Backyard Birds 2016
AXD 
Nature Lover 
LVres 
Beautiful picture AXD. A group of Robins stopped by the other day for a drink of water.
jennymc 
Ollie 
Hot corner 
Dansker Jenny, we have had a large flock of robins lately - I don't remember them being in such a large group and so early - do you know if this is typical or unusual?
pmnsk 
They have been coming out of hiding earlier each year it seems. This was Feb 10th of last yr out my back window.
Grascal
pmnsk - I don't know a lot about birds and I was very shocked to see the Robins in the very cold weather. I always thought Robins signified Spring was here. I guess seeing them now dispels that myth.
It was interesting to see the Red Bellied Woodpecker and the Flickers together this morning, I guess they were trying to soak up some sun.
I've seen flocks of robins for quite a while now - I don't think they fly south anymore
4catmom Rather jealous of you who have pretty birds around. Here in the Kenwood Village area we have crows, Canada geese and turkey vultures.
Frank d 
I once saw an albino cardinal! Unfortunately I don't have a picture but it was really cool. I just kept staring at it saying that bird looks familiar and then it dawned on me what it was. Only saw it that one time.
RAS Great pictures! We have a pair of Piliated wood peckers on a regular basis and occasionally a blue heron will stop by our pond to eat our fish.
Jesse123 Frank d: I live in Kenwood and have crows,geese and vultures, but also robins, bluejays, finches, sparrows, titmice, red bellied woodpeckers, pilated woodpeckers, downy wood peckers,nuthatches,chickadees,cardinals,wrens, catbirds, coopers hawks, green herons (rarely), and once a young bald eagle. And I'm sure I've forgotten a few. Also have several bird feeders, suet baskets and birdbaths to draw them in, plus lots of seed bearing plants.
Many robins winter over and form "nomadic flocks". Its not unusual to go for a winter hike and come across dozens and dozens of robins that have moved into deeper sections of woods. Same goes for blue birds.
The true harbinger of spring in this area is the red wing blackbird. I've been looking and waiting. No sign yet.
honey badger 
Glad to see this post has been continued!
Here is a picture of one of the four visitors we have gotten this year. Just about everyday we see them. They come for a meal of meal worms we raise.
Enjoy
4paws 
We have a lot of "Visitors" to our back yard. Because of bears we need to bring in the feeders every night.
Here is a Nuthatch looking to "steal" a worm from the Bluebirds bowl.
great pics 4cat and 4 paws you guys must be quick with the camera!
I never knew that honey badger - was really curious about the 30 or so robins around the house - have been here off and on for about a week! Thank you!
OP 
jd2 The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a brood parasite, meaning that it lays its eggs in nests of other species. A female cowbird quietly searches for female birds of other species that are actively laying eggs. Once she has found a suitable host, the cowbird will sneak onto the resident bird’s nest when it is away, usually damage or remove one (or more) egg, and replace that egg with one (or more) of her own (watch a cowbird laying an egg in a Northern Cardinal nest on NestCams). The foster parents then unknowingly raise the young cowbirds, usually at the expense of their own offspring. Cowbird eggs require a shorter incubation period than most other songbirds and thus usually hatch first. Cowbird nestlings also grow large very quickly. These advantages allow them to command the most food from their foster parents, usually resulting in reduced nesting success of the host species.
CraftBeerBob 
3 mature bald eagles ( different times ) flying up musconectcong river . We live on route 46 side of river near boundary of Stevens state park.
just coach 4cat - Congrats on the camera, it's the same one I have. I don't have that lens tough, I've only got two AF's and the rest are all vintage manual focus.
GC thanks GC - my walk around lens is an 18-300 and I've got an 85mm micro--
beware - I may be asking for a little guidance on the cam - and I"m considering selling the D90 now.................great fun
Just saw "our" groundhog out and about - this is definitely the earliest I've seen it awake.
Bonv No jd2, My primary objective is to feed the large population of wintering goldfinches. I scare the cowbirds every chance I get, but what scares them also scares everyone else. I have a pair of sharp-shinned hawks that frequent my yard (hence all the lawn furniture) so I do not mind a few bait-birds, I mean cowbirds, hanging around.
4catmom - 18-300 a walk around? Yikes, you may now be on Rebecka's level. ;-) Most people think of that as a "go to" instead of walk around for test shots. I take a bunch of travel shots so I've got the 35mm 1.8, if you need something in that range I highly recommend it.
I love my $39 Vivitar Series One 70-210 mm f2.8. World class fast optics from the late 70's they're still trying to copy. OK, so it has a really big draw back of manual focus, but if I blow up a picture 50 times it's still clear enough to count Sugar's nose hairs. Not bad compared to the $2500 modern alternatives.
Like you said it's great fun to try a few of the old lenses because the Nikons from 50+ years ago still work on modern cameras. A barrel full of monkeys for $50 or so. And if it doesn't turn out, just sell it off again for about the same $.
Holy bird migration! Must have been a few thousand grackles and red-winged blackbirds behind tranquility farms this afternoon.
Had a Pileated Woodpecker in our yard yesterday but he/she flew before I could grab my camera.
Not my backyard, but I just found this site: http://dceaglecam.eagles.org/
There is a camera (two actually) on a nesting Bald Eagle In Washington DC - it appears the baby may be born within the next 12-24 hours - there is significant cracking of the egg already.
Enjoy the show!
kurt right here in New Jersey - Duke Farm Eagle Cam - one of many around the country/world http://www.ustream.tv/channel/eagle-cam
We had a pair of Mallards at our pond at the beginning of the week. They were then joined by 5 Wood ducks- 2 males and 3 females.
Then the dog spotted them and barked her head off
Blackcat 
This little guy flew into my moms sunroom window this morning, in Florida just north of Daytona. It sat here for about 20 mins, recouping from its crash. I believe it's a warbler, just not sure what kind. Anyone know?
We also saw an osprey fishing but didn't have my camera ready before it flew off. :(
Cherie While not an expert. I believe that would be a "Northern Parula" which is of the Warbler family.
Thank you! I think you may be right, according to the Audubon books. Here's another shot.
gadfly 
While not quite backyard. It is nice to see Warblers moving back in. This was at the Watergap today. I believe a Chestnut sided Warbler. Was a distant shot but couldn't resist.
Grascal, probably a golden-crowned kinglet. May be a little early in the Spring for most warblers.
Thanks for the correction jd2. I think you are right. Normally they only have the center yellow spot. He had the tuft flared the way it looks and confused me.
Indeed a rather impressive orange, Grascal. Got to sweep some little female kinglet off her feet (wings?)!
Nice shot.
Ok.... now I can honestly say the warblers are moving back in at Alumni. :) Correct me if wrong but looks like a Pine Warbler.
You're right Grascal. Those pine warblers come back super early. There are some waterthrushes around too. Keep an ear out for them. Palm warblers should be back soon.
DannyC 
The Palms have made it back. Saw a few Yellow Rumps also.... ah ya just gotta love spring :)
According to what I've read, hummingbirds arrive April 19-23rd. My feeders went up today outside my kitchen windows. Can't wait for the first sighting...my favorite time of the year!
lola lola & GC -
Guess I got my hummingbird feeder out just in time, with about four drops of red food coloring. The weather looks good, with no freezing at night. But I cannot wear my favorite red shirt outdoors. The little hummingbirds like to hover in front of me, thinking about pecking at my red chest. Love them anyway.
Iris Red dye is unnecessary, and contributes absolutely nothing to the good health of a hummingbird. In fact, its effects on hummingbirds are unproven. It is at best useless.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/dye.html
I don't know my sparrows very well. My cousin needs an ID on this lil guy. I'm thinking Vesper Sparrow? Am I close?
Wow Grascal. You got me. I looked at three books, and I think you're right but I'm could say for sure. You might want to post that one on a birders forum or Facebook group. It's a great photo and someone will be able to tell you. Please let us know if you get confirmation.
A single photo may not always be enough for a positive ID. That may be the case here. (I checked my book too and gave up.)
Do we see Vesper Sparrows very much anymore?
exphysics teacher 
She said she took it in the Allentown area. I seem to find in reading Vespers get more plentiful as you move west. Heres another view. I know this isn't quite local but you all have been so good at sorting these things out :)
I was noting the belly stripes. Wing graduated coloring and white eye ring which made me think Vesper.
4catmom - very handsome dude, still puffed up in this chilly weather. Nice photo shot. What is his genre?
4catmom: this is the 1st year I'm seeing tons of them at my feeder (I'm in PV). Been trying to get a pic, but haven't been able to get a clear shot. They're so beautiful! Thanks for the pic!
Mom and Dad Blue Bird have managed to raise three KIDS. They have just started bringing the kids over to the house for their meals.
Mr4paws
Built a birdhouse 6 days ago and saw this today! I knew there were a couple of
Bluebirds flying around and building a nest but they really don't waste time
fujixt1 
I have over 25 finches visiting my feeders outside my window. The BlueJays are the biggest bullies on the block, but they are beautiful.
YankeeFrank 
Great Bird ID App - Merlin from the Cornell labs, in the app store and the play store, free. very easy to use. gets your location from your phone, tell it the size, color, and where spotted and they will give you a dozen choices or so. Found it to be very accurate, only problem you cant keep the birds you have ID'd in your own database.
I'm having a woodpecker issue, it's making large holes on my deck railing.
Any ideas on how to stop this destruction?
Anyone know what bird this is? Had two on my back porch after the cat food. About the size of a large chicken
Ron 
The male of the pair that were after my hanging basket where the zinnias are now producing seeds.
Been having a problem with my Birdfeeder going empty rather quickly over the past few days. I suspected it was squirrels. Finally caught it yesterday, it is one of them Rare Great Horned Squirrels. I watched as he deftly reached up, shook the feeder then cleaned up what dropped. There were actually two of them!
Well as we are closing out the year, just thought I would post a picture of some visitors who have hung around. They are enjoying a mealworm snack! There are 6 of them!
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