Bird Sightings 2014 - 2015

[curly_kate]

We've got an Eastern kingbird that seems to be surveying our new deck for a nest. Kinda hoping she finds it up to snuff!

 

[buckabucka]

Finally got the photos out of my camera. Here are some tufted titmice that frequently the magnolia tree right out the kitchen window.

I'm afraid the magnolia tree will be toast when we have a basement put in this spring. The contractor said he could try to move it for us, but I'm not sure that will be successful. We planted it too close o the house, never expecting it to grow!

 

[Carol Dee]

The birds are the sweetest. It looks like the Magnolia is ready to bloom.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Really nice buckabucka! I love the top one where he's reaching down to his feet, cute!

 

[digitS']

We've got an Eastern kingbird that seems to be surveying our new deck for a nest. Kinda hoping she finds it up to snuff!

We have both the Eastern and Western Kingbird here!

Also, the Western and Mountain Bluebird . . . I love it that these things happen! Multiculturalism, you know. (I'd tell you about the Swallows too but they definitely haven't shown up yet and, besides, I might get choked up . . .)

Steve

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

@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!

Thanks Lavender! Haven't seen another egret yet, but at least I know that it's normal now. I thought that they stayed down south around the Gulf of Mexico area, maybe I'm thinking of Ibis's.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Red - Winged Blackbird. The same male in both pictures.

 

[Smart Red]

I saw our first pair of blue birds this morning. They were checking out the nesting box they used last year. I quickly got it cleaned out and ready for occupancy. I saw them in the new orchard later in the day so they are still in the birdhouse area.

 

[curly_kate]

I can't WAIT for the bluebirds! They and the swallows always make me think of summer!

 

[NwMtGardener]

Another fun day of birding and biking, it was even sunny much of the day where we were! Most noteworthy birds were a pair of Trumpeter swans, and a first ever for me - Spotted Towhee! No pics of him, they're very secretive, but I caught enough glimpses of him as he flitted in the dense brush, and IDed him with his croaky call. (Click to make them bigger, I just put thumbnails because there are so many pictures!)

Pileated Woodpecker


Northern Flickers - we have red-shafted here in the west


The scenery on our bike ride


Common Merganser pair


Trumpeter swan! his band is K61, I'm going to do some research and see what I can find out about him


The Trumpeter Swan pair coming in for a landing


Common Loon


Sandhill Crane