Bird Sightings 2014 - 2015

Incidentally, awesome shots, especially the osprey. I used to have a houseboat down on Lake Marion in South Carolina and we had osprey down there. I once watched one hover about 20 feet above the water and then fold his wings and dove for a fish, going underwater to get it. Despite the fact the bass he came up with probably weighted almost two pounds somehow the osprey made it back up out of the water and flew off with his catch. Incredible!

I managed to get a shot of the elusive endangered Eagle Rider.
I had to be verrry stealthy!

Saw an indigo bunting today!!

I spotted a robin and two juveniles on my copper arbor on July 4... and watched a male teaching them how to hunt. So much rain this year is keeping my yard like mush, a robin's paradise! They have been in the veggie garden a bit too, hopefully enjoying some bugs.

Bugs... Nahhh ! The 3 Robin families that are the local residents just behind our back fence and a Cottonwood grove, and from a wood lot across the road, ate and/ or destroyed my entire cherry crop as well as 1/2 of my Blueberry crop from 14 bushes by eating some but mostly just picking the berries and dropping them on the ground one after the other. I have the bushes covered with the white cloth netting. What they do is go underneath it and up and into the bushes and pick off the berries. Not to mention eating a few or just mostly pecking most of the strawberries at which point they start to rot.

Robins are not a favorite around here either once the fruit begins to ripen. Blueberries are a special delight, but now that DHs cats are outside, they may keep a few of the robins at bay.

Since I showed a picture of the giraffe (mask) in my yard I hesitate to discuss my most recent bird sighting. I had a peacock sighting in south-est, central-est Wisconsin.

There really was a peacock walking along the meandering country road toward the Rock River for a drink. Nearly had me driving into the water myself until I remembered the home of Miracle, the white buffalo was nearby and they keep a few exotic animals as pets.

Not on my list of usual bird sightings.

bobm said:

Bugs... Nahhh ! The 3 Robin families that are the local residents just behind our back fence and a Cottonwood grove, and from a wood lot across the road, ate and/ or destroyed my entire cherry crop as well as 1/2 of my Blueberry crop from 14 bushes by eating some but mostly just picking the berries and dropping them on the ground one after the other. I have the bushes covered with the white cloth netting. What they do is go underneath it and up and into the bushes and pick off the berries. Not to mention eating a few or just mostly pecking most of the strawberries at which point they start to rot.

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Oh sure, blame the poor robins..
I wish there was an easy way to keep them out of berries! Sorry you have such berry hoarders!

We have quite a few different birds that enjoy berries... blue jays, orioles, blue birds, cardinals, catbirds, grosbeaks, etc.
I have to keep the blueberries covered year round or the deer will 'prune' them for me in winter. I use the black bird netting, staked to the ground. Strawberry rows were easier to cover but I don't grow those anymore, too much maintenance for me.

I grow some fruit just for the birds... highbush cranberry, wild plum, and bush cherries. I guess it's a worthwhile tradeoff for me, attracting so many birds... except for a slug explosion 3 years ago, my only bug problem is mosquitoes. Oh, and I enjoy bird watching..

@Lavender2, how about a better shot of your copper trellis(?) shown in the first robin family photo. I would like to see how the whole thing was made.
I made this obelisk a dozen years ago all on my own. Pretty proud that DH didn't have to help.

Smart Red said:

@Lavender2, how about a better shot of your copper trellis(?) shown in the first robin family photo. I would like to see how the whole thing was made.
I made this obelisk a dozen years ago all on my own. Pretty proud that DH didn't have to help.View attachment 3468

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That is so cool!
Sounds like a fun topic... wanna do it?

I saw a Nighthawk, yesterday.

They seem like such mysterious birds. Look how far they range (LINK). From the Yukon, waaay down into South America! It's no wonder I only see them at certain times of the year!

The time I associate with Nighthawks is mid-August and driving down to U of I on Idaho's Goatpath to return to school. It's been a long time ago, folks.

I'm sure that there are still Nighthawks looping back and forth above the highway, creating fascinating patterns in the minds of imaginative youth ...

Steve