Occasional Birdy Thread (In memory of Swampsniper)

Photos ^ | March 18, 2017 | Self

[Islander7]

A few recent shots from around home. If you have bird shots, please share 'em.

Mr Tricolor enjoys his breakfast.

Common gallinule or marsh hen

Our national bird. Love these amazing raptors

Coots in the sunrise. Lake Jackson is just a block east of us. I have to look at this each morning as I leave home for work.

[Daffynition]

We've had her for 2 weeks .... *Benelli* [AKA Nellie]. She swims like Lab, and fetches her duck wing like a champ. I think she's going to make a great water dog.

It's going to be a long 2 years B4 the *chewies* pass. {{sigh}} ...but we know that, going in. :)

[Daffynition]

Stunning!

I’d be tempted to try a black light on his plumage. Wish they were more common for me.

[Daffynition]

You're very welcome .... I must keep track of my little beauties; here, according to my log, they come about April 15th.

I'm going to try hand feeding, again. Until you have felt the grip of their teeny, tiny feet on your hand, you don't really know God exists. Sublime. :)

[thecodont]

Do you have a saucer of nectar hidden in your palm? :)

[Daffynition]

A little red coke-cola bottle cap filled w/ nectar.

This technique seems to work better if more than one hummie vies for a sip. :)

Also, another tip, if the hummies seem to be relaxed with your presence around the feeders, it works better [perhaps a little later in the season?] I have a pair that have been coming for years, *Squeakie* and *Mrs. Squeakie*; the male squeaks at me when he comes to the feeder, a very social little guy. *Mrs.* showed me her tongue.

Only once was I lucky enough to observe their mating display, a *J* like fly-dipping. Very cute [like this]: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ruby+throated+hummingbird+mating+display&&view=detail&mid=F9EB11D36A75AA4CE51FF9EB11D36A75AA4CE51F&rvsmid=F9EB11D36A75AA4CE51FF9EB11D36A75AA4CE51F&fsscr=0&FORM=VDMCNL

[Yaelle]

Awesome shots. The bald eagles were back where I lived last year, population up, birders getting great pics. I kept my eyes open but I only lived there a year and never saw one.

Here I see the local L.A. City bird overhead every day: Police helicopters.

[thecodont]

Looks like a cherry headed conure.

If you haven’t seen it, I recommend the 2003 documentary “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.” Set in San Francisco.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Parrots_of_Telegraph_Hill

[Yaelle]

I’ve seen these in Malibu and in the city of Orange areas. It freaks me out sometimes!

[thecodont]

Nice and effective!

Years ago I was working somewhere about 50 miles from here and went for stroll outside and saw a little RTH had hit the window glass and was out cold. I brought him inside and he came to. Let him out about 30 minutes later. Hope he did OK.

[Daffynition]

What a kind thing to do. Kudos.

In September, when the hummies leave, I worry about them so. I listen for weather reports of possible hurricanes, common at that time of year on the east coast, as they journey south. It’s excessive, I admit; it’s like they are my chillins, going off to war. :)

[deadrock]

A beautiful homage.

[Ezekiel]

Oh wow, I had no idea I could hope to hand feed them!

Thanks, now I am *really* looking forward to their arrival.

[Daffynition]

Now I know what you are going to be doing all summer! *The GREAT Hummie Handfeeding Challenge* :)

Next summer...

What is so hard, is doing this, AND getting pix; I found a tripod mounted cam and a shutter cable does work, mostly. Or another person; but inside of two minutes, they want to handfeed also, instead of take pix. :)

[wardaddy]

It hilarious watching my orange tabby grasp for them at the glass from the other side

My two Rott pups get in on it too

Stunning color blue

Must be the Time of the Season

....when love runs high...

[mad_as_he$$]

What a good looking pup! Ah yes, labs and chewing, like having a baby boy around, can’t take your eye off them for a minute.

[Islander7]

Thanks for the link.

[Daffynition]

Aren't cats & dogs partially color blind?

I don't really know ... but if I were you, I'd never let either, pick out a tie for me to wear.

Or ,maybe I'm pulling your chain b/c you have indigos, and I don't. :)

[Daffynition]

The poor little thing, thinks her name is *NO!*

{{{sigh}}}

[mad_as_he$$]

lol...he isn’t the first pup to think that. We use “out” on ours, not that it is better but it works for their whole life.

[rustbucket]

Thanks for the ping. I've been on the road again -- taking bird photos, of course. Just got back home a few minutes ago.

SWAMPSNIPER introduced me online to the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm and the Circle B Bar Reserve, two of my favorite birding places in Florida. He also introduced me to Flickr, where I post as "swamp birder" since many of my initial bird photos were from swamps.

SWAMPSNIPER's posting name on Flickr was "tsiya" -- search for that poster name and you can view over 1,000 of his excellent photos.

Here are some Texas eagles in SWAMPSNIPER's honor: