A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 What birds did you see today?

I saw Cardinals, Eastern bluebirds, Chickadees,
Goldfinches, a Heron flying over, Chimney Swift
(I think, or it was a bat!), Nuthatches, RH
Woodpecker and Doves and the one Hummer who is
still gracing me with its presence:)

They tried to change the rose-Breasted Grosbeak to, "Red-Breasted Grosbeak", but the outcry was SOOOO great that they left the original name. I was very glad that they did. In the case of the Solitary Vireo changing the name to , "Blue-Headed Vireo", did not upset most of us too much. Most of us could never understand why this bird was "Solitary", but its head is VERY obviously blue, so the new name makes more sense and, IN THIS CASE, was a wise choice.

A Chimney Swift, Brightly! I haven't seen or heard one in a week or so, but am sure there are still some around. Nothing new or original in my yard today OR yesterday, but I DID see about 30 House Sparrows all on the tip-top branches of a Burning Bush, one per branch. It gave the bush the appearance of having spikes of feathered berries on the tip of each branch, much like the berries on an Elkhorn Sumac.

I saw the kingfisher that hangs out down the street yesterday. I haven't seen it since spring, I don't know where he goes for summer, but I only see it in the spring and fall.

I am really jealous rite now! I realy want to see what you guys have seen so far! the only thing I've seen are some Canadian geese that haven't migrated yet and some crows. Occasionall some chickadee, especially when I get too close to the bushes, they flock out all together to escape! Oh yeah, and also tons of sea gulls!

house sparrows (i think) today eating the gribblies left by the students in the courtyard.

Actually it was late yesterday, I counted 12 flickers in my back yard eating bugs (thank goodness) . They sure are pretty birds.

2 rose-breasted grosbeaks!!! i've never seen them at my feeders before.

Durn you, Wendy! I've NEVER had rose-Breasted Grosbeaks in my yard before!

Does anyone do Project Feederwatch or the Great Backyard Bird Count, through the cornell lab??

I did the backyard bird count last year. It was fun.

Today's report:

HOUSE SPARROWS - 20
HOUSE FINCHES - 3
TUFTED TITMOUSES - 2
CAROLINA CHICKADEES - 5
CAROLINA WRENS - 1
DOWNY WOODPECKERS - 1 (MALE)
BLUE JAYS - 2
MOURNING DOVES - 1
NORTHERN CARDINALS - 5
COMMON HOUSECATS - 1 (OREO)

That is all.

Yesterday morning I saw 2 Ruffed Grouse walking through what's left of my garden, and then up the bank before scurrying into the woods. I've only seen 2 before in the 12 years I've been here, although I've heard them drumming now and then.

That's quite a sighting, obywan. I've only seen TWO Ruffed Grouse in my life. I saw both BEFORE I became a birder and one of those I shot as it was Grouse hunting season at the time. I no longer hunt but am not against hunting. I just no longer have a need to hunt.

Yesterday morning:
a boatload of birds
OK lemme' 'splain. I went to put stuff in my truck, as I walked out a load of little birds suddenly flew up into the trees, a step later another bunch from the other side of the veggie garden, up into the trees, then as I reached the truck a third bunch from the other side of the truck where the big flower garden is. Too early in the morning, still bleary eyed, not enough tea... but i'm pretty sure they were juncos. Must have been 40-50 of them.

Yesterday I saw a flamingo.

How pretty!!
Thanks for sharing

Yesterday
A white throated sparrow
and a ruffed grouse at the side of the road just down from my property line.

AHHH, the White-Throated Sparrows will be here in a few days. I just LOVE their song.

My feeders were COMPLETELY empty today (all eight) so I filled them this evening, but didn't see any birds.

THORNY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw an owl !!!!!!!!!
My very first ever !
It was about 11PM, and I had just turned on the patio light to go outside for a smoke.
There was a big, round brown bird on the fence, and as I stared with amazement, wondering what it was, it turned and looked at me, and it had a white round face and cat eyes !!!!!!!!
Just like on TV !!!! I felt like I was in Disneyland - all magic and delight !
WHAT was it ?????? WHAT KIND OF OWL?

A Barn owl.
Oh sorry you were asking Thorny.


this face?
Coooooool sighting!

That's the one, Wrennie !
I just now got the creeps looking at the picture.
I did feel amazed as I said when I saw the owl, but it also gave me a creepy feeling. The face, maybe. Something.
I wonder how something can be fun but creepy-that's the same feeling Disneyland gave me and I never have gone back and wouldn't want to.
It was quite an experience though, seeing the owl on my patio fence.

Their white faces are very ghost like arent they? Spoooooooky!

I've never seen a Barn Owl. I've just seen Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech Owls.