Friday Night Photos Avian Edition

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
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Male Northern Shoveler
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Male Gadwall
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Male Northern Pintail
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Male Nuttall's Woodpecker
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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!

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Socialprogressive's picture

@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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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

janis b's picture

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

Passing moments of light ...

Enjoy the weekend all

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mimi's picture

@janis b

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janis b's picture

@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.

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mimi's picture

@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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Socialprogressive's picture

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

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

janis b's picture

@Socialprogressive

Your birding day looked perfectly clear.

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dystopian's picture

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

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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

Bollox Ref's picture

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.

janis b's picture

@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?

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Bollox Ref's picture

@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.

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Socialprogressive's picture

@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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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

Bollox Ref's picture

@Socialprogressive

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

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

janis b's picture

Socialprogressive's picture

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

dystopian's picture

@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.

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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

Sima's picture

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 Smile
warkwortharcherslot_sml.JPG

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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

janis b's picture

@Sima

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

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Socialprogressive's picture

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

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

The Liberal Moonbat's picture

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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!

janis b's picture

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The Liberal Moonbat's picture

@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!

Socialprogressive's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

Socialprogressive's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat
Great stuff. Love the duck.

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

zed2's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat

I can't find the whole segment.

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dystopian's picture

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'. Wink

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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

Socialprogressive's picture

@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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2 users have voted.

When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

dystopian's picture

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

Green Jay
grnjay112220d_0.jpg

American Redstart
AmRedst050321a_0.jpg

American Goldfinch
amgo041818b1.jpg

Indigo Bunting
inbu042719a.jpg

Painted Bunting
pb070218b.jpg

Baltimore Oriole - female or immature
baor091620a_0.jpg

Purple Martin
puma0715b_0.jpg

Northern Cardinal
card021521a.jpg

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!

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9 users have voted.

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

Socialprogressive's picture

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

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6 users have voted.

When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

janis b's picture

@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]

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dystopian's picture

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

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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

mimi's picture

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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Socialprogressive's picture

@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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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

mimi's picture

@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. Wink

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

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zed2's picture

@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.

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