Leaderboard

Thanks! I had discounted that prematurely. Squinting at it again, the appearance *is* a good match, and, of course the behavior is a much better match than for Empidonax. Yes! My wife and I got there quite late, but in time for it to be refound one last time. Was visible for just maybe a minute or two, chomping down some large insect. I got lucky and managed some decent snaps given the circumstances:

I don’t love asking for ratings, but I’d appreciate them on these two from today. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609238956 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609238965

These should be returning to my yard any day now.

From today. This is my only clearly identifiable shot of one, they are always hiding in brush!

One of my best photos ever. Ratings appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609187142

The one day I don't have my camera, someone finds a Great Horned Owl just off campus! I was surprised how well the phone/binocular pair worked out!

Magnolia Warbler.

Top photo is a bay breasted bottom is a yellow warbler, Tom

Tennessee warbler.

It’s a Tennessee. Orange-crowned have yellow undertail coverts, like a Palm Warbler, while Tennessees have white (which your photo shows). Hope that helps! As for the face, depending on the age/time of year, Tennessees are highly variable. They can be very greenish-yellow overall.

American Redstart: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609141411

Downy Woodpecker

Long tail, pointed wings. It kind of strikes me as a Merlin or Kestrel, leaning Merlin. Definitely something from the genus Falco.

Cooper's Hawk. From this angle you can see that the tail feathers are different lengths, with the outer tail feathers being the shorter ones. Sharpies tail feathers would all be the same length.

Oh, never heard that terminology before. The only thing that it fit for me was a president, which I was pretty sure wasn't the reference!

I have seen this species very few times. Four times I think, 3 in Colorado and once in Florida. Thus I have few photos but still the choice was tough as I have one really good old photo and one good more recent. I went with the more recent.

WOW! Those are Hooded Mergansers, and that group is at least three times larger then the largest group that I've ever seen.

Northern Waterthrush

All Palm Warblers.

Black-throated Blue Warbler in a local park in Maryland.

Third is an Eastern Phoebe. I agree with the rest of the IDs.

Southern NJ today

Yellow Warbler

I'm locking this thread before it goes in the wrong direction, although so far it has remained civil and polite. Users come here to ask for an ID because they respect the other users here as being knowledgeable about birds, this doesn't mean they have to except the ID though. Give your reasons and if your very sure recommend the poster only count it on his/her private lists and leave it as an sp or / on eBird or similar sites, then let it go. If the poster isn't convinced by your reasoning continuing to discuses it is most likely going nowhere.

Back and white warbler Tennessee Warbler Painted Redstart Red-breasted Nuthatch. They’re having a crazy irruption year! Cattle Egret

I like this one from my back yard. April, 2022

I don't have many pics of these

Yes, Hermit Thrush with the reddish wings.

I have a massive backlog since I've been busy with accelerated high school, but last week I participated in my first birding competition! It was the first time the Barrens Birding Blitz was held, with teams birding across the local Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Altogether 101 species were recorded during the competition. Species had to be confirmed by at least two members of the group and teams were required to stay together- pretty standard competition rules I think. My team came in first place with 60 species, and our names will be engraved on the Barrens Blitz trophy cup! We also saw the highest number of warbler species. I got this trophy to take home: I had good looks (although not great photos) of two lifers that I got there- #309 Merlin and #310 Wilson's Warbler! I'll upload the rest of the pictures tomorrow hopefully

Blackburnian.

This is one of those yellow warblers that happens to be a Yellow Warbler, I think.

Wilson’s.

Strikes me as an Osprey

American Redstart, that tail pattern is diagnostic

Brown-headed Cowbird

Yes

It’s got what looks like smudges on the undertail coverts, which points to Blue Grosbeak. Also the size difference with the sparrow/bunting on the lower right.

Least Sandpiper with the yellow legs.

It's a Wood-Pewee. Did you get the Golden-winged Warbler? I was following all the reports of that bird pretty closely. Great bird anywhere in the state!!!

Blackpoll Warbler Prothonotary Warbler

I think they’re both wood pewee