Birds Today

[DThille]

Yesterday on the walk with the poodle puppy I decided to head to the riverfront to see how it looked and saw, among other things, wood ducks. They're such an attractive bird that this morning's walk saw me taking the Nikon with the long lens.

Wood ducks and mallard drakes.

I count five goslings for sure...uncertain if there may be another or two.

Both adults in the picture.

 

[DThille]

After breakfast we got ourselves ready and went out to the country. It was quite a day today for variety. There was a pair of ducks on the dugout (typically mallard or northern shoveller) that took off as soon as I got out of the truck. We also saw a pair of gray partridge running off...I took my eye off them (and they went behind the burning barrel) when I got the long lens on the camera and didn't see them until they took off after I turned my back (they chuckled at me first) so didn't get a shot.

It was unusually calm for wind today.

Red-winged blackbird strutting its stuff.

The same RWB.

Killdeer...a shorebird that doesn't typically spend time at the shore.

Brown thrasher...a very pretty bird.

 

[DThille]

More....

Common yellowthroat (a warbler) in the false astilbe.

More contrast after moving to the driveway.

A pair of blue jays...a raucous but very pretty bird.

I think a song sparrow, but I'm not certain...shot through a window.

Here's looking at you.

Can you find all six? The nest by the dugout appears to have been predated.

I don't usually care for house sparrows, but was far enough away that I couldn't confirm and like this in-flight / landing shot.

 

[DThille]

And some more....

Common grackle...their tail forms a V like the keel of a boat in flight.

Poor shot, but a western meadowlark...these have a distinctive song that we hear all summer long.

I'm not sure about this character...perhaps a clay-coloured sparrow.

Another view.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

 

[Jason890]

Beautiful
I have lots of birds at home
Finches lorikeets king parrots black and white cockatoo although they eat all my macadamia nuts but there’s lots to share
There is a pair of ibis that nest in one of the gum trees well I think there ibis
Kookaburra kingfisher and loads of other species I just don’t know there name
I love it in the morning the birds are so active you can here them every where
And my pet ducks swimming around the dam

 

[DThille]

A new day and some new birds.

A better shot of a brown thrasher.

Brown-headed cowbird.

Clay-coloured sparrow

American goldfinches have returned

Mourning doves

Common grackles

First barn swallow spotted for the season.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I have my own little bird now! I was starting to build a "roof trellis" for our passionfruit vine to grow over, but I guess the projects will have to wait as these little birds have now called it home.

 

[DThille]

Quite the architect.

 

[DThille]

I believe this is an eastern phoebe...have submitted to a birding ID group on FB for confirmation.

Brown-headed cowbird, female red-winged blackbird, and mourning dove under the sunflower feeder.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

So cute! And I love the dandelions. Did you know they are edible? Some depression-era people I knew (mom works in elderly care) would still pick the bushy greens, wash then add a little salt and pepper, and eat them!

 

[JP 1983]

So cute! And I love the dandelions. Did you know they are edible? Some depression-era people I knew (mom works in elderly care) would still pick the bushy greens, wash then add a little salt and pepper, and eat them!

I'll start another thread on common edible weeds one of these days!

 

[DThille]

We haven’t gone there yet, but I was aware. My understanding is young leaves are best. The roots can be turned into a tea that is apparently somewhat like coffee and the flowers have been used to make wine.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

The whole plant is edible @DThille . The flowers can be turned into a tea, which is high in Vitamins A and C. Honestly, you can use the whole plant to turn into tea. I think a common method is using the roots. The whole plant actually has a number of health benefits many don't reap from as they consider it a weed; they are missing out!

I would honestly 100% read and enjoy that @JP 1983 . I'm recommending your current bush tucker thread to friends and relatives, who greatly enjoy it too

 

[DThille]

Here's a few more shots from this week....

Brown Thrasher

OK, so not a bird, but it flies....

Eastern kingbirds...we usually have a pair around which is nice as they eat insects.

Brown thrasher...highway construction in the background...sigh.

Red-winged blackbird...it was exhibiting some unusual behaviour...I'm not sure if it was a territorial or courtship behaviour or what. It was sort of fluttering its wings and making a different call than the usual that we hear from them. This is a male.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Such lovely birds!

Sometimes birds stretch their wings out to allow them to dry. It can also be done to appear bigger to intimidate.

 

[DThille]

I figured courtship and aggression / defensive posturing as the most likely candidates. That’s nowhere near the dugout so I’m not sure how wet they could have been. Of course, a single image doesn’t capture the entire behaviour.