Acorn 1,528 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Blue jay 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pawz4me 39,663 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 19 minutes ago, Moonhawk said: Y'all are saying things not just like "hummingbird" but the *type* of hummingbird. Did I miss a class as a child? Did you get a handout while I was sick? Did your parents actually take you outside and point and say, "This, my child, is a Cornelius Fudgebird." ? Do you go out and practice weekly? I feel very inadequate on my birding skills, lol. LOL! I only know a few of the very common birds -- crows, cardinals, robins, jays. I know woodpeckers and hawks, but not types. Most others I'm like -- "some little brown/grey/whatever bird." The only reason I know ruby crowned kinglet is because I was curious last year and got very lucky when I Googled something like "small bird with red spot on its head" and found exactly the right match easily. I used to have the Merlin bird ID app on my phone, but I never found it particularly helpful. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SusanC 7,753 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 23 minutes ago, Moonhawk said: Y'all are saying things not just like "hummingbird" but the *type* of hummingbird. Did I miss a class as a child? Did you get a handout while I was sick? Did your parents actually take you outside and point and say, "This, my child, is a Cornelius Fudgebird." ? Do you go out and practice weekly? I feel very inadequate on my birding skills, lol. Just learn one at a time, looking out your window. Generally you will get the same few over and over and over.... My favorite windowsill reference book is from the National Audubon Society and has the birds sorted by profile with color pictures up front. That makes it pretty easy to figure out the bird and then flip to the reference pages for more information. Writer Anne Lamotta tells a great story about her dad and her brother. Brother had put off a middle school assignment to create an illustrated bird book and now it was the night before and he was having a bit of a cry and panic attack. "How am I going to do this??!!!" Dad sat down at the table next to him, put his arm around Brother's shoulder and said, "Bird by bird, Buddy. Bird by bird." This is my folding Laundry-Mountain mantra. 😂 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MEmama 12,565 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 (edited) Non-identifiable brown seabird. I’m not sure what to make of that. Eta obviously the mystery sea birds were not at my feeder. Lol. I haven’t seen a single bird at my feeder or in my yard all day, which is very unusual. Edited January 1 by MEmama 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MercyA 21,316 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Blue jay for me, too! 🙂 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mom2scouts 5,763 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Ladder-backed woodpecker! I see him often hanging around in my front yard and he was the first bird I saw today. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spryte 18,327 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 No birds at all today. We usually have many. But cold rain all day, and maybe I just didn’t look out at the right time. So still waiting here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,598 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Dark-eyed junco for 2021. Popped up on the porch rail, looked like he was wearing a little tuxedo for the occasion (slate color variation). I first thought it was one of the resident wrens, but it was definitely a junco. I had my glasses on. 😁 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harpymom 608 Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 (edited) Snowy owl on a beautiful New Year's day hike. Thank you for this thread! Terrible photo quality, I'm sorry. Edited January 1 by Harpymom 19 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScoutTN 24,648 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 (edited) Mine was a chipping sparrow. They were new to our yard/feeder in 2020 and seem to be non-migrators because we have as many now as we did in the warmer months. Edited January 2 by ScoutTN 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AmandaVT 6,226 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 7 hours ago, Amethyst said: The Year of the Chickadee here! Team Chickadee for me too https://mountainbirds.vtecostudies.org/birds/black-capped-chickadee/ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JenneinCA 1,639 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 I saw the turkey vulture today. It seems appropriate. I did see a mallard pair a little while later.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sbgrace 3,475 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 Female cardinal. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wintermom 19,873 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 Mine turned out to be a chickadee. I love those tough little guys! They stick around all winter, will sometimes feed from my hand, have a fun and distinctive call, and come to my feeder when the weather is at its worst. I find that all very inspiring. They are definitely the bird I feel the strongest connection with. And they are super cute, too. 😃 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aaplank 1,057 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 Male cardinal for me. Each member of my family saw a different bird and seemed to really enjoy this new tradition. We also saw a beautiful red breasted nuthatch. I've never seen one before, as it's usually not in my neck of the woods. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,598 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 5 hours ago, Harpymom said: Snowy owl on a beautiful New Year's day hike. Thank you for this thread! Terrible photo quality, I'm sorry. Wow, that’s quite a winner! Do you see snowies very often? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,598 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, wintermom said: Mine turned out to be a chickadee. I love those tough little guys! They stick around all winter, will sometimes feed from my hand, have a fun and distinctive call, and come to my feeder when the weather is at its worst. I find that all very inspiring. They are definitely the bird I feel the strongest connection with. And they are super cute, too. 😃 They are like tiny circus clowns. Quite loud, too! @fairfarmhandI think you are the one who said tufted titmouse. They are among my favorites. For some reason they make me think, if a hamster had wings and could fly... it would be a titmouse. Same bright round eyes as one of our old family pets. 2 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mom31257 11,797 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 This is such a neat idea! It rained most of the day here yesterday, so I didn't see any birds. I will look today, though! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harpymom 608 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 6 hours ago, Seasider too said: Wow, that’s quite a winner! Do you see snowies very often? Yes, they started wintering here in coastal Maine about 15 years ago. I usually see 3 or 4 per winter, though occasionally 4 or more on one hike. I love them so much. Yesterday was a clear blue sky with no wind, low 30s - perfect hiking weather for the many folks we could see along the ridgelines looking at this one and two others higher up. This young female was completely unfazed by her spectators, and we stayed well away to avoid flushing her. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawneinfl 3,161 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 I'm fairly certain the first bird I saw yesterday was a large Wood Stork. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wintermom 19,873 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 8 hours ago, Seasider too said: They are like tiny circus clowns. Quite loud, too! @fairfarmhandI think you are the one who said tufted titmouse. They are among my favorites. For some reason they make me think, if a hamster had wings and could fly... it would be a titmouse. Same bright round eyes as one of our old family pets. I love the nuthatches as well for their clown-like characteristics. They can also grab onto the side of a perch upside down! They also stick around all winter and seem to be more bold than chickadees. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MEmama 12,565 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 (edited) Well I never see a proper feeder bird yesterday, but this morning the bluebirds are back. Do they count? 😂 (The bluebirds got there before the woodpecker) Edited January 2 by MEmama 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Amethyst 749 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 On 1/1/2021 at 2:27 PM, MEmama said: Non-identifiable brown seabird. I’m not sure what to make of that. Eta obviously the mystery sea birds were not at my feeder. Lol. I haven’t seen a single bird at my feeder or in my yard all day, which is very unusual. Year of the Seabird sounds delightful to me (who lives nowhere near the sea!) 2 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,598 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 (edited) 7 hours ago, wintermom said: I love the nuthatches as well for their clown-like characteristics. They can also grab onto the side of a perch upside down! They also stick around all winter and seem to be more bold than chickadees. They are fun for sure! I used to have a big tree outside my great room window and every now and then would see a nuthatch working its way down the trunk, while a brown creeper was working its way up. I learned to identify the nuthatch because it was always the upside down one! Edited January 2 by Seasider too 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kanin 2,504 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 Duck for me! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
I talk to the trees 2,824 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 We had a downpour for most of the day yesterday, but during one of the brief breaks, a brave (and, I assume, hungry) little yellow-bellied sapsucker came out and hammered on one of the trees in our backyard. So 2021 shall be the year of the yellow-bellied sapsucker! Not sure whether that’s a good or bad thing. They're cute little stinkers, but can do a lot of damage to trees! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SusanC 7,753 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 45 minutes ago, I talk to the trees said: So 2021 shall be the year of the yellow-bellied sapsucker! What a striking bird! We must not have those in my neighborhood, too bad! As a childish insult it sounds like the most cowardly of cowards. (Hooking thumbs on gunbelt) You callin' me a coward Frank? (Availing himself of nearby spittoon) Yer not just a coward, but a Yeller-Bellied Sap Sucker!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScoutTN 24,648 Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 We like Stan Tekeila’s bird books. We have his TN one and one on owls. The state books sort birds by color, with colored edges to the pages - very kid friendly. I saw a blue heron in a creek today. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Melissa B 1,422 Posted January 3 Report Share Posted January 3 Red shouldered hawk. I heard it before I saw it. It woke me up yesterday morning so I sat up in bed and saw it out the bedroom window. ☺️ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mom31257 11,797 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I've seen a few birds, but they are too far and fast for me to see them well. I will keep looking! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robin M 31,301 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I have yet to see any birds. I've heard different ones chirping and squawking away but they have yet to show themselves. Strange. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mom31257 11,797 Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 (edited) I think I know what the small birds I am seeing around the house are...Carolina Wrens. I love this that I found about the symbolism. The wren is an active little bird, and so its symbolic Celtic meanings include activity, vibrancy, alertness and efficiency. The wren is rarely seen resting on her laurels. The Celts honored that fastidiousness, and took the lesson of making progress each day to heart in their own lives. Further, the wren is quite sociable. She reminds us to keep a happy heart and be kind to others. Edited January 6 by mom31257 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,598 Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 27 minutes ago, mom31257 said: I think I know what the small birds I am seeing around the house are...Carolina Wrens. I love this that I found about the symbolism. The wren is an active little bird, and so its symbolic Celtic meanings include activity, vibrancy, alertness and efficiency. The wren is rarely seen resting on her laurels. The Celts honored that fastidiousness, and took the lesson of making progress each day to heart in their own lives. Further, the wren is quite sociable. She reminds us to keep a happy heart and be kind to others. We have a pair that live somewhere in the yard, they visit our deck regularly. They are my favorites. I love that little tipped-up tail. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robin M 31,301 Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 This morning, the birds teased me again from the laurel bushes. Such a pretty song too. On the way to work while one bird scrambled into a tree like it's tail was on fire and too fast for me to see, another landed in the middle of the street and posed. A Crow. Magic, mystery, wisdom, changes. Hmm! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ausmumof3 25,018 Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 I forgot about this thread. The only birds I remember seeing were galahs. Oh yeah actually I saw emus and a blue crane/heron. But I think they were after the galahs. A galah seems kind of appropriate. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quill 61,634 Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 I forgot to do this, but I’m betting it was a cardinal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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