Tag Archives: All About Birds

Friday's Feathered Friends

~Today’s Feathered Friend-Color me Indigo~

May 29, 2014 Sheila 22 Comments

A Tanka

~

unique in color,

depending on how the sun,

shines its light on him,

a deep blue to purple sheen,

is how seen, his name Bunting

~

What a beautiful bird! — What a beautiful little bird measuring only 5 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches

Today’s Feathered Friend:

Indigo Bunting

Male:

`deep-colored bright blue overall (breeding plumage)

`only North American small finch to appear blue all over

`blue-purple head

`dark blue to black lores

`blue edging to blackish wings and tail

`dark gray conical bill

Female:

`plain, but beautiful brown

`two tawny buff wing bars

`short, gray, conical bill

`blue-edged feathers on wings and tail

Facts:

`populations are expanding with the creation of disturbed habitat after logging, highway and power line construction and from farmland abandonment (yeah to expanding)

`likes forest edges, roadsides, hedges, dry brush lands, orchards, open woods, creeks and rivers

`eats grasshoppers, beetles, weevils, aphids, cicadas, cankerworms, span worms, flies, dandelion seeds, aster, thistle, grasses, grains, berries and more

`nests in raspberry and other shrubs

`song is a sweet-sweet, where-where, here-here, see-it/see-it (pretty melody)

`many are killed, while migrating at night, striking power lines and tall buildings (wind farms next?)

`neotropical migrant, flight speed measured at 20 m.p.h

`common hosts to cowbird parasitism 😦

Indigo Bunting taking a bath — Deep blue with purple sheen on head

Splish-Splash I'am taking a bath — “Splish-Splash I’am taking a bath”

**If you want to learn more about the Indigo Bunting, please go to The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds, Smithsonian Handbooks, Birds of North America and Stokes Field Guide to Birds. I used these sources for my information.

Artsy background highlighting a beautiful Indigo Bunting (I played with the background in this photo.)

Added to my Birding Life List

on o7/12/88

Sky Rocket Road, Loveland, Colorado

(with my amazing birding mentor- Ann Means)

Photos taken at South Llano River State Park in April of 2014 while sitting in a bird blind. I was using my Canon 70D with Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 lens (no stabilization).

Paying-Ready-Attention (Wild Bird Wednesday)

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com

Prairie Birder (Feathers on Friday)

http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com

On The Road, whimsical wednesday

~whimsical wednesday~

May 20, 2014 Sheila 8 Comments

“I’am coming in for a landing!”

"I am going to make it?" — “I am going to make it?”

"Whoa, I think I made it!" — “Whoa, I think I made it!”

"Yep, looks like I landed on this limb, Whew!" — “Yep, looks like I landed on this limb, Whew!”

While looking back at some photos, I found these of this little Field Sparrow, which I took at South Llano State Park, back in April. They are not sharp photos, but they are amusing to me. The photos above are three in a row and the bird’s expression is one of surprise!

~

"Wow, my own private water slide!" — “Wow, my own private water slide!”

“After practicing my “tree-limb” landing, I decided I needed a bath!”

"Thislittle pool is nice." — “This lttle pool is nice.”

"Should I go for it?" — “Should I go for it?”

Splash, Splash "This is fun!" — Splash, Splash
“This is fun!”

"You knew I was gonna!" — “You knew I was gonna!”

All but the first and last photo above are in sequence. This little Field Sparrow sure was having a fun day!

~

Birds sure can be entertaining to watch!

I hope we gave you a chuckle on this Whimsical Wednesday!

~

Friday's Feathered Friends, On The Road

~Friday’s Feathered Friend – Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher~

May 15, 2014 Sheila 18 Comments

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

~

Added to my Birding Life List on December 20, 2011

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Hobe Sound, Florida

~

I linked to PrairieBirder: http://PrairieBirder.Wordpress.com

Such a tiny little bird, only 4.25 inches! It looks like a very small mockingbird.

`Male has bluish-gray upper parts and the female is more gray

`White eye ring

`Long black tail with white outer feathers

`Black bill

`Black legs

Lovely little bird (white eye ring) — The white eye ring gives this lovely little bird big facial expressions

The Blue-gray gnatcatcher feed entirely on insects, which it pursues actively through the foliage of tall trees. Catches insects in flight. May hover briefly above food before taking it in its bill.

Its nest is interesting, a small cup made up of plant fibers, down and decorated on the outside with bits of lichen. This lovely little bird can be spotted in woodlands, thickets and chaparral.

When breeding it is monogamous and is a solitary nester. Its eggs are incubated 13 days by both sexes, stays in nest for 10-12 days and fed by both sexes. They usually will have one brood per year maybe two in the far south.

**information above taken from Smithsonian handbooks, National Geographic Society, Birds of North America**

Breeding male I believe, bacause of black line on sides of crown.

Conservation: neotropical migrant. Common victim of cowbird parasitism

Population: common, increasing with range expanding northeasterly

Neotropical Migrant – (noun) A bird that spends the summer in its breeding range in North America but migrates to Central or South America for its nonbreeding range in winter. The winter range may also include the Caribbean, and the general dividing line between breeding and nonbreeding ranges is the Tropic of Cancer at 23 degrees north latitude, though the entire range does not need to be either north or south of that division for the bird to be considered a neotropical migrant.

More than 200 species of birds are considered neotropical migrants, including at least a few species in most bird families. Many warblers,hummingbirds and shorebirds are neotropical migratory birds, as are some hawks and many other songbirds.

The exact distance and route of migration between breeding and nonbreeding ranges varies for each species, and migration time between the separate ranges may take anywhere from just a few weeks to several months. It is essential to conserve habitat not only in the birds’ different ranges, but also along principle migratory flyways so birds will have sufficient feeding and resting areas to successfully complete their journeys. (taken from the web, written by Melissa Mayntz.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (long black tail with white outer feathers)

I took these photos, on April 13, 2014, sitting in the coach with the window glass open and the screen pulled back; what a nice bird blind it made. This oak tree was not too far away and this little guy fluttered around catching insects for awhile. We were camped at South Llano River State Park in Junction, Texas.

~

Enjoy Birdwatching!

It can be entertaining as well as educational!

~

At Home, Photos-Birds, whimsical wednesday

~whimsical wednesday – cold birds~

May 13, 2014 Sheila 18 Comments

I linked to Wild Bird Wednesday at http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com

"Are you going to come out here and fill this feeder for me? Its cold out here!" — “Are you going to come out here and fill this feeder for me? Its cold out here!”

We have had COLD temperatures the last several days; lows at night getting down into the teens, highs during the day hovering around the low fifties. Rain, hail, wind and snow all during the past few days. Spring?

With the temperatures getting down so low at night (19 degrees), I felt it necessary to try my best to make sure the birds were feed well during the day. We setup several feeding stations, even purchasing a couple of new feeders.

I am tired of the Squirrels, Coons, Deer and Bear getting into my bird feeders! The bears are the worse!

It would be nice if the other wildlife wouldn’t destroy the feeders, while trying to eat. We have been taking the feeders in at night, trying to minimize the damage, but that can be a real pain!

I looked out my kitchen window this morning and there was a rabbit, chowing down on the seed I threw out on the ground. So, I should add rabbits to my list above, but they don’t destroy the feeders. I love all the critters, but just don’t want them destroying our bird feeders.

Squirrel Proof? This is one of our new feeders. A deck mount. I sure hope the critters can't reach this one, because it is a long way down1 — Squirrel Proof? This is one of our new feeders. A deck mount. I sure hope the critters can’t reach this one, because it is a long way down if they fall.

Love this little feeder (not a sharp photo, because the wind was blowing) — Love this little feeder (not a sharp photo, because the wind was blowing hard)

I found the little feeder above at Wal-Mart. It is perfect for feeding the Orioles Oranges and Grape Jelly. They seem to love it also.

This Oriole feeder is one I purchased last year and I fill it with sugar water and a little of the Oriole orange colored mix, which turns the water an orange color. I also fill a Hummer feeder with the same liquid, which the Orioles seem to enjoy.

"Are you still watching me?" — “Are you still watching me?”

The photos below were taken from inside the house through the glass. I can’t seem to sneak up on these guys!

During the last couple of days we have had the following birds visit our yard:

1 – Western Tanager (male)

2 – Black-headed Grosbeaks (male and female)

3 – Lazuli Buntings (several pair)

4 – Morning Doves (several pair)

5 – Eurasian Collared Doves (several pair)

6 -House Finches (several pair)

7 – House Sparrows (several pair)

8 – Robins (several pair)

9 – Blue Jays (a family)

10 -Scrub Jays

11 -Black-capped Chickadees (several pair)

12 – Spotted Towhees

13 – Bullock’s Orioles (several males)

A nice list indeed!

Warmer days are headed our way, I hope!

Friday's Feathered Friends, On The Road

~Friday’s Feathered Friend-Orchard Oriole~

May 9, 2014 Sheila 15 Comments

This was my first sighting of the Orchard Oriole

~

Added to my Birding Life List on April 13, 2014

South Llano State Park

Junction, Texas

~

Since a lot of birders are talking about the Orioles and their migration, I thought I would post my Friday’s Feathered Friend on the Orchard Oriole. It was fun seeing this bird for the first time a few weeks ago.

I will say, as everyone is pointing out, its time to put your Oriole feeders out; it is easy to do. Cut a few oranges in half and place some grape jelly in a dish and you might have a beautiful Oriole in your yard. Here in Colorful Colorado we have the Bullock’s Oriole.

Orchard Oriole:

Male:

`small Oriole 6-7.75 in length

`black-hood, back and wings

`burnt-orange underparts

`single-white wing bar

`white-edged flight feathers on wings

`chestnut underparts

`chestnut rump and shoulders

`black-tail with narrow white tips

Female:

`olive upperparts

`yellowish underparts

`dusky wings with two white wing bard

Their song sounds like this:

look here, what cheer, wee yo, what cheer, whip yo, what wheer

I happy bird I would say!

Population status: common to fairly common in open woodland, farmlands, scrub-mesquite, shade trees and orchards. Declining in parts of western range. They eat fruit and nectar.

A Tanka

~

unique in color,

depending on how the sun,

shines its light on him,

a deep blue to purple sheen,

is how seen, his name Bunting

~

Today’s Feathered Friend:

Indigo Bunting

Male:

`deep-colored bright blue overall (breeding plumage)

`only North American small finch to appear blue all over

`blue-purple head

`dark blue to black lores

`blue edging to blackish wings and tail

`dark gray conical bill

Female:

`plain, but beautiful brown

`two tawny buff wing bars

`short, gray, conical bill

`blue-edged feathers on wings and tail

Facts:

`populations are expanding with the creation of disturbed habitat after logging, highway and power line construction and from farmland abandonment (yeah to expanding)

`likes forest edges, roadsides, hedges, dry brush lands, orchards, open woods, creeks and rivers

`eats grasshoppers, beetles, weevils, aphids, cicadas, cankerworms, span worms, flies, dandelion seeds, aster, thistle, grasses, grains, berries and more

`nests in raspberry and other shrubs

`song is a sweet-sweet, where-where, here-here, see-it/see-it (pretty melody)

`many are killed, while migrating at night, striking power lines and tall buildings (wind farms next?)

`neotropical migrant, flight speed measured at 20 m.p.h

`common hosts to cowbird parasitism 😦

Added to my Birding Life List

on o7/12/88

Sky Rocket Road, Loveland, Colorado

(with my amazing birding mentor- Ann Means)

Photos taken at South Llano River State Park in April of 2014 while sitting in a bird blind. I was using my Canon 70D with Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 lens (no stabilization).

Links:

Paying-Ready-Attention (Wild Bird Wednesday)

Prairie Birder (Feathers on Friday)

“I’am coming in for a landing!”

While looking back at some photos, I found these of this little Field Sparrow, which I took at South Llano State Park, back in April. They are not sharp photos, but they are amusing to me. The photos above are three in a row and the bird’s expression is one of surprise!

~

“After practicing my “tree-limb” landing, I decided I needed a bath!”

All but the first and last photo above are in sequence. This little Field Sparrow sure was having a fun day!

~

Birds sure can be entertaining to watch!

I hope we gave you a chuckle on this Whimsical Wednesday!

~

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

~

Added to my Birding Life List on December 20, 2011

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Hobe Sound, Florida

~

Such a tiny little bird, only 4.25 inches! It looks like a very small mockingbird.

`Male has bluish-gray upper parts and the female is more gray

`White eye ring

`Long black tail with white outer feathers

`Black bill

`Black legs

The Blue-gray gnatcatcher feed entirely on insects, which it pursues actively through the foliage of tall trees. Catches insects in flight. May hover briefly above food before taking it in its bill.

Its nest is interesting, a small cup made up of plant fibers, down and decorated on the outside with bits of lichen. This lovely little bird can be spotted in woodlands, thickets and chaparral.

When breeding it is monogamous and is a solitary nester. Its eggs are incubated 13 days by both sexes, stays in nest for 10-12 days and fed by both sexes. They usually will have one brood per year maybe two in the far south.

Conservation: neotropical migrant. Common victim of cowbird parasitism

Population: common, increasing with range expanding northeasterly

~

Enjoy Birdwatching!

It can be entertaining as well as educational!

~

We have had COLD temperatures the last several days; lows at night getting down into the teens, highs during the day hovering around the low fifties. Rain, hail, wind and snow all during the past few days. Spring?

With the temperatures getting down so low at night (19 degrees), I felt it necessary to try my best to make sure the birds were feed well during the day. We setup several feeding stations, even purchasing a couple of new feeders.

I am tired of the Squirrels, Coons, Deer and Bear getting into my bird feeders! The bears are the worse!

It would be nice if the other wildlife wouldn’t destroy the feeders, while trying to eat. We have been taking the feeders in at night, trying to minimize the damage, but that can be a real pain!

I looked out my kitchen window this morning and there was a rabbit, chowing down on the seed I threw out on the ground. So, I should add rabbits to my list above, but they don’t destroy the feeders. I love all the critters, but just don’t want them destroying our bird feeders.

I found the little feeder above at Wal-Mart. It is perfect for feeding the Orioles Oranges and Grape Jelly. They seem to love it also.

This Oriole feeder is one I purchased last year and I fill it with sugar water and a little of the Oriole orange colored mix, which turns the water an orange color. I also fill a Hummer feeder with the same liquid, which the Orioles seem to enjoy.

The photos below were taken from inside the house through the glass. I can’t seem to sneak up on these guys!

During the last couple of days we have had the following birds visit our yard:

1 – Western Tanager (male)

2 – Black-headed Grosbeaks (male and female)