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Bird Lady of Aquitainenear Mississauga, ON
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jefftnear Multnomah, OR
Joanne_Bnear Edmonton, Alberta
Josephs6near Athol, MA
jim macgregor Location
Edmonton, AB
-as a longtime Birder I knew that achieving Retirement was FOR THE BIRDS!
| Joined Geobirds | December 6, 2007 |
| Clubs | none yet |
Sightings by jim macgregor
| 2497 sightings |
159 species |
270 pictures |
|---|---|---|
Most recent activity
All sightings >>
-was up the ladder removing ice from a roof joint seam and I first heard and then saw, the neighborhood pair serenading from the top of a spruce tree; "nesty nesty"; one of these days I will get a chance for a photo! :o))
-everywhere! Always keeping an eye open for predators.
-doing the rounds and covering the back and front yards; always keeping an eye open for predators.
-heard at least 2; sighted the other , who was flying east with purpose! "Kroark"
-resident pair up and down the trees; even when they are seemingly busy, they have their eyes on what's going on around them; sometimes they pause during their stashing and stare for 20 seconds!
-everywhere; territorial behavior.
-really beginning to light up the neighborhood with song; feeding on oilseeds in backyard.
-backyard; resident pair on nut and oilseed feeders as well as working the trees.
-everywhere in neighborhood and beginning to compete for nest sites.
-audible only of one or more, north of our house.
-backyard; on nut and oilseed feeders; on the ground and cavorting higher in the tree branches; staking out claims on nest boxes.
-backyard; feeding on oilseeds on the ground and on feeders.
-adjacent property; active with magpies in a clump of spruce trees; mimicking, I think, the Merlin subdued bell call.
-adjacent property; active with magpies in a clump of spruce trees; using the single note bell call and their regular call; didn't see them and suspect that they are beginning to stake their claim to one of last years magpie nests.
-backyard; on nut and oilseed feeders.
-flying westerly over the adjacent school ground; same altitude, same "kroark"; gotta see if I can discover where this individual is going.
-backyard; feeding on oilseeds.
-adjacent property; -really kicking up a fuss in the upper reaches of a spruce tree.
-on oilseed feeders.
-the "predator gathering" that always gets your attention; tried to see which predator was involved and wished that I had my binocs! (I was in dog- walk mode with poop bag in hand! HA!)
-everywhere and catching up on personal hygiene with a cold water bath.
-resident pair eating oilseeds.
-resident pair.
-flying west at moderate height over the adjacent school ground, emitting rather soft 1/2 "kroarks".
Never fails! A new species sighting, the day following the GBBC! HA! -briskly in and out of the trees; seizing every opportunity to chase one another! Love these little arctic visitors!
-a fair amount of territorial fencing; "nesty, nesty"!
-flying over the adjacent schoolyard.
-a fair amount of singing by the males!
-family reunion?
-resident pair.
-flying east behind yard.
-resident pair on nut feeder and then to a perch to eat.
-"gun and run" feeding pattern, throughout the day; don't collect on the flat feeder in the numbers that they have done for years; instead, they do it in waves, probably to make it a little more difficult for Merlins and Sharpies.
Black-billed Magpies
-one of the "group of seven", perched in a Weeping Birch.
-resident pair working the trees and visiting the nut and oilseed feeders.
-checking out the berry crop on the American Mountain Ash; a little jumpy, possibly because of the Merlins, who are also around.
-warp speed flyby with vocal accompaniment!
-male and female "working" the pear and apple trees;
-male on flat feeder and "working" the pear and apple trees; on feeder with male Blue Jay, who was encouraged to step to the other side! :o)) -appears to be a "new" male with darker coloration and a shorter mustache.
-adjacent park; they love to have family gatherings in the "galleries" under the spruce bows that touch the ground, always with lots of "small talk"! :o))
-backyard; on all feeders
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; 2 males, 2 females.
-backyard; landed briefly in the pear tree and then flew off together.
-backyard; this regular pair were busy stashing food tidbits in the bark of the pear tree.
-backyard; hurried feeding along with high- in- the- trees cavorting, more like the House Finches do! (No House Finches today)
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; a little more panic in the air as colder temperatures drift in from the north.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; a little more panic in the air as colder temperatures drift in from the north.
-backyard; on oilseed,nut and flat feeders; small numbers and skittish, may indicate that the "Sharpie" has been cruising around.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; skittish, may indicate that the "Sharpie" has been cruising around.
-backyard; usual pair; on oilseed feeders;
-fairly regular pair, flying east over adjacent schoolyard; "Kroark, Kroark"!
-backyard; my little "bee-liners"!
-adjacent property; lots of talking!
Mallards
-backyard; 200 meters overhead and flying fast! Got a couple of quick shots; looks like 3 gals and 14 guys flying North!
Sharp-shinned Hawks
-backyard; on the hunt.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
-backyard; this time it landed on the flat feeder to check inside for prey; flew to the ash tree at the back of our property and I got a couple of shots.
- a pair flying over the adjacent schoolyard; Kroak! Kroak! -the usual lone individual cleaning up food remnants in the schoolyard.
-performing an aerial exhibition of twists and turns at high speed, over the adjacent schoolyard; just out enjoying the weather and putting the "pedal to the metal"! :o))
-saw the "Skyview Power Centre" group (3) and the (2) "Londonderry" Ravens; one of the "derry" birds was burying a "treasure" in the snow- covered playground, walking around for a little and then returning to dig up the cache; suspect that it was practising a new hobby,"Individual Geocaching"! HA!
-Skyview Power Shopping Centre cleaning up food waste.
-magpies dispersed among the trees of the south facing avenue; a lot of small group dialogue! :o))
Red-breasted Nuthatches
-backyard; this shot of the male, (notice the black crown), of the regular pair that visits most every day; always have lots to say and don't mind their pictures being taken.
Red-breasted Nuthatches
-backyard; this shot of the female, (notice the gray crown), of the regular pair that visits most every day; always have lots to say and don't mind their pictures being taken.
-adjacent schoolground and park; "surfing" in the strong wind!
-backyard; portion of the regular flock; windy day has produced a grab and run feeding pattern.
-seems to be becoming a regular visitor in the neighborhood.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders and working the trees; usual pair.
-at top of spruce tree adjacent to school garbage bin; didn't have time to confirm that this individual was feeding.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; usual pair on oilseed feeders.
Common Redpolls
-backyard; on the snow under the oilseed feeders; heard before I sighted. -have been waiting for these little guys as they slip south of their Arctic breeding area.
-backyard; everywhere.
-backyard; a fine specimen, having a look around the yard.
-flying southwest over Sky-view Power Shopping Centre on 137 Avenue; heavy fog meant that I heard them before seeing them and characteristically, this pair were slipping and sliding through the air, as they practised their aerobatics!
-backyard; resident pair; on flat feeder and then , as usual, to a branch to shell.
-backyard; resident pair; on flat feeder.
-backyard; not regular callers to the backyard; today, dried cherries were on the menu.
-backyard; resident pair; on flat feeder, stocking up on dried cherries that come in one of the seed mixes that I buy; the finches and sparrows instead, will eat the nut mixture that dominates the ingredients. ( I refer to it as the "nut feeder")
-backyard; no real urgency to obtain food; spent a good part of the day in the neighbor's trimmed maples, which provide sun and a dense entanglement of branches for protection.
-flew over the front yard heading southwesterly; ("Kroak, Kroak"!)
-don't see this guy very often, but no mistaking the overall gray appearance of the male; he was on maneuvers, flying at warp speed, toward and around trees along the front street! I'd love to get a shot of this beautiful bird in flight, although shots of this are extremely difficult.
-backyard; resident pair; on flat feeder; hadn't seen them for a few days.
-backyard; on all feeders; taking turns at the heated bird bath for water and baths.
-backyard; resident pair on oilseed and flat feeders.
-backyard; resident pair on oilseed and flat feeders; constantly working the trees, finding or caching.
-backyard; resident pair on oilseed and flat feeders; no sign of the neighborhood flock of 15(+/-).
-backyard; on all feeders; and foraging everywhere;
-backyard; on oilseed feeders and stashing in the pear and apple trees; resident breeding pair.
-backyard; on oil seed and flat feeders; 2 males and 2 females.
-a pair flew southeast toward Londonderry or Clareview; suspect this is the resident pair up our end; one actually seemed to be showing off with fancy flight patterns, while the other kept up a steady wingbeat.
-backyard; an air of panic; on all feeders, foraging on the ground and exploring low shrubs and cedars.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders and stashing bounty in the bark of trees.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; checking for stragglers; saw a neat technique used in the adjacent park; one flew directly to a spruce with low branches to the ground, then circled three times in a tight perimeter around the tree; I suspect it was a maneuver used to flush out smaller birds that might be using the spruce for protection from the weather.
Red-breasted Nuthatches
-backyard; this little female was very busy working the pear tree from every angle; also selected individual oil seeds and placed them in fissures in the bark.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
-backyard; this little female was very busy working the pear tree from every angle; also selected individual oil seeds and placed them in fissures in the bark.
-"pullin" the plug" ?? -------------and "goin" South, or "off for a Sunday drive"??
Canada Geese
-"JB" and I returned to the same location of my first sighting on Nov 18 and found the same group of birds gathered upstream on the North Saskatchewan River, from about 150 meters; all birds turned out to be Canada Geese; suspect that when birds take a swim away from the main group, family pods tend to stick together.
Common Raven
-"JB" and I returned to the same location of my first sighting on Nov 18; saw a lone bird fly over and then land on a spruce about 200 meters away; seemed to be calling for someone.
Canada Geese
-"JB" and I returned to the same location of my first sighting on Nov 18 and found the same group of birds gathered upstream on the North Saskatchewan River, from about 150 meters; all birds turned out to be Canada Geese.
Canada Geese
-"JB" and I returned to the same location of my first sighting on Nov 18 and found the same group of birds gathered upstream on the North Saskatchewan River, from about 150 meters; all birds turned out to be Canada Geese; suspect that when birds take a swim away from the main group, family pods tend to stick together.
Canada Goose
-"JB" and I returned to the same location of my first sighting on Nov 18 and found the same group of birds gathered upstream on the North Saskatchewan River, from about 150 meters; all birds turned out to be Canada Geese.
Canada Geese
-same shot, cropped.
Canada Geese
-looking upstream on the North Saskatchewan river from 167 Avenue; a collection of waterfowl with a gaggle of geese enjoying the shallower and slower portion of the river; this shot from 300 meters and I will try a closer shot next time, to better identify species.
-now the dominant corvid in the neighborhood; checking out around the bases of trees in the adjacent park area.
-flying in circles over fields east of Meridian Street and 190 Avenue.
-flying east over the ajacent school ground; still only seeing singles.
-backyard; on all feeders and drinking from the pond waterfall.
-backyard; on all feeders, taking baths and drinking from the pond waterfall.
-flying and honking along the shore of the North Saskatchewan River at 167 Avenue; fairly heavy ice flow at this time.
-backyard; a pair "nattering" while they work! Working the trees, and all feeders.
-backyard; Working the trees, and all feeders.
-backyard; heard a sparrow in distress and then saw a Merlin attempting to carry the catch to a suitable place to dine in private; the task was more difficult because a group of magpies first heard and then saw the capture. They of course followed the Merlin in the hope of winning a free meal. I lost track of this story in progress and didn't see the result.
-lots of open water; a sheltered man-made lake where they can swim or sun themselves on the shore while grazing on the green grass perimeter!
-preening in adjacent property near the top of birch, which has died back due to the dryness that we've had in the last 5 years; we have a clump with the same problem and have delayed cutting it down, because most birds like the openess provided by the bare branches, which enables them to more easily spot predators.
Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted)s
-here are a couple of shots that illustrate the difference between the male and female Yellow-shafted Flicker; -"JB" caught an error in my comment on "Art's" Northern Flicker sighting; his observation that ("It is my understanding only the males have the 'staches; the yellow-shafted has a black one; the red-shafted has the red one; and hybrid males, I read somewhere, have one side red and one black.") is correct! Good eye, "JB"; Thanx!
Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted)
-here are a couple of shots that illustrate the difference between the male and female Yellow-shafted Flicker; -"JB" caught an error in my comment on "Art's" Northern Flicker sighting; his observation that ("It is my understanding only the males have the 'staches; the yellow-shafted has a black one; the red-shafted has the red one; and hybrid males, I read somewhere, have one side red and one black.") is correct! Good eye, "JB"; Thanx!
-backyard; lots of activity everywhere. These little birds don't leave a stone unturned in their claim to territory and food!
-backyard; lots of activity in the trees and also competing with each other for space on the oilseed feeders.
-adjacent park; harrassing a Merlin, who had landed in a spruce tree; they pull together numbers pretty quickly, once a predator is located and force it to move along!
-adjacent park; harrassed by twenty magpies, who encouraged it's departure.
-backyard; on seed cakes and nut feeders.
-adjacent school yard and park; they sure don't seem to mind the weather.
-heard this bird from an adjacent property; seeing the odd one now that their abundant competitors (crows) have left.
-hear these birds every day, foraging for food in their favorite neighborhood trees (spruce).
House Finches
-backyard; at oilseed feeders and foraging in ornamental crab apple for buds and last years fruit. (male)
House Finches
-backyard; at oilseed feeders and foraging in ornamental crab apple for buds and last years fruit. (female)
House Finches
-backyard; at oilseed feeders and foraging in ornamental crab apple for buds and last years fruit. (male)
-in the backyard today, checking out the seedcakes with 6 Red-breasted; this little combination of nuthatches produced an inharmonious series of nattering!
-in the backyard today, checking out the seedcakes with a White-breasted; this little combination of nuthatches produced an inharmonious series of nattering!
Ring-billed Gulls
-adjacent schoolyard and park; winter plumage!
Ring-billed Gulls
-adjacent school yard and park; winter plumage.
Ring-billed Gulls
-adjacent school yard and park; winter plumage.
American Tree Sparrows
-noticed the different feeding habits and was larger than the usual House Sparrows; breast spot was the next criteria.
American Tree Sparrow
-noticed the different feeding habits and was larger than the usual House Sparrows; breast spot was the next criteria.