Bird Sightings 2014 - 2015

[TheSeedObsesser]

Good pics! I know that female mallards can vary when it comes to shades of brown, but it does look like it might be a hybrid (maybe a mallard crossed with a Welsh Harlequin?).

Thanks for the link Lavender, I like to look at mix-breed/interspecies cross pictures.

 

[bobm]

SeedO , you are more likely than not are correct that the female duck is a crossbred ( not a hybrid as the domestic ducks are descended from the Mallard) between a Mallard and a Pekin.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Interesting, the more pictures I looked at of leucistic and domestic ducks, the more confused I got - until I saw THIS! (one of my fav bird blogs, 10,000 Birds). Look at picture #2 labeled a BUFF ORPINGTON DUCK! Mine is a little different, but still pretty similar. I'm going to head back to that pond and see if I can get some better pics at a later time.

Oh - and the eagles are all Bald eagles, 1 adult and 2 immature. At first only the 2 immature birds were in the tree, and I got very excited and thought I was seeing Golden eagles, but it was obvious once the adult bald eagle landed in the tree that they were all similar size. And the immatures are starting to show white heads and tails.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Some of the ducks on that link are just plain neat looking! If I saw one of those living wild they'd quickly be in my flock. Female Welsh Harlequin ducks look similar to female Buff Orpingtons, but lighter. (This one doesn't look quite like your duck but they're variable when it comes to how dark the feathers are. Thing is yours doesn't have the striping on the back.)

 

[Wishin']

That one is beautiful seed, If I ever saw this one I'd try to catch and keep it in a heartbeat.

 

[Carol Dee]

Spring may finally be here! Robins have been back for weeks. Several weeks ago the swans set up house keeping on a pond nearby. Then the red winged blackbirds came back, Yesterday kestrel and killdeer where seen. Today DH reports the eastern bluebirds are checking out he bluebird houses Here are some photos of our bluebirds a summer or 2 ago. Babies, Papa and just before fledging.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

That one is beautiful seed, If I ever saw this one I'd try to catch and keep it in a heartbeat.

Awesome! Must be a female Mallard?

 

[Lavender2]

AWESOME bluebird photos @Carol Dee !!
I keep hoping they will discover our houses. My friend about a mile away attracts two pair every year. I have had flocks of them at Fall migration, but don't often see them in Spring, I guess they take a different road north.

I've heard the Canadian geese around for a few days, yesterday a pair landed on the pond/ice. There will be a bunch once the water opens up.



And a not so great photo of a red-bellied woodpecker ... hey, I tried ..



No robins or red-wings yet, but I finally saw a junco today. They must be heading back up north, haven't seen them all winter and most winters you see them every day.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Another one of the moments when I wish that my camera wouldn't have had dead batteries. We walked out this morning to take care of the ducks - not one, but THREE big white egrets sitting at the edge of the pond. This is the only time that I've seen one up here, I thought that they stayed down south. Range expansion? Maybe they got lost migrating somewhere? (Do they even migrate?)

 

[Lavender2]

@TheSeedObsesser - Great that you got to see them, maybe more will stop by. They have an odd migration pattern compared to many birds, but you are in their range for migration. Great Egret.

We see them often in spring and summer, hunting in the swamps, and often on our pond. Many of them nest in the wildlife refuge just north of me (about 20 miles north of St. Paul). I hear them a lot in the woods behind my house, but I haven't ventured back there in a while. They are usually easier to photograph than a lot of birds, sitting so still watching for food to swim by. I hope you get to see them again ... with a camera!