2 new birds today

[Donn]

The first was a Common Merganser. No pictures, because I was out on the bulkhead and he surfaced about 10 feet from me. Scared me as much as him, and off he went. I've seen all three varieties of Merganser here now, with the most common being the last.

The second was a male Indigo Bunting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/donnwest/IMGP0726.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/donnwest/IMGP0727.jpg

He was actually here yesterday, as well, but I couldn't get a good picture before he left. Today, I used the binoculars to take a good look, and then shot the pics.

I need to get feeders set up closer to the window.

[TimH]

I was sitting at my computer a few years ago. Right next to my computerdesk was a sliding glass door and right outside was my collection of bird feeders.
All of the sudden something crashed into the window and scared the crap out of me...
I look out and at first didnt see anything, but then right next to the door was a full grown Harrier....he sat for a few seconds to gather his bearings then took off...

Was pretty cool :-)


http://www.whangareinativebirdrecovery.org.nz/images/gallery/image9.jpg

[Leon m]

I love Indigo Buntings, they look like a gem in the sunlight.

[TimH]

So do ruby throated hummingbirds

[Leon m]

Love them too.

[Mrleft8]

Love them too.
Yeah..... But you need so many of them just to make an appetizer..... :D

[Tristan]

Wonderful indigo buntings, haven't seen one for years. I got a major treat two days ago when I saw a yellow billed cuckoo in my back yard. He spent ten minutes or so drinking at the little water fountain. Haven't seen one for years. Saw a bunch of painted buntings at a friends place last week. Oven bird came to visit yesterday.

[Donn]

Yeah..... But you need so many of them just to make an appetizer..... :D

They're more filling if you swallow them alive.:p

[Mrleft8]

Yeah....But that gives my belly the flutters......

[JimD]

I kayaked past this guy last week:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/paafc87df51f983d7ddbaff5a43a90a9d/e9de5a3f.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())

[Donn]

Sorry, Mumbler. That's not a bird. That's a rodent.

[TimH]

Sorry, Mumbler. That's not a bird. That's a rodent.

Beat me to it :D

[Mrleft8]

Snot a rodent. It's a mini bear. Rodent's got very distinctive front choppers.

[JimD]

Sorry, Mumbler. That's not a bird. That's a rodent.

Are you sure it's not just the camera angle? I coulda sworn it was a bird at the time.

[JimD]

This better?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid221/p39fa0ab9a56313a5d2ee2aa384f4600b/eb469242.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())

[BrianW]

Cool, a bird thread. I took these today, but I'm not gonna tell ya's what kind of birds they are... ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Sitka/eagles1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Sitka/eagles2.jpg

without the zoom...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Sitka/eagles3.jpg

[elf]

Jeez. Those guys are kinda bald!

[JimD]

Jeez. Those guys are kinda bald!

They're old. Probably forum lurkers.

[BrianW]

Yeah, I call the one on the left Norman, and the one on the right Donn.

:D

[BrianW]

Well poop, I thought that last one would've got a chuckle or two. :(

;)

[Ron Williamson]

SWMBO saw these the other day.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p529c8cc97d5aabb71a11c5c88e011cba/e9dc4bd6.jpg
Desperate wild turkeys.
Crap
I forget how to change the URL.
R

[Donn]

Well poop, I thought that last one would've got a chuckle or two. :(

;)

You had me right, but this is Norman:

http://www.able-travel.com/ethiopia03/images/hooded%20vulture,%20arba%20minch.JPG

:D

[JimD]

Frankly, its hard to tell which one is Donn and which is Norman:

http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/curriculum/english/GCSE/Y11/Paper%202%20English/Cluster%201/Vultures/2%20vultures.jpg

[JimD]

Aw, now they're arguing:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rth0381l.jpg

[Donn]

Sheesh, Jim! Can you spell originality?

[George Jung]

Nice eagle shots, Bruin. I'm surprised you were able to get that close; I was reading a bit written by a regional photographer (Pat Gerlach - check out his horse/buffalo shots, as well - http://www.patgerlach.com/main.html?gallery/gallerys.html~pgContent)
and his comment was on getting the birds feet in the shot; yours shows well.

[The Bigfella]

Donn

Do you keep a tally? I live on the outer edges of suburbia in Sydney - I back on to bush blocks - and IIRC had 72 species on the list here (must find the list).

Ian

[Mrleft8]

Well..... I saw a flock of feathered critters I never saw before today in a flooded out field.... Kinda sandpiper looking dealies, but bigger bodies, and almost black, but some of them had reddish/purple/maroon heads. Long slightly curved tube like beaks. Wish I'd had my camera, but I don't often need to photograph my dinner purchases.... I'll bring the camera tomorrow, maybe they'll be there again....

[JimD]

Sheesh, Jim! Can you spell originality?

What would a carrion eater care about spelling or originality?

[Donn]

Donn

Do you keep a tally? I live on the outer edges of suburbia in Sydney - I back on to bush blocks - and IIRC had 72 species on the list here (must find the list).

Ian

I do. I started it when I moved here, 10 years ago next July. I'm at 54 so far, but I haven't started ID'ing all the marsh/bay/shore birds I see out on the bay. I'm also short on ID'ing all the sparrows. The 54 is all in the yard or the adjacent canal.

[JimD]

There is a bird sanctuary about five minutes from our place. A marshy pond with canoe or kayak access. We're hoping to take the 'yaks there on the weekend and see what we can get close to.

[BrianW]

Nice eagle shots, Bruin. I'm surprised you were able to get that close

Eagles never seem to mind people, at least not around here.

Nice link, I liked the guys pictures. Participating in one of his workshop sessions would be fun too.

[BrianW]

Wish I'd had my camera, but I don't often need to photograph my dinner purchases.... I'll bring the camera tomorrow, maybe they'll be there again....

I like to take a camera everywhere these days. Kinda feel nekkid without one, at least in the glovebox.

[The Bigfella]

They are just great shots Brian. We have had a large crested hawk, known now as the Pacific Baza come trhough our place a few times - never when I've had a telephoto available unfortunately, as they are a stunning bird if you can get them in the clear - which is rare here. I'd love to get shots of them like your eagle photos

[S.V. Airlie]

Long legs or short Doug..!
I'm guessing glossy ibiis... becoming more common in NE.. Never saw them 20 yrs ago.

[Donn]

They are colorful... they looked black at distance...

They actually are black:


Indigo Buntings have no blue pigment; they are actually black, but the diffraction of light through the structure of the feathers makes them appear blue.

[Mrleft8]

Long legs or short Doug..!
I'm guessing glossy ibiis... becoming more common in NE.. Never saw them 20 yrs ago.
....Could be.... I think the bodies were......rounder. More Kiwi looking....I'll see if I can shoot one today (with the camera)

[TimH]

A while back I saw an eagle carrying someones cat.

[S.V. Airlie]

boyles..Seriously Donn is correct...

[Donn]

I got another new one today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/donnwest/IMGP0783.jpg

Rufous-Sided Towhee.

Apparently this is pretty far north for this bird. I'll bet he rode in on the storm as well.

[The Bigfella]

A while back I saw an eagle carrying someones cat.


Can I borrow that eagle?

Donn - time for a telephoto lens mate!

[Donn]

Donn - time for a telephoto lens mate!

I know. The range is 50', through a window, with a digital camera. The cam has 3x optical and 11x digital zoom, but this bird stuff makes me want to dredge out my old Canon 35mm outfit. I've got 75# of gear which could do these tweeties justice.

[Mrleft8]

Same here Donn..... I guess they are Ibis..... But the pictures don't prove a damned thing other than that they are pointy faced dark shapes on a greenish tan background....

[Donn]

I really doubt they're Ibis.

Probably some Curlew-type shore birds, waiting inland until conditions are more favorable on the beach.

[The Bigfella]

Kinda sandpiper looking dealies, but bigger bodies, and almost black, but some of them had reddish/purple/maroon heads. Long slightly curved tube like beaks.


Sounds like our red-necked avocet - which has long legs actually


http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/factsheets/full/Recurvirostra/novaehollandiae/img_2772redneckedavocetimp.jpg

[S.V. Airlie]

Donn the Rufus sided is quite common in upstate NY... I would guess they are on Long Island... I'm surprised you have not seen one there before.
Actually, found a nest in Cooperstown many years ago.. first and only one I ever found.
And as to Ibis, I asked Doug about the legs.. long or short..
I can't think of any shorebird that has that color with a curved bill.

[Donn]

Donn the Rufus sided is quite common in upstate NY... I would guess they are on Long Island... I'm surprised you have not seen one there before.


I guess it depends on your definition of "common."

Here's the winter distribution map:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/cbc622/ra5870.gif

and the summer distribution map:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/map617/ra5870.gif

[S.V. Airlie]

Donn
How old or current are those distribution maps? If they are new, perhaps this species has suffered a collapase in some areas of its range.
Then again, I do not take distribution maps as gospel too often. If nothing else the scale. They are good to give one a rough idea.
As with any species, as you know, the type of habitat is important. If CT. is red, as it is, that is the general number seen throughout the state. I would not expect to see many of these birds in say Stamford or New Haven. At least, not many and yet, when yopu get up to New Canaan, I would expect to see more.

personally, I would like to see county specific distributions, not a national map.

ps.. if you look at the range map for this towhee, it extends into Canada. Now I do not have my favorite guide in front of me, but the one I have states that it is common in brushy to heavy undergrowth, wood margins and hedgerows.

[Donn]

You'll have to ask the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Jamie. The Breeding Bird Survey they maintain runs from 1966-2005. I have no idea when the RS Towhee map was last updated.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

I know. The range is 50', through a window, with a digital camera. The cam has 3x optical and 11x digital zoom, but this bird stuff makes me want to dredge out my old Canon 35mm outfit. I've got 75# of gear which could do these tweeties justice.

We are just starting to see digital bodies that can take all my 35mm lenses.....

[S.V. Airlie]

P.I., have you bought one yet? I have seen a few.. and I mean only a few on the market. I have not gone out to buy one. I just bought a digital last year...
And, I still rely on my slr for a lot.. especially with the lenses.

[Mrleft8]

I would LOVE to find an adapter that'll let me use my 35MM lenses on my Canon EOS.
I sent some pictures to Donn, but who knows if they actually got there. This new mail system I have seems to be less than reliable...

[S.V. Airlie]

This new mail system I have seems to be less than reliable...

What are ya using Doug.. The USPS? :eek:

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Not yet - I've done bleeding edge before - not this time - but they are staring to look like a really good idea.

Anyone want to guess how much longer 35mm will last?

[Mrleft8]

This new mail system I have seems to be less than reliable...

What are ya using Doug.. The USPS? :eek:
Yahoo. I shoulda known anything that sounded like Shane would be trouble......:D

[S.V. Airlie]

P.I.. I know it probably isn't the only one out there but the only one I have seen is a Nikon.. Can't remember the number. It was only about 3 grand for the body. Decided not to look any further.. yet..:D

and I agree about 35mm..

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

The Pentax K10D comes in well under £700 and Sub £600 if you don't need a lens..

Still waiting.

[S.V. Airlie]

This was taken with a 35mm.. Not the best shot but being 70' up in a tree and having just banded the guy... well, could have been worse. And I hate heights. :eek:

Oh and by the way, while potographing junior, I was getting nailed topsides. Those talons can hurt... Never thought head wounds could bleed so much.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/tancook/scan0001-2.jpg

[BrianW]

I'd say ya done a good job, given the circumstances!

[The Bigfella]

I like the way the eyes come up different colours

[S.V. Airlie]

Red Eye.. bigfella...
I think that could be fixed digitally now..:rolleyes:

[BrianW]

I ran it through the 'autofix' mode in Elements 4.0 and it didn't fix the eye problem. It doesn't seem to be a red eye issue, just a lighting issue with the birds right eye...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/stuff/jamiesbird.jpg

[BrianW]

Or, just pretend it's a pirate bird, complete with eye patch. :)

[S.V. Airlie]

Umm.. thanks for trying.. Considering where I was when it was taken, considering I don't like heights, considering the guy was a bit miffed.. did not like the jewelry I gave him/her, considering I was getting hit with regularity on the bean but a poe'd parent, and had some blood running down my face, I'm glad it was in focus..

The new version came out well too. My print, which has been on the wall is about 30 yrs old.. a bit faded.. LOL.

[S.V. Airlie]

Even bird watching can be dangerous.:eek:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/tancook/ospreycartoon3.jpg