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Golden-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet by Johnny, on Flickr

BBC Sphnix Moth 11-8-2018; Avondale, Arizona. Sphnix Moth by R. Tompkins, on Flickr

Looks like a Horned Grebe. The duck is a Mallard. Might have some domestic genes or just a weird bird. There are lots of weird Mallards, domestic or not ?

Wet birds can be difficult or impossible to sort out. Here the bird in the first two photo is fairly legible. With the heavily streaked breast, fine, dark, slightly decurved bill, short wing bar/patch it is your Cape May. The bird in the second set of photos is more of a challenge but it still looks good for your Blackpoll. The orange feet of a Blackpoll aren't visible in these shots but that is a good mark to look for. The coloring looks good along with the fine streaking on the upper back. The bill is shorter and more blunt that on the Cape May.

I added a little to this piece every evening until there was no more room on the paper.

Trying to hold on to an angry dinner

Male Rose-ringed Parakeet seen feeding in a baobab tree:

Thanks Hamrhead! Your comments will help me better ID in the future!

Now that you mention it…wild birds have a large white wing patch I believe. So with this one being nearly all black, 100% domestic.

Hanging out near Austin tx and got a few lifers today. Canyon wren Spotted towhee Lincolns sparrow

Do another 15 or 20 like that and you could publish an adult coloring book for birders ?

Hawk Aransas NWR 10-18

Young cooper

Jabird - thanks so much for your kind comments. I saw some beautiful Kiskadee's on a recent trip to Mexico . Can't imagine them being in Ontario. So pretty! M.A.

I had purple finches all the time when I lived in PA but I do not think I have seen one since I have moved back to Alabama. They are quite a bit more colorful than my resident House Finches. Perhaps I will see one again sometime. I think they do come to Alabama but in fewer numbers than other states. I should start seeing some white-throated sparrows within the next month. Not many Juncos... just a handful. My bluebirds have shown back up. I do not know where they went from August to October?

Anna's Hummingbird, yesterday in Alameda, CA. Anna's Hummingbird 6 by Mark Featherstone, on Flickr

Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler by Johnny, on Flickr

This has been one of the better fall migrations, in my LI backyard at least. Lots of birds this year that normally don't show up, like Chipping Sparrows, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat. Major highlights have been: 1. Brown Thrasher 2. Flock of Cedar Waxwings 3. And biggest thrill of all - this adorable little group of Purple Finches has been hanging around for the past week. Seeing (and observing) them for the first time ever, I can see just how distinctive they are from House Finches. They are beautiful birds! When I think of how much time I've spent scanning drab flocks of House Finches hoping for a Purple, not realizing what to even be looking for... 1 2 3

Sabine Pass, Tx

Surf's up Aransas Pass, Tx

A Visitor to the jobsite trailer Coyote Elk and buffalo at Land Between the Lakes, KY Deer Metropolis, IL

Mermit Il

Thanks!!