Charlie Spencer

Do female RWBL of any age ever show red epaulets?

Details, please. Date, location, source of photo. I ask strictly for accuracy, but it's going take more than one very grainy photo to make a case for IBWO.

So can the heat pump, and the fireplace in the living room.

I agree with @aveschapinas, it's in your browser settings. See if you have cookies blocked for the site, or if the browser is clearing cookies.

I looked there before I posted here. For the SW region forum in general, and Somerset County in particular, there were only a few entries from 2022. For as diverse as that site is, it always seems like a ghost town.

I'm jealous! One day I'll be able to hit the southern coasts.

The kitchen window is as good a place to bird as any other, and more comfortable than most.

We'll be in Bath for several days in May. I've started tagging the expected May birds in my new 'RSPB Pocket Guide'. (They're called 'divers', not 'loons', by the way.) I've traded e-mails with the local RSPB chapter and will be joining them on one of their walks! I'll show them we can dip and misidentify and take blurry photos just as well in the States as they can! https://group.rspb.org.uk/bath/news-blogs/news/field-trips-2023/ Anybody birded the birthplace of our favorite activity? Any hints or tips specific to the region? Any cultural errors to avoid? Thanks!

@Kevin, how are you doing?

birdie 🦃 #256: 🟥🟥🟥🟥🟩⬛ https://birdiegame.net/

If the first one may not be a yellowlegs, what might it be?

birdie 🦃 #255: 🟥🟥🟥🟨🟩⬛ https://birdiegame.net/

>Body posture< is very useful with this one.

I expect most people have the same experience. For those that don't have any photos, y'all have a week to take some!

I hope everyone got their quackers posted. I get up early in the morning, and I don't see this one on my list, so ... European Starling!

birdie 🦅 #254: 🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ https://birdiegame.net/

Breast is to the left, head is turned back, only the base of the bill is visible, the rest of the bill is preening the back feathers. GISS says either Common or Red-breasted, esp. head and bill shapes, pale breast, rusty head.

Can we rule out Common Merganser?

@Birds are cool, there's parking at Ti Ti Road, just off Bennett's Point Road (A). There's a wetland adjacent to the parking, and a large pond across the road to the east, both with plenty of action. You can keep driving north on Ti Ti. The stretch from (B) to (C) is open or scrubby on either side. Keep an eye on the owl boxes on the right (D); you might see something peeking out! From C on, you'll have ponds and wetlands on either side. Stop where you want. Be aware there are no public bathrooms. I recall the last ones were west of US 17. There's no place to get food or drink either.

The comparison on AAB agrees with @gpoole

birdie 🦢 #253: 🟨🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛ https://birdiegame.net/ Blast it, I broke my string.

I didn't see anything critical in the responses but that's in the eye of the beholder. I usually try to have your back but if you don't want responses, consider venting somewhere other than a public forum. The mods can lock or delete this for you.

Then no 'buts'. I was in Houston in December, and saw a woodpecker. I initially thought it was a Red-bellied but the GISS was off. I did a bit of digging and found Golden-fronted weren't uncommon the next county over. I listed it and the reasons why I thought it wasn't a Red-bellied. The review contacted me later that day to say GFWO would be a first for Harris County, and he'd need better documentation to accept it. (He even offered to drive to the location himself if time permitted!) I replied the description was all I had, I had no photos, and marked up a screen shot showing the exact location if he has the time. I also said I understood completely why he couldn't accept it. I saw it, it's on my list, and I don't care if anyone else can see it. No 'buts'. I don't know how to determine how fast other people's IDs are accepted. It's never been something I've been interested in. I don't care what others have on their lists or what they have accepted. Your concerns are what I'm talking about when I say I don't care about my reputation. More specifically, I don't care about doing anything to build it. I try to not have any behaviors that may pull it down. If I wind up with a decent one as a result, fine; if not, it's not going to affect my enjoyment.

birdie 🦆 #252: 🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥 https://birdiegame.net/ Hey, two birds in a row I'm completely unfamiliar with!

25 spuhs and slashes. Here on the coastal plain, when a crow flies over and doesn't make a noise, there's no way to be more specific.