Birdwatching Chat Thread

[HorseGirlAbby]

@horsegirlabi - I cannot tell if the top is Rufous or Allen's but the bottom is a male Calliope. Hybrids are known to be out there so if in doubt, try to get photos and that is your wise bet. Having photos of them perched, in flight, bill length, tail, throat coloring/chest. Those always help for identifying hummers

I will keep a watch out for him this spring!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@horsegirlabi - Make sure to post some pictures for us over at the All About Hummingbirds thread!

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

@horsegirlabi - Make sure to post some pictures for us over at the All About Hummingbirds thread!

I will!

 

[PioneerChicks]

Who's been enjoying The Great Backyard Birdcount?!?! (Feb 18-21)

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@PioneerChicks - Gahh thank you for the reminder! I need to take tomorrow and go spend some time with my binoculars at the feeders. We're actively seeing- Tufted Titmous, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Red-shouldered Hawk, & Eastern Phoebe right now.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

So excited to come across this thread! I am fairly new at birdwatching but I love it! I discovered something this morning that I've never seen before. I had to stop what I was doing and report it on the Cornell ebird app. They do come through here (NC) during the winter months, I learned this morning, but it was new to me. I had a pair of Hooded Merganser's on my pond! I tried to take pictures but in the excitement (and nervousness due to h5n1) I only got blurry pictures that look terrible. Either way, they, especially the drake, are probably the most gorgeous wild duck I've ever seen before.

I know they're probably boring to most but I think my favorite birds to watch are American black crows and Warblers. Excited to read through this thread! I hope newbies are welcome

 

[PioneerChicks]

So excited to come across this thread! I am fairly new at birdwatching but I love it! I discovered something this morning that I've never seen before. I had to stop what I was doing and report it on the Cornell ebird app. They do come through here (NC) during the winter months, I learned this morning, but it was new to me. I had a pair of Hooded Merganser's on my pond! I tried to take pictures but in the excitement (and nervousness due to h5n1) I only got blurry pictures that look terrible. Either way, they, especially the drake, are probably the most gorgeous wild duck I've ever seen before.

I know they're probably boring to most but I think my favorite birds to watch are American black crows and Warblers. Excited to read through this thread! I hope newbies are welcome

You are absolutely welcome!
Congratulations on the Hooded Mergansers! They are beautiful ducks! I'd love to see your pictures!
I love crows and warblers too! What types of warblers do you have?

 

[PioneerChicks]

@PioneerChicks - Gahh thank you for the reminder! I need to take tomorrow and go spend some time with my binoculars at the feeders. We're actively seeing- Tufted Titmous, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Red-shouldered Hawk, & Eastern Phoebe right now.

What a fun variety! What seed do you use in your feeders?

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@PioneerChicks - We are using an economy mix right now that has a variety in it - the ones that visit the feeders ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE the black oil sunflower seeds which is the majority of the mix. But we continue to use a mix because the squirrels and bunnies visit, so what the birds sort through (though they will eat the rest as the feeder lowers) gives the other critters something to munch on without raiding the feeders. Though they only take advantage usually early AM and overnight. We tried suet blocks but the squirrels will literally pick it up out of the side of the feeder and take off across the yard with it. Will be investing in better suet cage and feeders this Spring.

They favor the sunflower seeds so much so that we started playing Birdseed Roulette And you can definitely see that that's what they gravitate towards.

The buzzards, hawks, and crows stick to themselves - though we are hearing someone among the crow flock over the past 4 days and cannot tell if a Raven is flying with them or a crow with a mimicry due to the abnormal sound- still can't get it recorded. Phoebes ignoring the feeders and have been very active hunting insects.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Who's been enjoying The Great Backyard Birdcount?!?! (Feb 18-21)

I'm probably too busy, sadly. It would be so hard to count the starlings! There are probably at least 100,000 of them.