Feeding Wild Birds

[alinas2010]

A young seagull visited us at the lake. Yes, I threw it some crackers

 

[TwoCrows]

A young seagull visited us at the lake. Yes, I threw it some crackers View attachment 4209632

I adore Seagulls, (all sea birds too). I've heard Seagulls can be seen along the Rio Grande but I'm not located near this river here in New Mexico.

 

[R2elk]

Heard what sounded like a frog up in a Russian olive. It was a Blue Jay.

 

[alinas2010]

Hear what sounded like a frog up in a Russian olive. It was a Blue Jay.

I was half asleep yesterday morning and thought the tea kettle was going off…blue jay.

 

[alinas2010]

I adore Seagulls, (all sea birds too). I've heard Seagulls can be seen along the Rio Grande but I'm not located near this river here in New Mexico.

I bet they are. They’re by our river and lakes here. I think they’re kinda cute, too!

 

[R2elk]

I bet they are. They’re by our river and lakes here. I think they’re kinda cute, too!

They fly right by the house here and are known to be seen out on the prairie.

One year I had a really hard time finding the guinea nest but the gulls had a hay day. Egg shells were everywhere.

 

[Gill-b]

I finally managed to capture a Sunbird on my Aloe plant. Unfortunately the Aloe was in the shade by the time this little guy showed up, so I will keep on trying to get the shot I have been hoping for, which is of a male Sunbird showing off his dazzling shimmering feathers in full sunlight.

View media item 7973301
View media item 7973302
View media item 7973303
View media item 7973304

 

[Gill-b]

In my state of drowsiness yesterday, I neglected to add a little detail about the Sunbird that I photographed yesterday, so here it is now...

It is an adult male Lesser or Southern Doublecollared Sunbird (Nectarinia chalybea). The females do not have the glossy metallic colouring of the males, but rather has brown upperparts and yellowish-grey underparts. The juveniles resemble the females. They can take nectar by hovering like a Hummingbird, however although similar-looking Sunbirds and Hummingbirds are unrelated. The main differences between the two species is that Sunbirds usually perch to feed most of the time and they cannot fly backwards as a Hummingbird can. I have often seen female Sunbirds hovering below the gutters on our house in search of spiders to feed to their young, as well as spider web to strongly secured their nest together. The oval-shaped nest is built solely by the female in about 25-30 days.

...and Sunbirds also have a beautiful song.

 

[Gill-b]

Meanwhile up in the thorntree...

[Because I wished to attach 12 images to this post, I decided to make the images relatively low resolution to make the loading of them on your side much more easy-going. I hope you can make out the Cape Sparrows in these smaller pictures.]


View media item 7973306
The outside of the nest building seems to be completed.


View media item 7973307
Mr and Mrs Mostart watching me closely.


View media item 7973308
Mr Mostart flying to his perch.


View media item 7973309
I love the way Mr Mostart puffs out his chest, seeming very proud of his nest building. Mrs Mostart takes care to hide while still keeping an eye on my movements.


View media item 7973310
Mrs Mostart again taking care to hide while watching me.


View media item 7973311
The only photograph I have of Mrs Mostart in full view.


View media item 7973312
Mrs Mostart telling Mr Mostert what needs doing, while he is takes instructions from the entrance to the nest.


View media item 7973313
Mr Mostart entering the nest with soft building materials to line the inside of it.


View media item 7973314
Mrs Mostart entering the nest after him, with tail pointing up. Now both Cape Sparrows are in the nest.


View media item 7973315
Mrs Mostart peaking out of the nest entrance.

View media item 7973316
View media item 7973317