Bird Sightings 2014 - 2015

[NwMtGardener]

errrrr, um, this time of year, migration season, probably 25 or so. The harlequins aren't even here yet. Or the loons.

 

[Lavender2]

Photos taken 3-23-2014
Here's a couple of common birds that hang out here all year. Sorry, they were taken through a screen - it's COLD and snowing and I'm not crazy enough to sit out there and wait for a bird!

White-breasted Nuthatch - they are fun to watch go down a tree head first and hang upside-down from the feeder.



Downy Woodpecker having a little suet for breakfast... yum!

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hmmmm, just read a really interesting article about western bluebirds and mountain bluebirds.

We have both species here where I live. This research article discusses the interactions between the two species in the past before humans interfered, and current population trends and how they're influenced by bluebird boxes. In the past, the 2 species had a cyclical pattern involving wildland fires and woodpeckers building them nesting cavities. Now that humans have changed the valley landscapes so dramatically (less trees, fewer fires) bluebirds have begun nesting in boxes. And the western bluebird has come to dominate the boxes. So we see the mountain bluebird at higher elevations. Very interesting article and long term research.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

A quick pic that I got from out of the window just now - Mallards! (Male in front, female behind him)

And just for the heck of it... Chippy the chipmunk, waiting for me to plant the garden! (This picture kind of reminds me of the scene from lion king where they're on the rock.)

 

[Lavender2]

Great photos @TheSeedObsesser ! Chipmunks are cute, but not so much when they build chippy condos under my perennials!

My Red-shouldered Hawk is back! Yesterday I saw him going into a nest, but I'm pretty sure it's a squirrels nest and he was looking for lunch. I will be watching that nest like a hawk though.
This is the nest, not the hawk ...

If I would check the settings on my camera BEFORE I shoot, this would not happen ... drats!

Here he is all fluffed up on a chilly day last Feb...

And when he decided to steal a hunk of suet off the pole... the crows chose not to fight him for it, but they did harass him for a little while...

 

[NwMtGardener]

Lavender that is awesome!!

 

[thistlebloom]

Great shots Lavender!

 

[NwMtGardener]

I'll add to the hawk shots! The red-tail hawk featured here is not as cool as a red SHOULDERED, but then again I don't HAVE red shouldered hawks here! I do have eagles though, lotsa them, so there's also a few eagle pics!

And then there was this mystery!! The only thing I can figure out about this weird duck is that it's a leucistic mallard, maybe a female? It was stuck pretty close to this male in the picture.

 

[Lavender2]

What?! The red-tail hawk is cool! ..and GREAT SHOTS ! The eagles, is that 2 juveniles? They are so amazing to see. We're seeing more each year around here it seems. I don't know what's up with that duck, but check this out .. Link ... interesting and cool to see something rare like that! Very nice photos!!

 

[thistlebloom]

Those are great Heather! You sure are giving that camera a workout!