Re: Birding
Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 12:07 pm
I wish I had downloaded Merlin when you suggested it. Yesterday morning early the birds were quite talkative. There were new calls and answers I hadn't heard. I am downloading it TODAY!
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Re: Birding
Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 12:09 pm
N10-
I wish I had downloaded Merlin when you suggested it. Yesterday morning early the birds were quite talkative. There were new calls and answers I hadn't heard. I am downloading it TODAY!
I wish I had downloaded Merlin when you suggested it. Yesterday morning early the birds were quite talkative. There were new calls and answers I hadn't heard. I am downloading it TODAY!
Re: Birding
Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 7:03 pm
I just drove down to the creepy barn on the other side of the bonfire field and found a second clutch of baby black vultures! Funny I didn't see any parents anywhere near by 
I'm sure they're around somewhere, maybe out scoping for road kill or other interesting snacks...
They're so cute and fuzzy when they're first hatched. The human grandbrats will be very excited to be on egg watch when I get them back over here next week! 
I'm sure they're around somewhere, maybe out scoping for road kill or other interesting snacks...- IMG_0936.jpeg (67.08 KiB) Viewed 1050 times
Re: Birding
Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 9:29 pm
We don't get grosbeaks around here very much. Usually, you have to catch them when they stop by while migrating. I have seen them once when 3 of them or so were hanging out in a nearby tree on their way to their winter location.
Re: Birding
Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 9:57 pm
That's the only time I ever see them here, too.
Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 2:32 pm
we are out at Montrose Point Bird sanctuary
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 2:34 pm
he posed for me
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 2:36 pm
the magic hedge never disappoints
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 2:41 pm
Blackburnian Warbler
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 2:48 pm
swallows nesting in the sand bank
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 4:25 pm
Nice!
Re: Birding
Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 7:54 pm
one more, a better view of the future Dr. Chilidawg, Professor of Ornithology
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 3:59 am
Pied Currawongs have arrived at "The Swamp" (that's what we call our place) and the croquet club.
Then today, Sunday, I kept hearing noises I thought were coming from some stupid possum that got into the roof, but when I looked up from the keyboard at the TV I saw a couple of birds tumble-fly past the window. I went over to look, and there were at least 6 Currawongs chasing each other from tree to tree to roof to tree. One landed on the roof just outside my window, about 2 feet away and stared at me for a minute or two then flew off.
We've been hand feeding a family of Magpies at the club for at least 10 years and another at home for 3 years.
I like the Currawongs, but if they chase away the Magpies that will be disappointing. Though they do make friends with humans, they are harder to get to know than Magpies.
On Saturday, the Currawongs were back and forth in the trees around the club all day, and the Magpies didn't show up for their feed until we were just about to leave.(from Wikipedia)
Currawongs are three species of medium-sized passerine birds belonging to the genus Strepera in the family Artamidae native to Australia. These are the grey currawong (Strepera versicolor), pied currawong (S. graculina), and black currawong (S. fuliginosa). The common name comes from the call of the familiar pied currawong of eastern Australia and is onomatopoeic. They were formerly known as crow-shrikes or bell-magpies. Despite their resemblance to crows and ravens, they are only distantly related to the corvidae, instead belonging to an Afro-Asian radiation of birds of superfamily Malaconotoidea.
They are not as terrestrial as the magpie and have shorter legs. They are omnivorous, foraging in foliage, on tree trunks and limbs, and on the ground, taking insects and larvae (often dug out from under the bark of trees), fruit, and the nestlings of other birds. They are distinguishable from magpies and crows by their comical flight style in amongst foliage, appearing to almost fall about from branch to branch as if they were inept flyers.
...
Currawongs are dominant birds that can drive off other species, especially when settling around an area used or inhabited by people.[14] They have been known to migrate to towns and cities during the winter. Birds congregate in loose flocks.
Then today, Sunday, I kept hearing noises I thought were coming from some stupid possum that got into the roof, but when I looked up from the keyboard at the TV I saw a couple of birds tumble-fly past the window. I went over to look, and there were at least 6 Currawongs chasing each other from tree to tree to roof to tree. One landed on the roof just outside my window, about 2 feet away and stared at me for a minute or two then flew off.
We've been hand feeding a family of Magpies at the club for at least 10 years and another at home for 3 years.
I like the Currawongs, but if they chase away the Magpies that will be disappointing. Though they do make friends with humans, they are harder to get to know than Magpies.
Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 4:07 am
My brother in law was an Ornithologist.
He worked in Texas and spent a lot of time in the Big Thicket building a library of bird calls, and wrote papers about different populations responses to each others calls.
He also counted Eagles in Alaska - I tried to get him to apply to the Australian Antarctic Program when I saw an advert that I thought was right up his alley, but that was just at the time he was starting to get heart problems, so he couldn't think about it.
Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 11:55 am
I downloaded Merlin and am addicted. Yesterday, Merlin identified several birds in my backyard which borders a narrow but long creek and a green easement. So I recorded:
A northern cardinal, no surprise
A Carolina wren, no surprise
A blue jay, no surprise
A tufted titmouse, no surprise
A European starling
A great crested flycatcher!
A vireo!
A robin! I didn't know robins were songbirds! Duh!
A red-eyed vireo!
A gray-cheeked thrush!
A purple martin!
A northern cardinal, no surprise
A Carolina wren, no surprise
A blue jay, no surprise
A tufted titmouse, no surprise
A European starling
A great crested flycatcher!
A vireo!
A robin! I didn't know robins were songbirds! Duh!
A red-eyed vireo!
A gray-cheeked thrush!
A purple martin!
Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 11:37 pm
TRL, the sound ID on Merlin is not 100% and I have seen it miss on some. I usually withhold judgment until I can visually identify. Earlier today, I had it going and it identified a host of birds I have not seen around here, for one sound I was focused on (various warblers, indigo bunting, etc.). The last one is identified for this same sound was a goldfinch to which we have a bunch here. Bingo, that's it. The goldfinches and the house finches had a bunch to say this earlier today. It was downright loud.
A Downey woodpecker was knocking away at a broken tree limb as well.*
Robins are very loud here with their song. I'm waiting for Rico the Robin to pick up on his 18-hour singing soon (Rico, as in Enrico, i.e. Caruso).
On a side note, some chickadees and a ruby-breasted nuthatch were annoyed with me today. They flew up to the empty feeder, probably hoping I would at least refill it for Mother's Day (I stopped filling it to contain the avian flu).
A Downey woodpecker was knocking away at a broken tree limb as well.*
Robins are very loud here with their song. I'm waiting for Rico the Robin to pick up on his 18-hour singing soon (Rico, as in Enrico, i.e. Caruso).
On a side note, some chickadees and a ruby-breasted nuthatch were annoyed with me today. They flew up to the empty feeder, probably hoping I would at least refill it for Mother's Day (I stopped filling it to contain the avian flu).
Re: Birding
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 2:48 am
I didn't think we would see Rainbow Lorikeets anymore since we had to cut down the gum tree in the back yard, but they have found the Hakea in the front yard.
I dunno why it comes out with the photo on its side, but he's supposed to be hanging upside down in this photo.
I dunno why it comes out with the photo on its side, but he's supposed to be hanging upside down in this photo.
Re: Birding
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 9:35 am
Lorikeets are so beautiful!
Re: Birding
Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 9:10 am
A terrible tragedy has occurred, there was a nest of 3 baby Wrens in a bush by the pool pump house. MrD found this morning that they had all fledged and flew straight into the pool and drowned. Poor little things
Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 7:17 pm
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Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 9:57 pm
Re: Birding
Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 10:58 pm
I visited Australia once about 10 years ago (Sydney, the Gold Coast, and Perth/Margaret River Valley). The two things that stood out most strongly to me (and which I had not expected) were (1) the sheer number and variety of bird life (amazing bird song and spectacular colors everywhere); and (2) the Southern Night Sky, which seemed significantly brighter that the Northern Sky (even when viewed from the deserts of North America).keith wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 2:48 am I didn't think we would see Rainbow Lorikeets anymore since we had to cut down the gum tree in the back yard, but they have found the Hakea in the front yard.
I dunno why it comes out with the photo on its side, but he's supposed to be hanging upside down in this photo.
Re: Birding
Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 2:02 pm
Re: Birding
Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 4:48 pm
Re: Birding
Posted: Tue May 24, 2022 1:29 pm
EBird on Macinac Island.
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