Orioles have arrived, another hobby I enjoy

[Jim62]

Not talking baseball here, just talking birds. Anyone else here enjoy the hobby of bird watching? We have a large number of Orioles showing up this year and it is a real pleasure to watch and listen to them. We are located within their mating range, some years we get large numbers some only a few. I can sit and watch and listen to them all day long. Unfortunatley storms have driven me back inside this morning but man they are busy, had to put out more grape jelly.

 

[BOATMAN]

YES I LIKE lookin at birds an a few months ago so ive been told we had a very rare bird fall down our chimmney an my wife jen said to me there is something behind the fire gaard that covers the fireplace an when we move it there was a red blackbird as it had red wings an all the rest of it was black an i was told its mostly in your USA is this right ? an we captured it an took it outside an let it go

chrisb

 

[Jakko]

I had to look up what type of bird orioles are These, I gather:

In North America, that is. Named after, but not related to, the European one:

 

[Airborne01!]

I had to look up what type of bird orioles are These, I gather:

In North America, that is. Named after, but not related to, the European one:

And there was I thinking Orioles were biscuits ...
Steve

 

[Tommergun]

Some that I've photo'd in the back yard (Texas) the past few years.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Carolina Chicadee

Blue Jay

Cedar Waxwing

Eastern Bluebird

 

[Jim62]

YES I LIKE lookin at birds an a few months ago so ive been told we had a very rare bird fall down our chimmney an my wife jen said to me there is something behind the fire gaard that covers the fireplace an when we move it there was a red blackbird as it had red wings an all the rest of it was black an i was told its mostly in your USA is this right ? an we captured it an took it outside an let it go

chrisb

Here is a red winged blackbird

 

[Jim62]

I had to look up what type of bird orioles are These, I gather:

In North America, that is. Named after, but not related to, the European one:

We have Baltimore Orioles

 

[Jim62]

And there was I thinking Orioles were biscuits ...
Steve

We have also seen the orchard oriole on occasion but that was a few years ago.

 

[BarleyBop]

Sorry for the lousy photo, (phone through a screen), but this guy spent the better part of an afternoon Feb 17th in our downtown backyard dining al fresco on pigeon fricassee!

 

[BOATMAN]

HI YES i was sittin outside an i see this red wing blackbird fly over so i think its nestin around here an not goin back to the usa
chrisb

 

[Jim62]

HI YES i was sittin outside an i see this red wing blackbird fly over so i think its nestin around here an not goin back to the usa
chrisb

They are a beautiful bird. That red and yellow on that black just pops out. Might have to try that paint scheme on a night fighter just for fun. No wait an SR71 blackbird with that paint scheme would be sharp.

 

[Jim62]

And there was I thinking Orioles were biscuits ...
Steve

You are thinking of oreos and they are cookies.

 

[Tommergun]

Here's a few more I've photo'd in the yard.

Barn Swallow

American Robin

Mourning Doves

 

[Jim62]

Nice photos Tommergun I'm stuck with an Ipad for photos.

 

[BarleyBop]

Ipad for photos

Hey Jim, I'm no birder by any stretch of the imagination, but last year I installed an app from Cornell Lab... and it has greatly increased my enjoyment of our feathered friends.

It helps you identify by entering info, photos or sounds! As well as giving information about the bird, it helps you to create a Life list of birds that you've spotted.

I use my smart phone mostly for photos, so it is always on hand.

If you are interested, here is a link:
Merlin Bird

 

[BarleyBop]

Cedar Waxwing

Especially nice photo... such a beautiful bird.
I see them occasionally here in Ottawa.

 

[Jim62]

Hey Jim, I'm no birder by any stretch of the imagination, but last year I installed an app from Cornell Lab... and it has greatly increased my enjoyment of our feathered friends.

It helps you identify by entering info, photos or sounds! As well as giving information about the bird, it helps you to create a Life list of birds that you've spotted.

I use my smart phone mostly for photos, so it is always on hand.

If you are interested, here is a link:
Merlin Bird

Thanks I think my wife was just introduced to that app. by a friend.

 

[the Baron]

Nice!
Yeah, I like watching the birds in my yard and in our neighborhood, though I haven't made a more systematic study of it. There are a lot of sparrows and chickadees, robins, some cardinals that like sheltering in the evergreen hedges, some Eastern woodpeckers, mourning doves, and some red-tails whose territory includes our neighborhood. The red-tails have some neighbors of their own whose territory extends to the Lehigh River about a mile south of me, then up South Mountain which lies south of the river. Crows, who were more visible over the winter, some blue jays, who are relatively recent tenants. I enjoy just sitting and watching them, and listening for their songs.

 

[BarleyBop]

Last year we tried to make our downtown yard a bit more attractive to birds, so we set up the trinity of bird-feeding.
Safety (a berry shrub to hide and to perch), a bath and a feeder.

 

[Jim62]

Hey Jim, I'm no birder by any stretch of the imagination, but last year I installed an app from Cornell Lab... and it has greatly increased my enjoyment of our feathered friends.

It helps you identify by entering info, photos or sounds! As well as giving information about the bird, it helps you to create a Life list of birds that you've spotted.

I use my smart phone mostly for photos, so it is always on hand.

If you are interested, here is a link:
Merlin Bird

I was correct she was introduced to that app and it is cool. We were outside and it picks up the sounds of birds over our talking and birds we didn't even hear. Fantastic app.

 

[BarleyBop]

Yes, we were holidaying in Northern Québec and could hear a new bird somewhere off in the forest, and it turned out to be a Tennessee Warbler which breeds up there!
Knowing what to look for, we spotted it later on our hike.
Cheers!

 

[Tommergun]

Caught a Carolina Wren today.

 

[Tommergun]

Caught a Carolina Wren today.

APView attachment 146637

So I used the Merlin Bird AP which ID'd this as a Bewicks Wren. Sure enough! Pretty cool!

 

[BarleyBop]

Not a lot of wrens here, none in the city. Do they mostly skitter along the ground, like partridge and grouse?

 

[Tommergun]

Not a lot of wrens here, none in the city. Do they mostly skitter along the ground, like partridge and grouse?

This one was, looking for bugs.

 

[BarleyBop]

looking for bugs

Ah yes, much like programerius softwarius, quite common in these parts.

 

[Jim62]

So I used the Merlin Bird AP which ID'd this as a Bewicks Wren. Sure enough! Pretty cool!

We had it ID a carolina wren as well and man those things are loud and non stop.

 

[Tommergun]

Another Carolina Chickadee.

 

[BarleyBop]

Nice!
We have a couple of black capped chickadees who've been visiting the feeder since last fall.... one seed at a time! Then they fly off to return a while later.

 

[Jim62]

Nice!
We have a couple of black capped chickadees who've been visiting the feeder since last fall.... one seed at a time! Then they fly off to return a while later.

Those are permanent residents here. The Orioles have moved on. We were blessed with a large number this year and a two week stay. Been to busy the last couple of days to notice, but the Rose Breasted Grossbeaks have probably moved on as well.