May 1, 2016

The colors of spring slightly out of focus

Marta is still under the weather. PLEASE stop by her post and say hi: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018862371#post54

I'm not near as good with her camera as she is. The battery is low and I didn't catch it. It threw the focus off on these from today.

OS

Our Orioles are returning. Yesterday was the first time we saw them at the jelly feeders. It has been raining for the last few days. This female is very wet.




One of the two males we know are back.




The most famous of woodpeckers... the Red Headed have returned too.




Just under the Blu Jay on the rights tail is what is left of a Squirrels ear of corn.




This true lady Cardinal waits for her turn in line to eat.

April 29, 2016

Darby O'Gill fans will understand I almost captured the king of the leprechauns (woodpecker)

A male Pileated Woodpecker eating suet this morning. The Pileateds are the largest species of woodpecker in North America extant. We lost the Ivory Billed to man's stupidity: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/id

Pileateds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id




This is a female. There is no red stripe on her face. She is eating a nuts and woodpecker mix. I was just a few feet away in our laundry room..




I took this one also through the laundry room window. That is why there is a dark spot at the bottom of the photo. On the left is a male Downy Woodpecker. They are not shy like the Pileateds. All about Downys: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id



I'm about 40% Irish. A tip o me hat to Darby, King Brian, and the little people.

OS

April 26, 2016

Nature pix including a few for your dog (squirrel) and a rare for our area bird (dial up warning)

We have our first oriole. An orchard oriole. I've seen him twice. But he hasn't landed on the feeder yet when I've been looking. Humming birds will be here any day. I'll have more photos soon.

Remember I mentioned we have a feeder just for the squirrels and they get one ear of corn a day? http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027764737#post20

These photos show one taking it back to the nest. He carried it in his mouth over 70 feet along the top of the fence. Caught this by accident.







I took these through the patio door. I didn't want to scare the poor thing so I didn't get the shot of it jumping over to the tree from the fence. That empty green feeder is a squirrel feeder. Don't worry. I took more out.


Originally I was shooting through the fence. Autofocus keep focusing on the fence. Then it flew up over the fence and landed on the flower on this side. What a ham.


Remember the snow photo and the finches had no color?


Winter lack of color shot.


Three years ago we had two close up photos of a male Black-headed Grosbeak below.


Marta has been so sick we don't have the birdcam up yet. Here is a female Black-headed Grosbeak next to the Cardinal. She is a couple hundred miles east of her range.


A couple finches waiting their turn above the feeder.

April 21, 2016

PLEASE, I need some help from my DU friends UPDATE

Update: Thank you all so much. We finished dinner. Came down to the family room to watch Jeopardy. At the commercial I told her to check trending now. She will keep coming back every so often to see newer replies.


Marta has been very sick. She is really feeling down. Please post a get well message reply.

Thank you!

OS

April 18, 2016

We had friends over for food and drinks yesterday, and the boys started showing off naturally

April 17, 2016

Clowns, birders creep us out – and a study found out why

http://www.omaha.com/living/clowns-birders-creep-us-out-and-a-study-found-out/article_38459789-1228-5f6d-87db-6780f95b3f0a.html

POSTED: SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016 1:00 AM
The Washington Post

Here’s what most American bird-watchers are, according to a 2013 government study: White, older than 45, fairly well-off and highly educated.

Here’s what many people think bird-watchers are: Creepy.

That’s according to a recent study that says it is the first “empirical study of ‘creepiness.’ ” Led by psychology professor Frank McAndrew at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, the study set out to introduce “a theoretical perspective on the common psychological experience of feeling “creeped out,” and to figure out what makes us think other people are creepy.

The conclusion — based on a survey of 1,341 people, most of whom were female and American — is that feeling creeped out is an evolved response to the ambiguity of a possible threat, which helps us to remain vigilant.

FULL story at link.

I'm glad Marta and I don't spend any time on birds.