Friday Night Photos Avian Edition

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 5:00pm

Happy Friday everyone. As always, post any photos you like.

I took these about ten days ago at Santee Lakes. I'd never seen the Northern Pintail before. I did't know what it was. I had to look it up.

Male Belted Kingfisher

Male Northern Shoveler

Male Gadwall

Male Northern Pintail

Male Nuttall's Woodpecker

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Comments

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 5:44pm

I like gypsy music

and your avian photo captures -- nice shots

birds have fascinating features which are fun to watch
our birds are very voracious as of late
filling the feeders 2x/day
a couple died - red finch on the sunflower seeder
and a robin from unknown causes
kinda sad, but since we have hundreds of birds visiting
every day, probably not out of bounds

thanks for hosting!

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:49pm

Hi, QMS

@QMS
I have not found any dead birds yet, but I do get a lot of window strikes and I did find a whole lot of feathers scattered on my patio on morning recently. I'm guessing a hawk got a bird at one of the feeders.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:07pm

Hi Social

Great bird's eye views. You and other birders must have lots of patience. Thank you.

Passing moments of light ...

Enjoy the weekend all

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:41pm

those moments of light give a lot of hope, right? /nt

@janis b

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Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:56pm

Hi mimi

@mimi

They are definitely moments that continue to surprise me in such pleasant and hopeful ways.

I’m feeling a bit rain weary and it’s not even autumn yet. The weather here the past few weeks has been very unusual. The combination of humidity from rain saturation and high heat is reminiscent of walking out the door of the air-conditioned airport in Florida to the thick, almost impenetrable wall of moisture. Until this time I could always say in confidence to Kiwis, that you have no idea what real humidity is. Some, who have travelled to Fiji and other destinations of high humidity would have known what I meant. Auckland seems to be becoming more and more tropical. I prefer a more temperate climate, but I’m not sure the climate is in good temperament.

I am though eternally grateful for the beauty that surrounds me and the hope it instills.

Feel well and stay strong, mimi.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 6:31am

thank you, I will stay as strong as I can be ...

@janis b
and I really have forgotten how humid, hot, and tropical weather feels like.

We are tip-toe-ing here around freezing point and slightly above it.

All the best to you.

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Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:58pm

Hi, Janis

@janis b
Nice shots. The break in the clouds created a nice spotlight.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:05pm

Thanks Social

@Socialprogressive

Your birding day looked perfectly clear.

Submitted by dystopian on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 9:11am

beautiful photos Janis!

@janis b I love your spot of light Janis! Great photos. A wonderful dance of light.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 6:37pm

Thanks for hosting SP

Much avian goodness. I seem to remember that one of those kingfishers found itself in the UK recently. Made the papers.

Here's a swan family in the grounds of the grand ducal castle in Schwerin, Mecklenburg.

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:02pm

Hi Bollox

@Bollox Ref

Mama swan looks like she's taking a power nap while all are safe in the shade of greenery.

How are you faring through deep winter?

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:52pm

Hey Janis

@janis b

Very tired of winter. We planned to travel today, but freezing rain and falling temps made roads dangerous, so no go. Looking forward to March.

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:11pm

Hi, BR

@Bollox Ref
Nice shot of the swans.
I have not seen anything about a Kingfisher making it to the UK, but if one did, WOW! That's a long way to fly.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:53pm

Belted Kingfisher in UK....

@Socialprogressive

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/05/rare-kingfisher-sigh...

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 8:03pm

Blowing in the wind

@Bollox Ref

What a ride that must have been.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 8:36pm

Thanks for the link, BR

@Bollox Ref

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:15pm

@Bollox Ref Neat pic BR! I heard

@Bollox Ref Neat pic BR! I heard about that Belted Kingfisher in the U.K. this winter. A huge 'twitch' for the twitchers. I think the 6th U.K. record. There is an American Robin there right now, just found this week. They had a Varied Thrush there last fall, a western U.S. species, and one of the prettiest thrushes. Our common birds are their mega-rarities. The southwest corner Isles catch the most of them.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:15pm

Finally started looking through my pics...

This is kinda striking, I think, in several meanings of the word! This is taken through an archer's slot in an old ruined castle. It was almost 20 years ago, at Warkworth Castle in Northumberland, England. There's probably some birds out there in the meadow, too

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If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:55pm

Hi Sima

@Sima

That is a striking image of perfect symmetry and form. Thank you.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 7:57pm

Evening, Sima

@Sima
Nice shot from Warkworth Castle.
I bet an archer felt almost invincible firing on enemy invaders from behind those walls.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by The Liberal Moonbat on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 9:06pm

Things That Fly? Okay.

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 9:04pm

The duck outside the airplane window! n/t

@The Liberal Moonbat

Submitted by The Liberal Moonbat on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 9:08pm

Been meaning to ask...

@janis b ...what does "n/t" mean?

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 9:22pm

n/t = no text

@The Liberal Moonbat

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 9:21pm

Thanks, Moonbat

@The Liberal Moonbat
Great stuff. Love the duck.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by zed2 on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 10:11am

Anybody recognize this?

@The Liberal Moonbat

I can't find the whole segment.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:07pm

great pix SP!

Awesome photos SP! Love your Shoveler in flight. Birds in flight are the best. Surely one of the most challenging types of photography. Love that Gabor Szabo Gypsy Queen. Makes me wonder if he was credited on the original Abraxas by Carlos? The official song title there was Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen. I actually play a more raucous version of Gypsy Queen than Carlos'.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 11:21pm

Thank you, dystopian

@dystopian
I think copy write laws would require Carlos to give attribution to Gabor Szabo for writing Gypsy Queen, just as he would have to give attribution to Peter Green for writing Black Magic Woman.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:43pm

Avian huh?

What kind of nerds go take pix of things avian? Here are some aves. Sticking with songbirds. Probably posted most of these before...

Green Jay

American Redstart

American Goldfinch

Indigo Bunting

Painted Bunting

Baltimore Oriole - female or immature

Purple Martin

Northern Cardinal

Hope all are doing well. If not, go see some things avian. They always make me feel better. Surely a local park or woods has some.

be well all!

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:55pm

Very nice variety of birds, dystopian

@dystopian
Even if you posted these before, they're worth looking at again.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 11:09pm

Hi dystopian

@dystopian

I think I'll take some time after dinner to listen to their songs. I might recognise a couple tunes from forever ago.

[video:https://youtu.be/6LDjUZlZlDo]

Submitted by dystopian on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 9:14am

thanks J

@janis b thanks Janis, and thanks for the great tune. Beautiful.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 6:41am

i think the Male Gadwall is the cutest

Wen I have built my private pond, can I get him to live with me?

Thanks for all the great pics and jokes. Feels as if all is back to normal again in CP99-landia.

Stay well, all.

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Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 10:00am

Hi, Mimi

@mimi
The Gadwall said he would be willing to relocate to your pond in Germany as long as there's plenty of beer and bratwust.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 12:30pm

oh, that's then a 'no go', but I will think about something

@Socialprogressive
more tasty than beer and bratwurst. You USian have such bad taste butts /s

Tale some Sauerkraut with it and take it to your pond.

No offense, I ams os bored, all thst war talk gets on my nerves.

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Submitted by zed2 on Sat, 02/12/2022 - 10:01am

I love birds,

@mimi

Especially parrots, whom I have always had a great time with. Like dogs they are very social and feel like family.

They are also warm, which helps. They like to cuddle.