Friday Night Photos Birdland Edition

Welcome to Friday Night Photos everyone. Your once a week break from the daily madness of the crazy world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music, or whatever else you find of interest that helps you escape the madness.

It took awhile but the out of towners finally showed up for the winter. Usually the migratory birds start to show up in October and November. This year most didn't show up until the last two weeks. On Monday I put a long lens on the camera and met up with the usual suspects (bird photographers) at Santee Lakes to do a little bird photography.

Male Phainopepla
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Snowy Egret
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Male Acorn Woodpecker
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Female Ring-necked Duck
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Snowy Egret
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Male Belted Kingfisher
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Adult Western Grebe
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Great Egret
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Canada Goose
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Snowy Egret
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Male Mallard
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Great Egret with a Male Northern Shoveler hiding in the reeds
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Comments

janis b's picture

The clarity of your photos show such interesting characteristics.

I love the posture you caught of the woodpecker. Maybe the reason the woodpeckers showed up late this year, was because the oaks they lived among created an abundance of acorns that the woodpeckers were able to store longer?

The photo also made me wonder why they have such a bold red spot on their heads. Are there other reasons beside for mating purposes to be so bold. I read the following and thought they must be bully-like birds.

Both males and females perform aggressive bobbing displays by pointing their heads forward, drooping their wings, and holding their tails up at an angle. They are territorial during the breeding season and often aggressive and solitary during the winter. Red-headed Woodpeckers are quick to pick fights with many other bird species, including the pushy European Starling and the much bigger Pileated Woodpecker.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/lifehistory

Thanks for all that your Friday nights inspire.

Couldn't help but immediately hear this in my head after reading 'birdland'...

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b
This shot of a female Acorn Woodpecker and European Starling confirms the block quote from all about birds.

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Nice Weather Report selection.

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

janis b's picture

@Socialprogressive

to have captured the scene perfectly. I think I remember seeing this photo of yours before and thinking how beautifully dynamic a photo. Thank you.

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b
I posted that shot in January.

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

janis b's picture

@Socialprogressive

that is any good ; ).

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QMS's picture

@janis b
this was one of my favorite tunes
way back when I lived in AZ.
Thanks for reigniting the flame.
Was a theme song for some underground
Phoenix FM station which I got up in the mountains.

Real-Phoenix-Bird-1-1773530521.jpg
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question everything

janis b's picture

@QMS

I'm glad you could relive nice memories through this great musical piece.

I haven't seen the golden pheasant yet, but I just heard two days ago that it was in the neighbourhood!

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orlbucfan's picture

@janis b Hey jb, here's another great version of that iconic tune.

Outasite bird pics, Sp and QMS! Smile

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

QMS's picture

@orlbucfan
Thanks for playing it for us.
Bird is cooked
fun

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question everything

Socialprogressive's picture

@QMS
I don't know what type of bird that is but it sure is beautiful.

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

QMS's picture

@Socialprogressive
it is known as a Phoenix
although Janis calls it a golden pheasant
so I neither know, it went with Birdland tho.
Thanks for the birdie pics!

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question everything

Socialprogressive's picture

@QMS
It is a Golden Pheasant. Native to western China with feral populations scattered around the world.

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

QMS's picture

@Socialprogressive
.
.
not sure where the Phoenix nomenclature arrived in the mix
obviously not from the ancient Greeks
firebirds

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4 users have voted.

question everything

janis b's picture

I hope you're enjoying your holidays.

Not meant to be a downer, but It's too bad that the spirit of sharing our humanity doesn't shine as brightly all the year.

An interior/exterior photo ...

Be well and enjoy the weekend

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b
Beautiful photo. Very creative. The window reflections on what appears to be stone add a nice touch of interest. I agree, it would be great if we did a better job of sharing our humanity.

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

janis b's picture

@Socialprogressive

I think this photo might be one of my favourites in a while. I like the colours and patterns, and the combined light of indoors and outdoors.

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dystopian's picture

@janis b Hey J!

Great photograph! Very cool, very neat, and very greative. Love yer eye for such.

A wonderful image.

thanks!

be well!

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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

Hardest pics evah are birds. Easiest are sloths, just sayin'...

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Socialprogressive's picture

@on the cusp
Speaking from experience, photographing birds is definitely a challenge. I can't speak to photographing sloths. I've never seen one so I'll take your word that they're easy to photograph.

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

to photograph."

@Socialprogressive

Here is one that is all spruced up.

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Socialprogressive's picture

@humphrey
Now that's what I call one styling sloth.

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

orlbucfan's picture

with cameras is beyond amazing to us who don't have the talent. Hope everyone is enjoying a decent, safe, and peaceful Holiday Season! Rec'd!!

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4 users have voted.

Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Socialprogressive's picture

@orlbucfan
Thanks for the compliment from all the FNP photo posters.
Hope you're having a wonderful holiday on the sandbar peninsula.

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

dystopian's picture

Hi SP,

Outstanding photos man! GREAT work!

Who could not love a male Phainopepla? What a gorgeious Silky-Flycatcher those males are. I probably mentioned it but color-banding showed the birds breeding in Borrego and Salton Sink and Mojave areas nest in the desert spring, Feb., March, and April, sometimes to early May. Then they migrate west into the coast ranges of California and nest in the live-oak grassland spring in May, June and July. For those unaware, they are silky-flycatchers, insectivores in bug season, and frugivores in winter when no bugs around. And are especially tied to Mesquites with Mistletoes, of which they eat the berries.

Awesome shots SP!

Sorry I missed yesterday...

happy trails!

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5 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
Thanks for the info on the Phainopepla.
No problem missing last night. Everybody gets one miss. But if you miss again you will get a black mark on your permanent c99 record.

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