sbutk

Haha. Yeah, I just tend to get "bored" seeing the same feeder birds over and over again. I love hawkwatches in the fall, so I guess my eyes just naturally go upward. Saw something *quite* interesting this afternoon. Unfortunately it zoomed off beyond the trees so fast, my Autofocus never had a chance. ...Anyway, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if species is next to impossible with this one. Looks like an falcon to me, but I don't think I'd venture beyond that.

OK, but what about *this* one? (Please don't tell me I can be a sucker 2 days in a row, haha!) P2760790e1 by sbutk, on Flickr

Really surprising, since up close on the ground, pigeons seem totally different in terms of shape.

Good, now I don't feel like SO much of an idiot. Haha. 😁

Same here. Thanks, everyone!

You might be right, can't be sure with the lag.

Really? Wow, I sure didn't get that impression. But yeah, the distant shot doesn't help. It went by in the blink of an eye, so I didn't have time to zoom and this pic is heavily cropped already.

Hi, Can anyone help ID this small, extremely quick raptor (I’m making that assumption.) It was flapping constantly (not the flap-flap-flap-glide pattern of a Sharpie). Makes me think it might have been a Kestrel or Merlin, but I’d certainly be interested in anyone’s thoughs. Photo is from today in northern NJ. P2760565e1 by sbutk, on Flickr Thanks! -Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… ***

Thanks! ...I think you might've just established a new record for response time on this forum; I'd swear that was under 30 seconds from me hitting enter! Heh.

Hi, Can anyone help ID this small bird that I came across, hiding in the bushes at my local pond? Photo is from today in northern NJ. P2760649 by sbutk, on Flickr P2760648 by sbutk, on Flickr Thanks! -Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… ***

Yeah, sorry; I had to edit the full-length video to cut out discussion. Thank you both for your replies!

Anybody, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that Yellowlegs *are* actually Sandpipers ...or of the same family, at least. Otherwise, great information in this discussion; I certainly learned a thing or two, when it comes to IDs. ...Oh, and GREAT photos, too! 👍

Can anyone help identify this sound that I recorded yesterday afternoon at Liberty Marsh (Wallkill River NWR, border of NY-NJ). Since I could not find the source of this chorus, I’m not sure whether they might be birds, insects, frogs… As always, thanks for any/all suggestions, comments, and opinions. -Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… ***

Very good points. Thanks - to you, and to everyone - for contributing! Stay well... 😀

Can any of my fellow birders out there with perhaps more experience help me make judgement calls on IDs for this set of photos? All are from the Sandy Hook (NJ) area, from Leap Day of this year… Photo 1 is from the Conaskonk Point area (near Union Beach) and is apparently as Osprey. …Or is it? Along with the other birders in my group, I am now questioning whether this was in fact a real bird, or whether it might be a decoy. It did not move one muscle (or feather) in the entire 5 minutes we were watching. It looks to be precariously perched toward the back of the post that it’s sitting on. And finally, from eBird I see that it’s somewhat rare to spot that species in that area so early in the year. Your thoughts? Have I been duped? P2690611e by sbutk, on Flickr Photo 2 is of a small passerine in Gateway National Recreation Area that unfortunately required significant editing (lightening) to be able to discern any remarkable features. I have to say I’m unfamiliar with this bird that appears to have a light underside with darker streaking. P2690780e by sbutk, on Flickr Photos 3 through 5 show a curious set of sea birds off the northernmost point of the Sandy Hook peninsula. When I originally shot the photos, I’d assumed they were “just” more gulls. However, when examining my downloaded shots – I’ll apologize for them being highly-zoomed handheld shots, contributing to their graininess and blur - they seem to be fairly good matches for Northern Gannets …(Hopefully it’s not just a case of me “seeing what I *want* to see”, haha.) P2700491e by sbutk, on Flickr P2700497e by sbutk, on Flickr P2700499e by sbutk, on Flickr As always, I’d appreciate any help/opinions/comments anyone is willing to provide. ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… *** -Steve