"birding" fun

[Vermin_King]

I don't think robins went as far south this past winter. They have been in larger numbers than normal and currently almost outnumber grackles around here.


I'm not sure if this was the momma owl or the one that sometimes gives her snacks. It was sitting in the tree where they usually hand off the food. But a second owl never showed this time and this one took off into a small timbered area after I took the photo instead of flying back to the nest


Like I said earlier, it is hard to get a good photo at either dusk or dawn ( I am pretty certain it isn't big foot, because I saw it fly off)

[birder]

Chipping Sparrows and owls I must be in the right thread! Ospreys coming back, one loon so far, groups of Horned Grebes, nesting geese, now just waiting for a few more arrivals. When Violet-Green Swallows perch looking into the nest boxes in the morning you know it's going to be a pretty day. These are the pair on the west side of out place, we get 5-6 pairs usually, one of them usually a Tree Swallow pair.

[SCEtoAUX]

Good pics, Glen. I always liked that greenish tinge to those feathers. It is neat how the colors change depending on how the light strikes them.

[Vermin_King]

Momma Owl was a bit more cooperative this AM, but not much

[Vermin_King]

She does enjoy her morning sun.

[SCEtoAUX]

Nice pic of the owl looking at you.

[Vermin_King]

Took three photos to get one where she was looking at me without a branch in the way.

[birder]

Loons are passing through, other birds showing up, shovellers, ruddy ducks, western, rednecked and horned grebes. Today I was surprised to find some White-Crowned sparrows in the yard, not a resident, so not every year I see one as they pass through.

[Vermin_King]

Gold finches are just starting to show up here, but I haven't talked to anyone who has seen a purple finch this year in this area. A tad disconcerting

[Don Boose]

Great images, Glen and Dave.

The white-crowned sparrow looks a little like our white-throated sparrows (similar head stripes), which, along with the northern juncos (snow birds) are our winter residents. There are still some around, but they will disappear soon.

I was glad to see our pair of catbirds arrive from southern climes two days ago. Based on past experience, they will hang around our back garden all summer.

Incidentally, although we have seen a diminution of house finch, goldfinch, bluebird, and chickadee/tufted titmouse sightings, our neighbors across the street and other bird-interested friends in the Carlisle area report birds in abundance, so it seems to be a very local (Boose's back garden) phenomenon.

No shortage of squirrels, starlings, grackels, or mourning doves, and pretty Caroline wrens are at their usual numbers (one).

Don