scaup Greater Scaup Coot Blue-Winged Teal I got lucky about 20 years ago when we had an extended cold snap and saw a Snowy Owl perched on one of the buildings at work. It was either a Female or an Immature bird. I've seen a Scarlet Tanager here and a Painted Bunting when I was in Texas. I probably should start a bird list just for the heck of it. You can see some weird ones when you are out on the ocean off the Pacific Coast of Mexico too.
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 27, 2023 12:52:32 GMT -5
For anyone interested, check out and grab the Merlin app. You can use sound recordings and photo ID to assist in identifying birds. Set up an account and you will track your birds with your “life list.” It’s not perfect. Not foolproof. But it’s pretty good and it’s free! merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jan 28, 2023 10:08:31 GMT -5
While baking bread this morning, I happened to glance out the window and saw this dude. I barely got this pic with the iPhone before it flew off. The Northern Flicker. This woodpecker has quite a history with a lot of mystical nuances attached. It is probably known most, in the south and southeast as the Yellow Hammer. For a fact, the feathers of this bird were once used to tie the infamous "YallarHammer" fly for fishing. Some have said that the history goes back to the Cherokees. Most fly tiers think that it was developed from the Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled in the hills of Alabama. One thing for sure. In most states, if you are caught, having killed one of these birds for the feathers, you are facing a steep fine and possible jail time. However, if you own an authentic fly from the past, a grandfather clause will keep you in the clear. I have tied a number of these in the past, using synthetics or dove feathers dyed yellow! This is one of the YallarHammers that I tied over 20 years ago when I was in the late Jack Scifres (Namesake to Flymasters on the NE side of Indy) tying class, brother of Bayou Bill Scifres. It does not look like much but I found the fly fairly difficult to tie. This fly sits in a showcase in my office. I'll not fish it just because of its sentimental meaning to me!
|
|
|
Post by steiny on Jan 28, 2023 13:27:24 GMT -5
I keep hoping for a stimulus check to buy bird food. These dang birds are going through the groceries this winter.
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Jan 28, 2023 14:26:19 GMT -5
I keep hoping for a stimulus check to buy bird food. These dang birds are going through the groceries this winter. Yep, And $ 23.99 for 40 pounds of black oil sunflower seeds is a shocker
|
|
|
Post by genesis273 on Jan 29, 2023 15:15:00 GMT -5
Not so bird watching I suppose but, I have had a flock of Robins here for a week now.
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Feb 16, 2023 16:29:32 GMT -5
Trekking back from Kentucky I decided to roll a bit through the country and Muscatatuck. Got a few sandhill crane pics.
|
|