It's a warbler party in my backyard right now. I think I counted 12 Tennessees, 3 Nashvilles, two Yellows, and a Redstart in and around my pond's waterfall just now.
Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread
- Thread starter Kinch
- Start date
My parents have at least 4 pairs of Baltimore Orioles and 2 pairs of Orchard Orioles. They think this is the first time they've had 2 of them. My mom thinks they have at least one Oriole from last year because he had pretty unique markings.
After a few years without an Indigo Bunting they have one. One of their must enduring stories is an Indigo that would sit on the fence railing and sing right at them while they were sitting outside.
After a few years without an Indigo Bunting they have one. One of their must enduring stories is an Indigo that would sit on the fence railing and sing right at them while they were sitting outside.
Sort of a lifer for me this week. I've seen half a dozen saw-whet owls but seeing a saw-whet owlet was on my bucket list. They don't look much like saw-whets but more like some exotic owl from South America.
I haven't noticed any in my yard but have seen several when I was out hiking this weekend. Weird when you are straining and searching for a bright yellow Kentucky Warbler and then you just notice a tiny hummingbird at the top of a giant tree.
That's a gray catbird. I love those...Great "personality" and they are big-time mimics. I'll just sit and listen to them cycle through songs and calls.
Thought I would share my view from this morning...
It has been busy today at the feeders. In addition to these three, there was a second indigo bunting male, two male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, two male Blue Jays, a red-bellied woodpecker, and two other "couples"...a pair of goldfinches and a pair of Baltimore Orioles. Two lady Grosbeaks showed up later on. No little guys like wrens, sparrows, and the omnipresent juncos, just the big guys.
The cardinal was quite the gentleman...he was selecting the finest seeds and feeding them to his lady.
It has been busy today at the feeders. In addition to these three, there was a second indigo bunting male, two male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, two male Blue Jays, a red-bellied woodpecker, and two other "couples"...a pair of goldfinches and a pair of Baltimore Orioles. Two lady Grosbeaks showed up later on. No little guys like wrens, sparrows, and the omnipresent juncos, just the big guys.
The cardinal was quite the gentleman...he was selecting the finest seeds and feeding them to his lady.
Good fall out of birds in the yard today. Big one was a singing Gray-cheeked Thrush.
Special to me as it was one singing back in the 60s that really cemented my bird interests. Also had a Cape May Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Least Flycatcher.
The Gray-Cheeked is a not a new yard bird as in September they can be heard as night migrants.
Special to me as it was one singing back in the 60s that really cemented my bird interests. Also had a Cape May Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Least Flycatcher.
The Gray-Cheeked is a not a new yard bird as in September they can be heard as night migrants.
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I'm not as knowledgeable as many of you refarding bird ID, and I'm definitely not as patient as many of you when taking pictures of the birds. Our feeders are attached to the railing of the balcony outside our office, and I have a whole sliding glass door to look through to see them...and so do our cats. 
When we moved here in 2003 a friend gave us a little book as a housewarming gift since we moved to an acreage with lots of trees. It's about 4.5" x 6" and it sits in the top right drawer of my desk for easy access. It's called "Birds of Iowa: field guide", and it's by Stan Tekiela. I call it my birdie bible. I recognize our "frequent flyers" now, but it has been invaluable for identifying the transients that come through. I recommend it to any novice.
When we moved here in 2003 a friend gave us a little book as a housewarming gift since we moved to an acreage with lots of trees. It's about 4.5" x 6" and it sits in the top right drawer of my desk for easy access. It's called "Birds of Iowa: field guide", and it's by Stan Tekiela. I call it my birdie bible. I recognize our "frequent flyers" now, but it has been invaluable for identifying the transients that come through. I recommend it to any novice.
Good to hear. Stan Tekiela. has made a living by publishing starter books for dozens of individual states. Most birders took up Sibley's ultimate guide since 2000. But there are many to choose from now. I started with the Golden Guides and R. T. Peterson Field Guides in the 60s, then Chandler Robbins in the 70s, on to multiple guides at a time now.I'm not as knowledgeable as many of you refarding bird ID, and I'm definitely not as patient as many of you when taking pictures of the birds. Our feeders are attached to the railing of the balcony outside our office, and I have a whole sliding glass door to look through to see them...and so do our cats.
When we moved here in 2003 a friend gave us a little book as a housewarming gift since we moved to an acreage with lots of trees. It's about 4.5" x 6" and it sits in the top right drawer of my desk for easy access. It's called "Birds of Iowa: field guide", and it's by Stan Tekiela. I call it my birdie bible. I recognize our "frequent flyers" now, but it has been invaluable for identifying the transients that come through. I recommend it to any novice.
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3 Orioles coming every day now that we have saturated the place with Jelly and Oranges. Grosbeaks Catbirds Finches all the woodpecker crew too.
Merlin app - then you too can be an expert at IDing birds.I'm not as knowledgeable as many of you refarding bird ID, and I'm definitely not as patient as many of you when taking pictures of the birds. Our feeders are attached to the railing of the balcony outside our office, and I have a whole sliding glass door to look through to see them...and so do our cats.
When we moved here in 2003 a friend gave us a little book as a housewarming gift since we moved to an acreage with lots of trees. It's about 4.5" x 6" and it sits in the top right drawer of my desk for easy access. It's called "Birds of Iowa: field guide", and it's by Stan Tekiela. I call it my birdie bible. I recognize our "frequent flyers" now, but it has been invaluable for identifying the transients that come through. I recommend it to any novice.
Do the buntings come to your feeder? I see them a lot when I'm out walking through the woods but never see them at my feeders
Yup. The buntings seemed to like the house one with a large pan that they ate out of. The other feeders are designed more for birds that cling to twigs & stuff.
We have Merlin, but we usually can't get a clear shot at the birds.
We have Merlin, but we usually can't get a clear shot at the birds.
Yes, they are common along with Semipalmated, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Solitary, and our nesting Spotted. Sadly all shorebirds have declined horribly from decades ago so heartening to hear you got a pond full of them.
About a half a dozen. I figured they were sandpipers and the Merlin app identified them as Least Sandpipers by the sound. Couldn't get close enough picture for Merlin app to identify without getting out of focus
This scam AI ad has me laughing, See if you can spot some of the mistakes and b.s. in this page:
Speaking of bird books (though many are more likely to use on-line resources) there is a newly released one...
...the long-awaited Princeton bird guide is available: https://press.princeton.edu/books/p...rpPX0YYmgpolEvPDjh3ezQYxZ_wRA2D8NjvgcmI9QBMeK
Forum on the Princeton book: https://www.birdforum.net/threads/princeton-guide-to-north-american-birds.440853/
Rating top guides: https://guloinnature.com/guides-birds-north-america/
Bird taxonomy is in flux as of recent years more than ever so up to date resources are invaluable and eBird (now combined with AviList.) makes changes as they come. This is not as technical as it is fun and informative--check out the new bird(s) you likely have seen already! Eastern/Western Warbling Vireo (2025): https://ebird.org/news/2025-taxonomy-update
