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what was your bird of the day ? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter briddo13
- Start date
halftwo
Wird Batcher
How's that puddle of yours doing Bob?
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Larry Lade
Moderator
Two "birds of the day", today! I saw a Merlin near Muskrat Lake, Saint Joseph, Missouri. I also saw a Northern Shrike (aka.,Great Grey Shrike) in the same area near Lake Contrary where I had seen one on November 9th of this year.
gareth_blockley
Smile people
Hmm ive had some very different best birds of the last five days.. today - umm, grey wag, yesturday - hmm, woodpig, Sunday - Iceland gull, Saturday - Desert wheatear, Friday - Lesser scaup.
I'm sensing a low after a high period!!
I'm sensing a low after a high period!!
Tim Hall
Worcestershire County Cricket in Exile
Spotted Sandpiper, wintering on a reservoir in Cardiff, about 10 mins from home. It's been here about 6 weeks now. I saw it when it 1st arrived, but took my wife and aunty to see it today. It showed to 20 feet on mud below the car park. Excellent!
(For those of you from the USA, they are very rare in Britain. This bird is the first S Sand in the county since 1974, and in Britain as a whole there are probably less than 15 records each year.)
(For those of you from the USA, they are very rare in Britain. This bird is the first S Sand in the county since 1974, and in Britain as a whole there are probably less than 15 records each year.)
PONYRCR
Well-known member
Red-shouldered Hawk
My bird of the day today is a Red-shouldered Hawk.
I was on my way out to meet the Audubon Society for a morning birdwalk at my favorite local patch.
As I'm driving I see a large brown lump of something sitting on the wires. My first thought was "Oh it's just a Red-tailed Hawk", but how cool that he's in a great place for a photo.
As I got closer I realized no, not a RTH, but a Red-shouldered Hawk!
At first I took a few photos from the car thorugh the windshield. The hawk seemed to notice but wasn't concerned.
I pulled over and got out. I was able to approach the hawk and get a good number of photos.
I was fortunate enough that this spot was right on the crest of a small hill. Thus the ground was close to the hanging wires and the bird was just a few feet above my head.
The hawk was very accomodating and allowed me to fire off a lot of photos.
The Red-shouldered Hawk isn't a life bird for me, but I've never had such an amazing up close and personal experience with this BOP before.
Question: Is it odd for a Red-shouldered Hawk to be in a suburban neighborhood?? My field guide (Sibley) indicates they are a forest bird.
My bird of the day today is a Red-shouldered Hawk.
I was on my way out to meet the Audubon Society for a morning birdwalk at my favorite local patch.
As I'm driving I see a large brown lump of something sitting on the wires. My first thought was "Oh it's just a Red-tailed Hawk", but how cool that he's in a great place for a photo.
As I got closer I realized no, not a RTH, but a Red-shouldered Hawk!
At first I took a few photos from the car thorugh the windshield. The hawk seemed to notice but wasn't concerned.
I pulled over and got out. I was able to approach the hawk and get a good number of photos.
I was fortunate enough that this spot was right on the crest of a small hill. Thus the ground was close to the hanging wires and the bird was just a few feet above my head.
The hawk was very accomodating and allowed me to fire off a lot of photos.
The Red-shouldered Hawk isn't a life bird for me, but I've never had such an amazing up close and personal experience with this BOP before.
Question: Is it odd for a Red-shouldered Hawk to be in a suburban neighborhood?? My field guide (Sibley) indicates they are a forest bird.
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I arrived at Hardwick Park (near Chesterfield, Derbyshire) just before the sun came up this morning, the ponds were frozen over and a low lying mist covered surrounding fields. It was a picture postcard scene. After about an hour I sat down for a much needed coffee, not just to quench my thirst but to warm my hands when I was joined by 4 Goldcrests. They were so busy feeding they didn't even notice me. They must have been about 5-6 feet away for what seemed like about half an hour (in reality it was 5 minutes). Although I see these birds fairly often, when you get so close to a wild bird it makes your hairs stand up.
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Larry Lade
Moderator
My "bird of the day" was a Prairie Falcon seen sitting atop a utility line pole. I was able to watch it for about five minutes before it took off. This was in the oxbow lakes region in the vicinity of harvested agricultural fields just south of Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Larry Lade
Moderator
Four "BIRDS of the day" Today, St.Joseph, Missouri
I thought I would check on the PRAIRIE FALCON this morning, December 26, to see if it were still around. This bird is not all that common here in Missouri, but they are seen occasionally.
Yes it was! I watched it for about five minutes. It was sitting atop the utility pole, the fourth one back from Pettet Road (looking north). This is the road that runs west from 59 Highway to 41st Road near Muskrat Lake (south of St.Joseph).
I observed a male, taiga race MERLIN, Falco columbrius columbrius, for about ten minutes eating what looked like a small rodent over by Muskrat Lake. It was sitting on top of a fence post. I watched it while parked on 41st Road at the intersection of Pettet and 41st.
After these two easy sightings, I had to search quite a bit to get an American Kestrel (a common bird here), but I finally got one over by Lake Contrary.
Other raptors in the area were five Bald Eagles and several Red-tailed Hawks.
When I got back home there were seven PINE SISKINS feasting on niger seed in the sock feeder along with the other regulars at our backyard feeding station. Two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to be daily visitors at the peanut feeder.
I thought I would check on the PRAIRIE FALCON this morning, December 26, to see if it were still around. This bird is not all that common here in Missouri, but they are seen occasionally.
Yes it was! I watched it for about five minutes. It was sitting atop the utility pole, the fourth one back from Pettet Road (looking north). This is the road that runs west from 59 Highway to 41st Road near Muskrat Lake (south of St.Joseph).
I observed a male, taiga race MERLIN, Falco columbrius columbrius, for about ten minutes eating what looked like a small rodent over by Muskrat Lake. It was sitting on top of a fence post. I watched it while parked on 41st Road at the intersection of Pettet and 41st.
After these two easy sightings, I had to search quite a bit to get an American Kestrel (a common bird here), but I finally got one over by Lake Contrary.
Other raptors in the area were five Bald Eagles and several Red-tailed Hawks.
When I got back home there were seven PINE SISKINS feasting on niger seed in the sock feeder along with the other regulars at our backyard feeding station. Two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to be daily visitors at the peanut feeder.
I think the 'bird of the day' that stands out in my mind was seeing the Crossbill in Callander, Stirling, Scotland in 2003
The day before yesterday, I sighted a Diver (Red Throated, a possibility) on the River Great Ouse in Bedford. Now this sighting has taken the lead from the Crossbill.
Or maybe they a level pegging, Hmmm cannot make up my mind now :-O
Regards
Kathy
The day before yesterday, I sighted a Diver (Red Throated, a possibility) on the River Great Ouse in Bedford. Now this sighting has taken the lead from the Crossbill.
Or maybe they a level pegging, Hmmm cannot make up my mind now :-O
Regards
Kathy
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Atricapilla
Still Wandering
Todays bird is a lone Avocet on my patch,
Hi Halftwo,the puddle got bigger with the rain but most of the birds have gone "sarf" for the winter,will check again in April.
Blackcaps, Black redstarts and Sardinian warblers everywhere at the moment.
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Fast_falkon
Dutch birder
for yesterday:
a great spotted woodpecker. not for the specie but because of the way i saw it
i was watching a group of tits when it flew past me at 6 feet distance. than it sat in a tree in front of me where i could watch it for over 20 minutes, really stunning experience
a great spotted woodpecker. not for the specie but because of the way i saw it
i was watching a group of tits when it flew past me at 6 feet distance. than it sat in a tree in front of me where i could watch it for over 20 minutes, really stunning experience
PONYRCR
Well-known member
I set out today to to see a new life bird. A new bird for the new year to get it started right.
I went to one of my favorite local spot's, the Ballona Freshwater Marsh.
I was able to add two new birds today. I saw a pair of Green-winged Teals plus a Cackling Goose.
As a bonus I got some pictures of a Wilson's Snipe. I saw one last April at the marsh, but it was a fleeting glimpse as the bird flushed. There must have been a dozen or more of the snipes hiding in some tall grass today.
All in all a good day of birding.
I went to one of my favorite local spot's, the Ballona Freshwater Marsh.
I was able to add two new birds today. I saw a pair of Green-winged Teals plus a Cackling Goose.
As a bonus I got some pictures of a Wilson's Snipe. I saw one last April at the marsh, but it was a fleeting glimpse as the bird flushed. There must have been a dozen or more of the snipes hiding in some tall grass today.
All in all a good day of birding.
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LesserOfGoldfinches
Well-known member
I'll go with a Pine Siskin today, since one was nice enough to land on my windowsill and let me watch it eat from just a few inches away.
