Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

[Candor]

Cormorants are very adept at catching fish and I would not want one on my tail if I was a fish. I happened to catch this one with a catfish on a trip to Florida a while back and the fish seemed to know his fate.

That's amazing they can swallow catfish even wth the sharp barbs the catfish have in their side fins. I've gotten gabbed by those barbs as a kid when I used to catch bullheads and channel catfish.

They always swallow them head first of course so the barbs are less of an issue. It is amazing what some of them can get down. I've seen some herons swallow large armored catfish, an invasive species, and some of those guys are spiky all over.

Thanks all!

[Candor]

First time poster in this thread. I took a short trip to Sax-Zim bog and the surrounding area of northeast Minnesota this past weekend. This is a modest irruption year for owls, and a variety of other northern birds were around too, including Common Redpoll, Gray Jay, Purple Finch, and Pine Grosbeak.

Gray Jay, in the bog:


Boreal Owl, in the bog:


Great Gray Owl, on the lakefront in Two Harbors:

Great shots. I've been meaning to take a trip out there and this is more inspiration for me to do so.

[Mudpuppy]

We're on bald eaglet watch here in California.

The Big Bear pair seems to have weathered the latest storms well. They're brooding three eggs this year. They've had trouble in recent years, so let's hope this year is more successful.
Live cam and posts: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagles/

The Channel Islands pair in Sauces Canyon are having less luck this year. 2 of the 3 eggs have broke, but they're still brooding the remaining egg. They've also had a lot of eggs break in previous years.
Live cam and posts: https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle ... bald-eagle

The Channel Islands pair at Fraser Point have just started laying this week, so eaglet watch is new there.
Live cam and posts: https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle ... eagle-nest

The Lake Natoma pair have also just starting laying this week, with two eggs so far.
Live cam and posts: https://folfaneaglecam.org/

I'm not seeing any eggs noted for the two bald eagle nests being monitored with webcams in Catalina Islands, but there's still time for them to lay eggs this year. And I'm sure I'm missing some of the other bald eagle webcams in California. These are just the ones I'm aware of.

[bikefish]

I am a snowbird who winters in the desert area of Arizona. The state Game and Fish department manages an urban fishery under which rainbow trout are stocked in the winter and channel catfish in the spring. I think that there are at least 30 small pounds and lakes in the Phoenix and Tucson areas that are part of the program.

Anyway, I was hiking around one of these ponds last week and observed the hatchery truck arrive. I then observed about a dozen Double-crested Cormorants wreak havoc on the newly introduced trout. The cormorants are understandably unpopular with local fishermen, but it was pretty spectacular.

On the trail around the pond, I saw Verdins, Abert’s Towhees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Gila Woodpeckers, and noisy Great-tailed Grackles.

Cormorants are very adept at catching fish and I would not want one on my tail if I was a fish. I happened to catch this one with a catfish on a trip to Florida a while back and the fish seemed to know his fate.

That is a great picture. I know if that catfish was smaller it would be called a madtom. Using them for smallmouth fishing where I live is money in the bank. That bird is enjoying a nice meal.

[jebmke]

First Osprey of the season. Flew up the creek and continued north; might not be a local. Creek frozen this morning so not a place to stop, I guess.

Hairy Woodpecker continuing at suet this week

[Target2019]

Dark-eyed Junco has taken over the Bird Buddy feeder.

[Mudpuppy]

We've got pips on two of the eggs in the Big Bear bald eagle nest, and that news seems to have given their website the "hug of death". It'll still be a day or so before the chicks emerge.

[JAZZISCOOL]

We've got pips on two of the eggs in the Big Bear bald eagle nest, and that news seems to have given their website the "hug of death". It'll still be a day or so before the chicks emerge.

That is such a beautiful eagle cam, with the lake in the background.

[Mudpuppy]

SWFL EAGLE CAM heart break.....
On 26th E24 passed and then E25 passed last night, Seizures !!! Poison? I'm sure an autopsy will be done...

Thank You Lady Hawk for update. Heart breaking!
Get to lady's page you can see E24' struggles too in video edits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj-QfXmbq_U&t=1072s

FYI, for those not following the news, both eaglets tested positive for bird flu during the necropsies, so that's the presumed cause. The theory is one of the prey birds they were fed a few days before they showed symptoms was the source of the infection. It was a rapid decline too, so by the time they'd been authorized to take E25 in for veterinary care, it was already too late.

Both parents survived and are showing signs of breeding behavior, so there is hope they might lay another clutch of eggs, but it really depends on how badly they were also affected by bird flu. They had some abnormal behavior after the eaglets passed, but nothing that definitely pointed to them also being infected. It could have also been their form of grief.

Bird flu is a general concern for eaglets this season, as they seem susceptible to more serious infections and there's not really veterinary treatments available, even if veterinary care could be provided in time.

[JAZZISCOOL]

SWFL EAGLE CAM heart break.....
On 26th E24 passed and then E25 passed last night, Seizures !!! Poison? I'm sure an autopsy will be done...

Thank You Lady Hawk for update. Heart breaking!
Get to lady's page you can see E24' struggles too in video edits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj-QfXmbq_U&t=1072s

FYI, for those not following the news, both eaglets tested positive for bird flu during the necropsies, so that's the presumed cause. The theory is one of the prey birds they were fed a few days before they showed symptoms was the source of the infection. It was a rapid decline too, so by the time they'd been authorized to take E25 in for veterinary care, it was already too late.

Both parents survived and are showing signs of breeding behavior, so there is hope they might lay another clutch of eggs, but it really depends on how badly they were also affected by bird flu. They had some abnormal behavior after the eaglets passed, but nothing that definitely pointed to them also being infected. It could have also been their form of grief.

Bird flu is a general concern for eaglets this season, as they seem susceptible to more serious infections and there's not really veterinary treatments available, even if veterinary care could be provided in time.

Thanks for the update re: bird flu. I didn't know that.

[JAZZISCOOL]

Link to Big Bear Eagle Cam for those interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE

[beernutz]

From my back deck I regularly see
heron
egret
osprey
pelican
seagull
wood duck
crow
red-tailed hawk
great horned owl
red-winged blackbird
the occasional bald eagle, vulture, ibis, and tern

[Nicolas]

Female cardinal on our video-birdfeeder, “Birdbuddy”, munching on sunflower seeds. I got it for Xmas last year.

[Dottie57]

Female cardinal on our video-birdfeeder munching on sunflower seeds.

What a great picture.

[JAZZISCOOL]

Female cardinal on our video-birdfeeder munching on sunflower seeds.

Love it!

[Nicolas]

A house finch couple on my video-birdfeeder, “Birdbuddy”, today, It identifies the birds with AI and overlays the bird species onto the screen-grab. I got it for Xmas last year.

[Hubris]

We went on a Raptor ID field trip here in the Gallatin Valley (outside of Bozeman, MT) on Saturday and saw:
Bald Eagles: ~115 or so
Red-tailed Hawks: ~30
Rough-legged Hawks: ~10
Golden Eagles: 3, including seeing a pair copulate!
Ring-necked Pheasant: ~100
Greater White-fronted Goose: 1

We struck out on Ferruginous Hawk but there are some around.

[WoostaGal]

I saw a pileated woodpecker in two different locations recently. In the past, I've only seen or heard them in the woods in my area, so it was amazing to see them relatively close to human habitation. Maybe that means the population is increasing.

[bikefish]

I am seeing Pileated Woodpeckers as well. Saw four yesterday on a walk by the river.

[jebmke]

leaving the library today after doing taxes for six hours: Common Raven. Unusual on the Eastern Shore but starting to be spotted in recent years - mainly north of the bridge. Some have been seen crossing the top of the bay where the crossing distance is lower.

[Mudpuppy]

The Channel Islands pair in Sauces Canyon are having less luck this year. 2 of the 3 eggs have broke, but they're still brooding the remaining egg. They've also had a lot of eggs break in previous years.
Live cam and posts: https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle ... bald-eagle

We have a pip on the Sauces Canyon remaining egg!

[Mudpuppy]

The Big Bear pair seems to have weathered the latest storms well. They're brooding three eggs this year. They've had trouble in recent years, so let's hope this year is more successful.
Live cam and posts: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagles/

Tragedy has struck the Big Bear nest. One chick seems to have passed and a second is not looking well. I'm hoping for the sake of the third chick that it's not bird flu, but they have been fed bird meat this week, so that remains a possibility. Another possibility is exposure from the storm that just passed through, as that second chick did look a bit wet this morning. We'll probably never know for sure, as this nest is too high up to recover the chicks for veterinary examination.

In more positive California bald eagle news, the Sauces Canyon chick has fully hatched. There are some pictures of it posted on the thread at https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle ... bald-eagle

We're also on pip watch in the coming week for Lake Natoma and Fraser Point. Unfortunately, the camera feed at Fraser Point has been very spotty (they switch to a highlight reel when the feed cuts out) and the camera position at Lake Natoma can't see into the nest bowl. So, we'll have to wait for glimpses of chicks to know how successful those nests are.

[JAZZISCOOL]

The Big Bear pair seems to have weathered the latest storms well. They're brooding three eggs this year. They've had trouble in recent years, so let's hope this year is more successful.
Live cam and posts: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagles/

Tragedy has struck the Big Bear nest. One chick seems to have passed and a second is not looking well. I'm hoping for the sake of the third chick that it's not bird flu, but they have been fed bird meat this week, so that remains a possibility. Another possibility is exposure from the storm that just passed through, as that second chick did look a bit wet this morning. We'll probably never know for sure, as this nest is too high up to recover the chicks for veterinary examination.

In more positive California bald eagle news, the Sauces Canyon chick has fully hatched. There are some pictures of it posted on the thread at https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle ... bald-eagle

We're also on pip watch in the coming week for Lake Natoma and Fraser Point. Unfortunately, the camera feed at Fraser Point has been very spotty (they switch to a highlight reel when the feed cuts out) and the camera position at Lake Natoma can't see into the nest bowl. So, we'll have to wait for glimpses of chicks to know how successful those nests are.

Thanks for the update. These things happen in nature sometimes but are still sad.

[bikefish]

Peregrine falcon. Nice seeing one in the city.

[jebmke]

Peregrine falcon. Nice seeing one in the city.

Yes; cool birds. Many years ago we lived in a high rise on the lake shore in Milwaukee. There was a nesting pair on the outside of the top of the building (20th floor?). When the chicks began to mature, a banding crew let some of us up to watch them band the chicks (adult birds were not amused).

Also, every once in a while it would "snow" pigeon feathers outside of our fifth floor window - we knew that another pigeon had bit the dust up on the 20th floor.

The Peregrine is one of the fastest raptors around.

[JAZZISCOOL]

leaving the library today after doing taxes for six hours: Common Raven. Unusual on the Eastern Shore but starting to be spotted in recent years - mainly north of the bridge. Some have been seen crossing the top of the bay where the crossing distance is lower.

I like Ravens - we have many around here. They say corvids are quite intelligent and I've seen documentaries where they train them to do certain mental exercises/tricks.

Crows vs. ravens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP838CZl_ho

[jebmke]

leaving the library today after doing taxes for six hours: Common Raven. Unusual on the Eastern Shore but starting to be spotted in recent years - mainly north of the bridge. Some have been seen crossing the top of the bay where the crossing distance is lower.

I like Ravens - we have many around here. They say corvids are quite intelligent and I've seen documentaries where they train them to do certain mental exercises/tricks.

Crows vs. ravens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP838CZl_ho

yep; but they are also habitual thieves so one has to remember they are "crooks that croak"

[GG1273]

Our local NWR (Great Swamp, NJ) had a prescribed burn of a few fields yesterday but the day prior, we stopped by late and got at least 15 American Woodcock displaying.
A little earlier in the afternoon, 4 Northern Harriers, including 1 gray ghost were hunting in the same area. Neat to watch them. A Barred Owl called a few times too

[JAZZISCOOL]

Our local NWR (Great Swamp, NJ) had a prescribed burn of a few fields yesterday but the day prior, we stopped by late and got at least 15 American Woodcock displaying.
A little earlier in the afternoon, 4 Northern Harriers, including 1 gray ghost were hunting in the same area. Neat to watch them. A Barred Owl called a few times too

Hope all the birds are ok given nesting season!

I had to look up American Woodcock (not in my state):

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ame ... maps-range

[Miriam2]

leaving the library today after doing taxes for six hours: Common Raven. Unusual on the Eastern Shore but starting to be spotted in recent years - mainly north of the bridge. Some have been seen crossing the top of the bay where the crossing distance is lower.

Your taxes? Or are you volunteering to help others with their taxes?

[jebmke]

leaving the library today after doing taxes for six hours: Common Raven. Unusual on the Eastern Shore but starting to be spotted in recent years - mainly north of the bridge. Some have been seen crossing the top of the bay where the crossing distance is lower.

Your taxes? Or are you volunteering to help others with their taxes?

Volunteering (TaxAide).

My return usually takes me about 1-1.5 hours total depending on how involved form 1116 is. This year should be simpler than 2023 since some VG mutual fund accounts were transitioned to brokerage. The last transitions were done in late 2024 so the 2025 return should be a cakewalk in terms of entries.

[Candor]

Our local NWR (Great Swamp, NJ) had a prescribed burn of a few fields yesterday but the day prior, we stopped by late and got at least 15 American Woodcock displaying.
A little earlier in the afternoon, 4 Northern Harriers, including 1 gray ghost were hunting in the same area. Neat to watch them. A Barred Owl called a few times too

Hope all the birds are ok given nesting season!

I had to look up American Woodcock (not in my state):

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ame ... maps-range

If you want a good laugh google the Woodcock dance. They are especially comical when they have young chicks that follow along.

[bikefish]

Peregrine falcon. Nice seeing one in the city.

Yes; cool birds. Many years ago we lived in a high rise on the lake shore in Milwaukee. There was a nesting pair on the outside of the top of the building (20th floor?). When the chicks began to mature, a banding crew let some of us up to watch them band the chicks (adult birds were not amused).

Also, every once in a while it would "snow" pigeon feathers outside of our fifth floor window - we knew that another pigeon had bit the dust up on the 20th floor.

The Peregrine is one of the fastest raptors around.

I do not make it into the city very often, but I was fortunate to see the peregrine yesterday. If you cannot see the bird live they offer a webcam https://dwr.virginia.gov/falcon-cam/

[Miriam2]

Your taxes? Or are you volunteering to help others with their taxes?

Volunteering (TaxAide).

My return usually takes me about 1-1.5 hours total depending on how involved form 1116 is. This year should be simpler than 2023 since some VG mutual fund accounts were transitioned to brokerage. The last transitions were done in late 2024 so the 2025 return should be a cakewalk in terms of entries.

Nice of you to volunteer for this, very important for senior citizens and others who cannot navigate the tax world And of course we Bogleheads appreciate your tax help here on the forum - as well as your Bird Reports

[GG1273]

Hope all the birds are ok given nesting season!

I had to look up American Woodcock (not in my state):

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ame ... maps-range

If you want a good laugh google the Woodcock dance. They are especially comical when they have young chicks that follow along.

They are fun - do a sky dance performance at dusk and are common at the Great Swamp NJ this time of year. Normally, there will be 20+ people waiting for the show to start.
I did find one hanging out on a road last year, early in the morning at Stokes State Forest (NJ) and got a few photos. I wasn't sure if it was hurt or not but decided to walk about a mile and back to see if it was still there, but was gone into the swamp.

[GG1273]

We were in the Sarasota/Charlotte counties of Florida last week for some spring training and birding. Myakka state forest was terrific, despite the alligators!

Did spot Roseate Spoonbill, TriColored and Little Blue Herons, Nanday parakeets (a lot of em), Swallow Tailed Kite, American Avocet, Brown and White Pelicans, Purple Gallinule, Wood Storks, Sandhill Cranes, and White Ibises. Bunch of others as well.

[Mudpuppy]

We're on bald eaglet watch here in California.

In our latest updates, the two surviving chicks at Big Bear are getting bigger and more active. Over in Channel Islands, the Sauces Canyon chick is also growing, while both eggs at Fraser Point have successfully hatched in the past few days. You also get bonus mouse footage at Fraser Point, as mice are constantly running around the nest. Over at Lake Natoma, they have at least one hatchling that's been spotted, but their webcam is slightly below the nest bowl, so we won't know for sure how many chicks there are until they start bobbling up enough to be seen.

[jebmke]

Two pair of Wood Ducks in the creek this morning, arrived last week. Have not seen them go in the nesting boxes yet

[bikefish]

Falcon cam showed some changes over the past couple days. Three eggs. I like the color of the eggs. https://dwr.virginia.gov/falcon-cam/

[JAZZISCOOL]

Lots of male Red-winged Blackbirds are arriving in the marshes.

A Northern Flicker woke up a house guest by hammering on the side of the house.

A Townsend's Solitaire (eating juniper berries) and a Spotted Towhee also made appearances today.