"birding" fun - Page 13

**dansls1** · #**121** 06-23-2009, 07:44 PM

I have been seeing the oddest bird in my back yard when doing yard work lately. It looks almost like a robin, but the breast is white with what looks like brown and green speckles. I think it's either a young robin or just discolored, but pretty strange to me.

**birder** · #**122** 06-23-2009, 08:54 PM

Nice bird Don! Dan sounds like a youngster to me. Here's our Tree swallow young ones all three managing to look ou the nest hole...

**dansls1** · #**123** 06-23-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birder

Dan sounds like a youngster to me.

Very possible - pretty big for a youngster, but I know we heard 'peeps' from babies when we had the windows open.

Nice picture

**birder** · #**124** 06-23-2009, 09:32 PM

Thanks Dan! We also have 3 sets of Violet-green swallows nearly fledged as well, is rather noisy at 4 am! But is one of the sounds of summer..

**Jimmy Three Shoes** · #**125** 06-23-2009, 09:51 PM

I like this, birds in papermodels!!! I like birds, specially owls. Just saw one under a half dead tree I walk every day get chased out by little birds right before night time! It was excellent right above my head!!! I love owls, and sometimes hawks. But I like the little birds too. I really like woodpeckers. They make a nice call in the morning that makes me think it's not so bad

**birder** · #**126** 06-23-2009, 10:09 PM

Nice owl spotting(no pun intended), owls often are overlooked, you have to be somewhat lucky to see them, too. (unless you're a birdwatcher and have recordings of their calls....that's how birders and photographers see rails and owls..

)

**Jimmy Three Shoes** · #**127** 06-23-2009, 10:13 PM

I know, I listen to owls at night and then I compare what I hear on the internet. I hear hoot owls and some horned owls. I think it was a hoot owl I saw, it didn't have ears.

**birder** · #**128** 06-27-2009, 01:32 PM

Cool! Owls do have distictive sounds, if "earless" then likely Barred or Barn owl, less common most places Short-eared owl. some tiny owls have no ear tufts, but so small not likely and I don't think some live in Texas. (Pygmy owl, Saw-whet for example) Our Tree swallows are half-way out of the box now, may fly today or tomorrow.

**shrike** · #**129** 06-27-2009, 02:00 PM

The most seen local owls here are burrowing ones. Their prey is mostly big bugs and lizards and they come out as much during the day as at night. the airport where I work (or rather next to) has quite a collection of them.

**SCEtoAUX** · #**130** 06-27-2009, 03:53 PM

The mockingbirds now seem to be waiting for me to put some more old bread out like I did last week instead of attacking to chase me away. Seems like some of them learn quick.

They also seem to be on the second brood.