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MN, 6-10-19. Hooded Merganser and some of the chicks :

This is the fourth year that scissortail flycatchers have nested in our Oak tree. Here are a couple of pics I took this morning of them feeding the babies in the nest.

Thanks pop, Happy Dad's Day!

From this week--a couple of King Rails, Phinizy Swamp and Nature Park, Augusta, GA.

Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor), male by hbvol50, on Flickr

Atlantic Puffin, taken 6/12/19 at Machias Seal Island, about 10 miles SE of Cutler, ME. If you want to photograph Atlantic Puffins, this is the place to go. I used Bold Coast Charters. They start taking reservations in early January. Book early if you are interested. Space is limited. I believe they were totally booked before the end of the month. You will also see Razorbills, Common Terns, Arctic Terns, possibly Northern Gannets and a few other species. Note, I went in early June. You may also see some seals.

I've mostly got settled after moving - I got this eastern kingbird on a quick trip to town. Retirement has it's advantages but I haven't had time to find them yet!

Horned Lark. Wasco County, Oregon

I've been seeing Grey Catbirds around my property for years, but never got the chance to take decent pictures of them. This year I set myself the challenge to do just that. I know there is a tree in my back yard that they like to nest in and I also noticed that they like to feed on those red berries, not sure what they're called. So I set up a little twig from that bush fairly close to the tree in my back yard and waited with my camera. While being out observing and waiting for the birds, I also noticed more catbirds in the bushes right behind my "trap". There must be a lot more catbirds around than I first anticipated. Well, after a couple evenings, I finally got the shot: Please feel free to comment!

MN. 6-16-19 It seems like I get to see these guys about once a year, and it somewhat startles me at first. I figured I'd ask what planet he came from but I figure he'd just say their kind just taps into a worm hole, or something - but I don't know that much about space travel, so I just drop it. Looks kind of new somehow.

It’s a Verdin, no doubt.

There has been a Hummingbird near my house every year but this is a 1st for me! Every night when I came home a bird would zoom out from under the eaves near the door. Then a few nights ago my man friend says hey there is a Hummingbird stuck up in the corner under the eaves. He said he turned out the front light so maybe it would calm and find its way out. We brain stormed as to why it might be there, roosting, catching bugs, but we never thought it would be nesting... Not only nesting but doing it on the TOP OF A WINDCHIME!!! .. We are to excited!!! There are 2 eggs!! Silly girl!!! What other crazy places have folks found nests?

The last bird is a Purple Martin.

Well, ya learn something everyday on here. Most of the time it’s not geography. Can the world really stand another Philadelphia. 😄

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) by hbvol50, on Flickr

Bittern

17 lifers today including Montezuma Quail, Red-faced and Olive Warblers, Rivoli’s Hummingbird, and my ABA #500 Lesser Nighthawk.

Big yawn

Green Heron

Blue Heron Fort Worth botanical gardens

Lewis's woodpecker

I respect your decision since I have never seen a Verdin myself. However, the only other bird that it resembles, in my opinion, is the Bushtit, but the Bushtit does not have a yellow mandible. With a yellow mandible, sharp beak, and overall gray body I am thinking that this is a juvenile Verdin. Is there a particular reason why you do not think it is a juvenile Verdin, @Dave?

Cool, thanks guys! This one has been breeding in one of my window flower trays and the young one came out for the first time yesterday!

These are my best guesses: Juvenile Verdin Northern Mockingbird

This little bird is a sparrow or a thrush? Looks like a sparrow but behaves like a thrush. Tail up hopping around on shore line. Photographed today in mountains along Brookside, late morning. Northern California. Thanks

Thanks everyone! It is good to be back. I used to be on Whatbird as David Case during the pre-crash days. Now I'm back as the same old me with a less formal handle - Dave Case. It's been a long time since I last posted and a long time since I got a lifer photo, so thanks for the confirms!

MN. Warbling Vireo

And because of having to become familiar with the call of this bird, I nabbed a county-lifer Prairie Warbler yesterday.

Short Eared Owl over the marsh

That's understandable. I'd probably resent being a PA native too.

Hey... what do ya know, Merlin was correct this time!

Baby birds are just too cute... Clark's Nutcracker and Black-billed Magpie:

Is it okay if I'm jealous of spending a week in south FL and two more in the southwest?

While looking for birds, saw this guy fly by and land in the prairie grass... Virginia Ctenucha - DuPage Co., IL

Just sharing. My daughters and I were strolling on Jekyll Island here in Georgia yesterday. A park ranger caught our attention and showed us the plover chicks. They had hatched just the day before! Cute little buggers. I could not get close enough for decent pictures, but at least you can get an idea. Wilson's Plover parent and chick by midgetinvasion, on Flickr Plover adult and chicks by midgetinvasion, on Flickr One day old Wilson's Plover by midgetinvasion, on Flickr

Mississippi Kite - across the street from my house Red Tail Hawk - Backyard

Oprey

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker raiding the Oriole's oranges

Avocet on it's nest

Painted Bunting Painted Bunting Ft Worth Nature Center 5-18 by johnd1964, on Flickr

Remember bird names are often misleading. 'Orchard' probably indicates that's where an early colonial naturalist saw one for the first time, so he decided to name it that. If he'd arrived fifteen minutes later, he might have called it a Grove Oriole. if he'd focused on the bird instead of the location, he might have called it a Crimson Blackbird. Most oriole species will eat fruit and can be found in orchards, and they can be found elsewhere eating other things too. See also any warbler with a state name as part of its name

Try not to bring back topics from months ago.

I usually notice your mistakes much faster than that.

@The Bird Nuts @Sean C Thank you both! I believe you are correct. I have seen a leucistic deer, so I don't know why it didn't occur to me that birds could be leucistic as well. However, I had never seen one until now. I am 51 years old and have lived here my entire life--always been an outdoorsy kind of gal--and even the leucistic deer was something I hadn't seen until just last year. I love that there is always something new to see and learn.

Local reviewers aren't the only ones who can flag misidentified birds and it's not only the rare birds for the area and high counts that are flagged for review. "Power users" (I am one of them) can flag any misidentified bird we find while browsing photos or audio; those reports then go to the local reviewer.

Northern Flicker maybe?

I was torn between Clay-colored and Brewer's, but I think the streaks on the nape mean Brewer's. Song would have dark streaks on the breast. Edit-apparently was posting at the same time as Melierax!