Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread

[BoxsterCy]

First baby Eastern Screech Owl I've ever put eyes on. Owlet was pretty curious about me but not curious enough to keep it's eyes open for long. A moment later it was snoozing again. The owlet and it's two siblings had only just fledged and left the nest cavity (per reports from some birders).

 

[MTCyclone43]

I’m getting better at spotting them but still so frustrating. I’m constantly under a tree Merlin says has a yellow warbler in it. Have yet to spot one. And they are BRIGHT YELLOW

Are you sure that your Merlin App is not stuck on April 1st?

 

[VeloClone]

Last night we were having dinner on our deck and we had a Ruby-throated guest at our hummingbird feeder. It didn't seem much concerned with any of us including our daughter who was only 5-6 feet away from the feeder. It visited us twice during dinner.

Not my pic...

I think our other visitors have also been ruby-throated but I think they have all been females or adolescent males because this is the first red throat we have seen. Or perhaps we haven't had the right lighting for the throat to blaze like this one was.

 

[BoxsterCy]

I was backpaddling and looking at tree tops trying to locate a bird we heard signing and I almost stepped on this killdeers nest. Glad mom freaked out and let me know. Would have been pretty embarrassing! You can see her two eggs on the ground.

I am used to killdeer being pretty vocal and animated when they have a nest or young but she had gone full still and quiet. Glad my friends dog was so chill and so well behaved. Might have been why she was so quiet, saw that dog and they have fox in this park.

 

[cydnote]

I always had a soft spot in me for the Killdeer. When doing fieldwork I loved watching them as they went into "injury mode"---they would drop one wing towards the ground and present themselves as being injured in their attempt to lead you away from their nest. In one instance, I raised the planter for a couple of feet as it appeared the row unit aligned perfectly with her nest. Of course it was close enough to the road that my dad noticed it later in the season and questioned me about the "skip". It was far easier to pull the "I have no idea" card than enter that discussion.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Finally refilled our feeders and put up the hummingbird one late yesterday afternoon. Saw a male ruby-throated trying it out this morning. By the time my brain thought of my phone, he was gone.

 

[VeloClone]

Finally refilled our feeders and put up the hummingbird one late yesterday afternoon. Saw a male ruby-throated trying it out this morning. By the time my brain thought of my phone, he was gone.

Both our Oriole and one tiny hummer dropped by while I was fixing breakfast this morning. Alas, no usable pics.

 

[Fishhead]

Canada Warbler in our Oak tree this AM, says Merlin. I can't see it. I hate that. It is almost teasing.

Not sure if you are a newbie or not, but if you are, this is sometimes typical of the hobby. Plus, Canada Warblers are one of the later warblers to migrate up, so trees are normally leafed out when they are around.

 

[Gonzo]

Both our Oriole and one tiny hummer dropped by while I was fixing breakfast this morning. Alas, no usable pics.

We've lived in our current home for 14 years and last year was the first time I've ever seen an Oriole perched on our back deck. I had no idea they were in our area, pretty cool.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Since I am in Minnesota and the Common Loon is our state bird, here's a photo from today at a metro area regional park. Not the norm to be able to get this good of a look at a loon on a nest without being out in a boat but this was from shore. Will have to now keep checking to see if I can spy some babies.

 

[GrindingAway]

Not sure if you are a newbie or not, but if you are, this is sometimes typical of the hobby. Plus, Canada Warblers are one of the later warblers to migrate up, so trees are normally leafed out when they are around.

Not who you are replying to but I'm a newbie and definitely feel this. It does seem to get a better every time I go out. Last night was a pretty good one with 30 species in 90 minutes including several that have been elusive for me in the past. Still heard a million warbling vireos though and couldn't confidently say I saw one.

If you're like me the frustration of not finding the birds you here will lead you to conclude I need to buy new binoculars, a cool spotting scope and a really expensive camera and lens. I'm holding off on the camera so far making sure this hobby sticks and isn't just a phase, but the urge is strong.

 

[Lineup]

well all I get are black birds shitting all over my patio

 

[VeloClone]

well all I get are black birds shitting all over my patio

Grackles are a scourge on the earth. I still can't believe that someone thought enough of those disgusting dirty birds to name a restaurant after them.

Also, they might not just be shitting on your patio. Grackles will put their young's feces from the nest in a little sac and carry it hanging from their beak to another location and drop it there. I saw them doing it years ago when we were noticing a ton of bid crap on our deck. I told Mrs. Velo about it and she didn't believe me for a couple of weeks until she saw it herself.

 

[BoxsterCy]

All of the grackle talk reminded me of Arizona this winter. Saw a bird fly to a nest cavity in a saguaro cactus and thought "Oh, cool. I'll get a bird sticking it's head out of a cactus cavity!" And, it turned out to be a starling.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Grackles are a scourge on the earth. I still can't believe that someone thought enough of those disgusting dirty birds to name a restaurant after them.

Also, they might not just be shitting on your patio. Grackles will put their young's feces from the nest in a little sac and carry it hanging from their beak to another location and drop it there. I saw them doing it years ago when we were noticing a ton of bid crap on our deck. I told Mrs. Velo about it and she didn't believe me for a couple of weeks until she saw it herself.

They put them in our bird bath.

 

[CyclonesRock]

They put them in our bird bath.

Ours have a competition to see who can hit the highest level of siding up under the soffit where the rain will never wash it away.

 

[cytor]

Saw a couple of these outside my window over the weekend.

 

[MTCyclone43]

My fist sighting of a Killdeer. My trusty old cat Purdy chased it into flight- you might say the Purdy and I tag teamed the Killdeer to get this in-flight image. The bottom image the Killdeer flew right at me and it is looking at the camera.

 

[MTCyclone43]

All of the grackle talk reminded me of Arizona this winter. Saw a bird fly to a nest cavity in a saguaro cactus and thought "Oh, cool. I'll get a bird sticking it's head out of a cactus cavity!" And, it turned out to be a starling.

I must be weird because I love all the birds that visit. The Starling have a significant amount of feistiness- I find them interesting. They are a dirty bird though!

 

[MTCyclone43]

Saw a couple of these outside my window over the weekend. View attachment 150167

Am I correct in saying that looks like a pair of American Goldfinches?