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Great blue heron that was absolutely terrorizing a flight of double-crested cormorants today in Tarpon Springs, FL

Planning our next trip to Malheur. These are by far the easiest bird ever to take a picture. Night hawks just sit there!!

Snail Kite by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr

Northern Gannet

Little Blue Heron High Island tx Little Blue Heron High Island tx 4-16 by johnd1964, on Flickr

It's always nice when you see a lifer and you actually get a decent photo of it. I just returned from two weeks down in the Yucatan, we often stay in a condo by the beach in Playacar, which is about 40 miles south of Cancun. We've been going there for years and I always walk the neighborhood looking for birds. These days I don't often pick up lifers in that area, just the usual native birds. I always check out this one small park as I often see several species of orioles there. On this trip I got a glimpse of this bird and initially thought it was an oriole, but as soon as I got a decent look at it I knew it was something different. I stalked it through the park for a while and finally got a few decent photos of the bird. At the time I thought it might be a Cacique, but I wasn't sure until I was able to check the guide. It is a Yellow-winged Cacique and going by the guide, it was pretty far out of its usual range. I saw it several times in that park, so for whatever reason it seems to be living there or close to it. Yellow-winged Cacique by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr

Surf scoters!

If that's a Bird of Prey, it's activated its cloaking device. Okay, that one will go past many (most?), but I'll live long and prosper for having posted it.

That's why I use a camera. The results are usually self explanatory!

Northern cal bird. This bird is very small, Lots of them flying around later afternoon in my backyard hanging upside down and every which way in the trees. Near a creek. A few days ago.

FINALLY.

Yes, it's a squirrel, an Eastern Gray Squirrel, to be exact.

I agree with young Red-shouldered. The contrasting barring on the secondaries rules out Broad-winged.

Thanks, everyone. @Bee_ keeper--Heavens, no, you are not assuming too much--I am still learning! Yes, that is why I thought female. The bird just looked so drab.

Yes. If anyone decides to go for the ISJ, go to Prisoner's Harbor. I had several encounters and everyone I spoke to said that it is basically a for sure thing at this location.

I agree with Baltimore Oriole. Western Tanagers don't have orange breasts.

Floraphile, my apologies if I'm assuming too much, but perhaps you've suspected it to be female because it doesn't have the sharp colors of a male Yellow-rumped in breeding plumage. This will come as the spring approaches (if it's indeed a male). During winter they are more nondescript.

I agree, Yellow-rumped Warbler. And I agree with akiley, not sure if you can tell the sex by this photo alone. Could be a 1st winter male. And I also agree with The Bird Nuts, it does seem to show some yellow coming in on its head which would point to male.

I agree with Yellow-rumped. Doesn't the yellow patch on its head make it a male?

Yes, although not 100% sure of sex from this photo

You have 3 Great Black-backed, and the rest are Herrings. 2 adults, and a first cycle hiding behind 2 adult Herrings on the left in the 1st photo.

Female American Wigeon

I think the value of the tools depends on how you use them. I run almost every picture I am investigating through Merlin for two reasons. 1) it is a data point like any other and 2) more important, it gives a noob like me a starting point, including several alternatives. I like seeing the alternatives because it helps keep me from being tunnel visioned. I get the same benefit from Allaboutbirds and birdsna "similar species" lists (which I look at every time). But I never, never take Merlin's pick as gospel. As Akiley noted, it is incorrect a lot although it does usually get the correct bird somewhere in the list of alternatives. I research every bird in birdsna and Allaboutbirds and often in one of several hardback books. Since I am a noob, I'm probably spending 30-60 minutes per bird (which is why I am still going through pictures from my mega-trip last summer ?).

Awesome shot, Ron!!!

Rant was the wrong word. I actually did give detailed comments on why I believe it’s bad for learning. In short, it a) Is wrong more often that it should be, and b) Provides nothing from a learning aspect. It’s like getting the answers for a school assignment without actually doing and learning or work. Field guides are the way to go to teach the observed about field marks, variation in age/sex, aging, subspecies, and gaining overall experience. iBird and Merlin just spit out an answer that there’s no reasoning why or proof that it’s correct.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Wallowa County, Oregon

Sandhill Cranes

Hooded Mergansers

I wish this forum had some more general areas for discussion as I think this would be something good to write on(from a non-ranting strategy, of course) :) This reminds me(please pardon this comparison) of people being led astray in many places... politics, and religion, and more. For instance, people that go to church might hear something and assume it's true without checking what the bible says. (again, please pardon the comparison) Don't get me started on news headlines and how quickly people read, react, and never actually learn the truth... It's ALWAYS wise to double check everything. :) I think these apps can be helpful but it would always be good to then check out a guide or other sources to confirm on your own. I mean, in all honesty you can't even trust every response you'll get here as people make these mistakes as well. So whether it's an app or a response here, it's always good to double check and get second opinions. :) I think IF used wisely these tools can help some people learn... in the meantime, I'll say again, this is just funny to me. :) It's funny when people see different things sometimes as well... but 99% two different birds... I just have to laugh.

Funny thing. I ran both photos through photo sleuth to see what it thinks...99% on photo 1 it’s a Say’s Phoebe....99% on photo 2 that it’s a Vermillion!!!! How’s that for confirmation?!?!? ???‍♂️??

One of my favorite critters is the American Pika. They are not especially easy to find because they live in alpine talus fields above the treeline. I've only seen or heard them on higher altitude mountain hikes. Usually you hear them first (they make a loud "eep" call). They are speedy so even if you hear one, it isn't always easy to get its picture. Believe it or not, all of these pictures were taken with an old, small (but decent quality) pocket sized camera I carry on long hikes. First two pictures were taken at Grand Teton National Park, WY on the Cascade Canyon Trail in 2010. The pika popped out less than 10 feet away from me. I had stopped and was taking pictures of the mountains so I had my camera ready. The third picture was taken at about 50 feet on the Stanley Glacier Trail in Kooteney National Park, AB on Aug 25, 2018.

Altamira Oriole by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr

Okay, that's just cold-blooded.

Lola says "Come on lad, give a girl a kiss." Lola is of distinguished descent from a long line of pedigreed bouvier des flandres champions. I do however draw the line when it comes to smooching bearded females who have been known to drink out of the toilet!

Congrats and beautiful photo!!

This were taken on MLK day here in San Antonio at Lackland AFB. Typically, don't work on the holidays, but decided to work this day since it was a flex holiday and I could use the hours this Friday to watch my son swim in District Championships. Since there wasn't going to be very many people at work, I decided to take my camera along for when I would go out for a break. From the break area, I saw perched in a small scrub pine this bird. It was across a rolling field so couldn't see it very well, even with my lens. So I started across the field. I was able to slowly come up over one of the small hills in the field and get within 15 yrds of this fellow, and got some great shots. Being new to birding, I feel very fortunate to have gotten these.

"WARNING"

A productive whirlwind trip to South Georgia. (got a few other neat birds to, that were on the rare side, but they weren't lifers!) Sandhill Cranes by midgetinvasion, on Flickr Vermillion Flycatcher by midgetinvasion, on Flickr Limpkin by midgetinvasion, on Flickr

This was my first ABA lifer in over a year. I didn't have a single ABA lifer in all of 2018! Red-flanked Bluetail by mattag2002, on Flickr