another hawk

I had just been complaining about the lack of new birds for me to photograph when I looked up in this willow oak to see this red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) before it took flight. What had initially caught my attention was the mockingbirds and bluejays who were attaching this hawk. I can't wait for fall so we can catch some new species of birds flying through on their way south.

Woodpecker or Hummingbird?

It would appear that New England Downy Woodpeckers have a sweet tooth. My good friend (and mother of my son-in-law), Suzanne, sent me these great pics from Rhode Island. I have to admit I had never seen this before in my backyard. I have caught woodpeckers eating my sunflower seeds and even pecking away at a slice of watermelon I left out for the butterflies, but never slurping from our hummingbird feeders. Interesting pics, indeed. Thanks Suzanne and keep the pics coming.

Global Warming Welcomed

Here is a bird taking advantage of global warming. The Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is extremely sensitive to cold weather, but with warmer winters has been extending its range farther north since the early 1900's. This guy was singing his heart out just before I took these pics; pound per pound these birds are one of the loudest signing birds.

A Pair of Pileateds

I apologize for the quality of the pics, but these Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) have been hard for me to find within camera range and even harder to get a clear shot. I spotted this pair at the DeGray Lake marina and this was the best I could get out of the dozens of pictures I took. Pine tree branches just kept coming between me and the birds. Since these guys are year round residents and usually will stake out and defend their territory, maybe I will get some better shots of this pair at a later date.

With the exception of the ivory-billed, these woodpeckers are the largest North American woodpeckers. The pileated woodpecker almost disappeared with the clearing of the eastern forests, but is slowly and steadily increasing in all their native states with the exception of Arkansas according to the experts. This I can believe because I can always remember these birds being quite common when I was growing up, but they can be rather hard to find now.

Old Faithful

Day after day and week after week, the tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor) is the most faithful visitor to my backyard feeders. I get a kick out of this bird's eating habits; they quickly grab one sunflower seed then fly to the nearest tree branch and hold the seed with its foot in order to peck it open --a process that continues all day. These guys seem like the nervous type. Even their flight seems a bit fluttery and erratic. Titmice are found year round throughout the great eastern deciduous forests of North America. They nest in tree cavities (either naturally occurring or abandoned by woodpeckers) where they line the inner portion of the nest with hair. Scientists have identified the hairs as comming from various sources: raccoon, possum, dogs, cats, and even human.

camouflage - Potoo bird

Could not resist sharing this short video. I know we have many camo birds in our area as well, but none that blend in so well as this Potoo bird.


Bird tree camouflage - Potoo bird - BestofYouTube.com

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Welcomed House Guest

Every year Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) raise their young in our chimney. From early morning into the late hours of the night you can hear the constant chirping of the fledglings. And as you can see in these pics, the occasional adult (and later on the occasional fledgling) will squeeze between our fireplace insert and brick fireplace and escape into the house. They are not too hard to catch and I enjoy the up close pics before releasing them back outdoors.