Posted on 10/02/2018 6:50:46 PM PDT by Chipper
Going to start this back up, with permission from Islander7. Posts, comments and stories for the birders/birdwatchers/twitchers on FR. Post and share.
I was walking through a small sanctuary in my county, when I had two Barred Owls paying very close attention to me. I happened to look straight up over my left shoulder and saw why.
Then on the other side of the tree I saw another reason why. One of the best birding experiences I have had. 
Parent bringing in the food. 
The other watchful parent 
Barn Swallow 
Northern Harrier so focused on hunting it was within 30 feet of me flying. 
Cackling Goose - rare but regular here in Michigan 
Burrowing Owl from a trip out West. 
Anna's Hummingbird 
This picture I had Mallard drake come by the dock I was on and got some decent pictures of. Shortly after it passed by I hear quite the commotion. Two Mallard drakes started to fight behind me. I started snapping pics and didn't even realize until about 1/2 through there was a third Mallard under the pile. Unbeknownst to me a pair were in the middle engaging in Springtime activities, and the second drake wasn't taking kindly to that. I did a gif that compiles all the pics I took (will take a little while to load). There are times where the two bottom ducks were completely submerged. 
Such wonderful photos, thank you!
Yah, you!!
Didja see the babeh owlets?
LUV isn’t the only one who’ll love the owls. LOL!
We watch a lot of the same live cams.
I’ve notice that the hummingbirds all leave our feeder and head down towards the ground, hit the bottom of the ark about three feet from the ground, and then fly up into the nearby trees.
I’m guessing that is due to most threats to them being birds of prey from above?
We do love those owls! And I’m ready for more of them to watch!
I’m ready too! Won’t be long now.
Terrific pic.
Barred owls seem to be very people tolerant.
What kind is it, and what are it’s identifying features, please. Do you have a related link?
So sorry! Cannot believe I didn’t state that. It is a Spotted Redshank. Very much like a Greater Yellowlegs but those bright orange/red legs and reddish on the bills are unique.
Last time I counted there were north of 280 checklists reporting this bird.
Any day one can see an Eagle is a good day.
A large white bird, similar size to Great Blue Heron, is probably a Great Egret.
Ah, a great egret. He was beautiful. I have a woodland bird coming to my deck at my new house. Don’t know what it is yet. Have to look in my bird ID books. It is a lovely soft gray color except for the creamy white under belly. It is longer and more slender than more common sparrows or finches. A charming and beautiful bird. I have never lived so close to a woods before and this has to be why I don’t know the name of this bird yet. Our house has a woods right up to the back yard. Big diciduous trees, oaks, etc.
I saw the nuthatch again today and this time I was outside on the porch when he flew in for some seed. Got a good close look at him.
The bird thread is awesome.
The Oregon Juncos are showing up in numbers now plus I saw my first Dusty woodpecker of the year today. It was a tiny one.
Thanks, I’ll look up a Spotted Redshank, just in case I see one sometime I’ll know what it is.
What is a Dusty Woodpecker? I can’t find a name like that?
Dusky-winged woodpecker?
I wonder if your woodland bird is a Tufted Titmouse or a Dark eyed Junco. Like you we moved to a home where nearly the entire backyard is wooded. It’s been 5 years now, and it’s a new learning experience every day. It’s wonderful to see all the wildlife that makes these woods their home, too. Except for the coyotes. I’m not big on coyotes.
Just yesterday we had 5 or 6 wild turkeys run through. That has only happened one other time since we’ve been here. It was quite the sight! I am definitely getting an education on birds in particular, so these bird threads are very interesting to me.
Sorry... had a senior moment. It was a Downy Woodpecker
The best I can see is that a Dusky-winged Woodpecker lives in South America, and images remind me of a Pileated Woodpecker. If the bird was on the small side, maybe it was a Downy Woodpecker? Or I’m also thinking of gray tones from far away, like maybe a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
I should’ve refreshed my page again before posting my comment.
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