Solitary

Spied this lone Cedar Waxwing at dusk.

A beautiful 'masked bandit'.

Who to my delight, sat still for long time.

Bombycilla cedrorum

With thin, lisping cries, flocks of Cedar Waxwings descend on berry-laden trees and hedges, to flutter among the branches as they feast. These birds are sociable at all seasons, and it is rare to see just one waxwing. Occasionally a line of waxwings perched on a branch will pass a berry back and forth, from bill to bill, until one of them swallows it. This species has a more southerly range than the Bohemian Waxwing, and is a familiar visitor to most parts of this continent south of the Arctic.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Friends?

On a day trip to Pymatuning State Park and Lake,

we spied this domestic goose. 

Graylag Goose ???

It headed toward these Canada Geese.

But was just ignored.

Still following them

And still being ignored.

When alone; fend for yourself.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart
and
Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Always Polite

We just love these perky little 

Chippy Sparrows

Occasionally they light on the feeder where

more often than not

they are dive bombed by the larger birds.

But not to worry.

They simply and politely turn the other cheek

and move along to the grass.

Where they know the bigger birds

will have knocked lots of seed to the ground. 

A nice view of his crown.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

A Bit Miffed

This Belted Kingfisher was a bit miffed

at an intruding Green Heron.

Megaceryle alcyon

	Streams, lakes, bays, coasts; nests in banks. During winter and migration, may be found in almost any waterside habitat, including the edges of small streams and ponds, large rivers and lakes, marshes, estuaries, and rocky coastlines; seems to require only clear water for fishing. During breeding season, more restricted to areas with suitable dirt banks for nesting holes.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Immature

but doing just fine

This immature Green Heron has become

adept at procuring breakfast.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Cliff Dwellers of Pennsylvania - 29 June 2016

In the past, for me, all these swallows did (which I assumed were barn swallows) was make a bunch of ruckus. Until last week, when I decided to 'pay ready attention' to what they were up to. As often happens it turned out to be quite interesting.

At some point they chose this bridge.

Which just happened to include a spot primed to become muddy.

Here is one of the crew checking out the natural resources.

And the work began.

As they came swooping down and collecting mud

for the structure and upkeep of their 'Cliff Dwellings'.

"Will you ever call me a Barn Swallow again?"

Not now that I have been educated and I know that they are Cliff Swallows.

Cliff Swallow

The Cliff Swallow is somewhat similar in appearance to the Barn Swallow. The back, wings, and crown of the adult is a deep blue like the Barn Swallow, but the Cliff Swallow has a light belly, chestnut-colored face, dark throat, and pale gray nape. Three field marks especially useful in distinguishing the Cliff Swallow from the Barn Swallow are the white forehead, buff rump, and short, squared-off tail. The Cliff Swallow also has two white streaks down its back. Juveniles are brown above, buff below, and have varying numbers of small white spots on their foreheads and throats.

Cliff Swallows have tidy, well-constructed nests, formed from balls of mud that they collect in their beaks. Many have adapted to nesting on man-made structures, especially under bridges and freeways. 

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Birds on Ice 030916

Gulls and Canada Geese at our lakes

are as common as Robins and Sparrows in the backyard.

But their antics on the ice at Pymatuning State Park 

this past Sunday was something to behold.

  

I was especially taken by them ice skating.

Pair Skating at the Ice Capades 

but late winter ice can cause embarrassment.

Joining

Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Walking On Water

Wild Birds - A couple crows out for a winter stroll

 

Outdoor World - A beautiful sky background for this windmill beside a pond.

 

Joining Stewart for:

Wild Bird Wednesday

and Susan for:

Outdoor World

 

Wildbird Wednesday 012016

House Finch - Titmouse - Junco - Female Cardinal - Male Cardinal

SMITHSONIAN

How do birds―especially the little delicate guys like chickadees and titmice―survive the single-digit temperatures and whipping winds of winter?

It turns out that birds (even the little guys) aren’t so delicate after all, and they’ve got a few tricks up their sleeve (uh, wing), too.

Their first layer of defense against the cold is their outer-most one: feathers. There’s a good reason why people love down-filled winter coats―feathers are fantastic insulation.

“Feathers are incredibly specialized structures that serve many purposes including, for many species, keeping them warm,” says 

“Birds’ feathers provide remarkable insulation against the cold, and the oil that coats feathers also provides waterproofing, which is important since the only thing worse than being cold, is being cold and wet,” Peter Marra, head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at the National Zoo.

Joining Stewart for:

Wildbird Wednesday

Owl I Can Say Is W-owl 011316

This was one of my biggest thrills since I ventured into this whole photography world.

Saturday afternoon the RG and Lucy headed to the state park for ride-around. 'Ring a Ling' and he says: "Get your camera. I'm coming back".

I scramble around and hoping I see no one, I'm ready and hop in the truck.

It seems as he entered the off ramp he spied this beauty in a tree and hoping it would stay made the call to me.

It stayed.

(nature whisperer that he is, the RG probably told it to stay put)

I feel doubly blessed to get these captures since

research says they are easily spooked. 

 and a nod perhaps saying "You're welcome"

 

Introduction: The Barred Owl is a medium-sized grey-brown owl with a large, rounded head with no ear-tufts, and streaked with white horizontal barring on the chest and vertical barring on the belly.

 

Description: The facial disc is pale greyish-brown with darker concentric lines. The rim is not very prominent. Eyes are dark brown to blackish-brown. The cere is pale horn, the bill pale yellowish with a slight greenish tint. The sides of the head and neck are barred light and dark. The upperparts are brown to greyish-brown, scalloped with whitish bars on the crown, back and mantle. Wing-coverts are spotted whitish. Flight feathers are barred whitish-buff and brown. The tail is brown or greyish-brown with 4-5 whitish bars.
Underparts are pale greyish-brown to dirty whitish. The upper breast and foreneck are densely barred light and dark. The rest of the underparts are boldly streaked dark to rufous-brown.
Tarsi are feathered, and toes are almost totally feathered, the bare parts being yellowish-grey. Claws are dark horn with blackish tips.
Size: Length 40-63 cm. Wingspan 96-125cm. Tail length 312-380mm. Weight 500-1050g. Females are normally larger and heavier than males.

Habits: A nocturnal bird. Hides in dense foliage during the day, usually high up. May also roost on a branch close to a broad tree-trunk, or in a natural tree hole.

 

Joining Stewart for:

Wild Bird Wednesday

and

Susan for:

Outdoor Wednesday

 

 

 

Backyard Birds Outdoors 010616

A sunny early morning in January atMuldoon

 

Cold on the outside; Warm on the inside

 

The feeding area has donned it winter coat.

 

And the winter morning sunshine is casting its beauty.

 

We provide and they come.

High

and Low

and so darn cute!

and all puffed up

 

 

  So much fun taking the photos but

hi ho, hi ho it was off to work I go.

 

A frosty view from inside my vehicle.

 Joining Susan for:

Outdoor Wednesday

and Stewart for:

Wild Bird Wednesday

 

 

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The December/January issue of Bird & Blooms had an article on identifying  Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. The difference is primarily in their sizes with some subtle differences in plumage. And each has a unique call.

 

We got a chance atMuldoon to test our skill.

 

Ms. Hairy here was feasting away

 When what to her wondering eyes should appear?

But Mr. Downy higher up in the tree.

 Mr. Downy was polite and took his place in line

(note the difference in size)

 

 Here he seems to be wondering just how long she is going to take.

 

Finally his turn arrives.

 

And he seems to be hoping she doesn't come back for dessert.

 Later that day Mr. Hairy (larger of the two)

 arrived for his afternoon feast.

 

Which went without incident.

 

Mr. and Ms. Hairy have longer stronger beaks

Mr. Downy's is stubby.

 

Mr. and Ms. Hairy are about nine inches from the tip of their bills to the tip of their tails.

Mr. Downy is only about six and a half inches.

 

Joining Stewart for

Wildbird Wednesday