Your favorite bird

[Dave McClung]

God made some beautiful birds. Linda and I are blessed to live where we see a lot of them. Today, I saw two eagles, at least a dozen robins, and several Steller'ss Jays. I have to say that the eagle is the most impressive bird, but the Steller's Jay is the most colorful.

[Vivian Cornwell]

The eagle is beautiful and majestic, but I don't see them in the city where I live.

My favorite bird to watch is the HUMMINGBIRD. I do whatever I can to attract them to my yard. I am now waiting for them to return this season. It is still a little too cold for them here in Central Ohio.

[Gina Stevenson]

Wow! Looks blue/green/black mixed ... it is pretty. Funny a bird thread appeared today, as I'm now waiting for a couple of dogpile.com searches to come up. One I did for "chickadee" because that's what came to mind, tho' I'm not sure [when I saw something this morning], and the other for "small black and white bird"+picture.

I went outside with Sasha for her morning trip outside, was leaning on this post out there, and heard a bird. I looked up, and only 5-6 feet from me was this tiny bird sitting on a branch above me. I whistled back, he whistled back, and it kept going several times before he finally flew from the tree up to the roof. Apparently isn't too afraid of people, whoever s/he is.

So, tho't if dogpile.com didn't come up with something, I'd come here ... to ask Sharon and/or Dave. ;)

Hmmm ... only pictures that came up were chickadees ... not sure this was it, afterall; at one place you could hear one, and it didn't sound like what was whistling back & forth with me, so ... ???

Wished I had my camera outside, so I could've zoomed in [well, 4x wouldn't be too bad from only 5-6 feet ;)] and taken a picture ... but who takes their camera outside, normally, while their dogs "does her thing" ... ??? Maybe I'll have to start doing that, huh? :rolleyes:

[Marg Webb]

I hope others come in on this subject. My husband is a REAL Bird Man. He has given me some bird calls to place here but will have him do it later. My cousin in Mi. had kept some wayword Blue Birds fed all winter by purchasing worms for them.
She feeds the Crows dry feed, and the Crows chase the Hawks away.
The Hawk was hiding under a bush waiting for the Crows to leave, they found him and chased him away.
So we have found something to protect the Blue birds, THE CROW!!. Hitchcock could make a story out of that eh.
Marg.

[Marsha Lynn]

Gina, try searching for "junco". They're black-and-white and very common here in So. Indiana, particularly if there's a bird feeder around. They're also called "snowbirds".

Marsha

Wow! Looks blue/green/black mixed ... it is pretty. Funny a bird thread appeared today, as I'm now waiting for a couple of dogpile.com searches to come up. One I did for "chickadee" because that's what came to mind, tho' I'm not sure [when I saw something this morning], and the other for "small black and white bird"+picture.

I went outside with Sasha for her morning trip outside, was leaning on this post out there, and heard a bird. I looked up, and only 5-6 feet from me was this tiny bird sitting on a branch above me. I whistled back, he whistled back, and it kept going several times before he finally flew from the tree up to the roof. Apparently isn't too afraid of people, whoever s/he is.

So, tho't if dogpile.com didn't come up with something, I'd come here ... to ask Sharon and/or Dave. ;)

Hmmm ... only pictures that came up were chickadees ... not sure this was it, afterall; at one place you could hear one, and it didn't sound like what was whistling back & forth with me, so ... ???

Wished I had my camera outside, so I could've zoomed in [well, 4x wouldn't be too bad from only 5-6 feet ;)] and taken a picture ... but who takes their camera outside, normally, while their dogs "does her thing" ... ??? Maybe I'll have to start doing that, huh? :rolleyes:

[Marg Webb]

Juncos are a ground feeder. Maybe that will help. Although they do stay through Dec. here and return, passing on toward Mi. and Canada in the last of Mar. Juncos might be only one of my favorite. I just cannot bring myself to love one more than another.
Hawks are not my favorite, believe me.
Juncos are tiny and I imagine they are a little fuzzy if I could hold one.
Black-capped-chickadee are tiny too, and have a black cap. They will eat out of your hand after awhile.
I envy Dave and his variety of birds. Not the location. I have finally adjusted to Ohio. Never thought I would say that. MI. will always be home though.
The south of Ohio is just lovely, and to the N. we have a wonderful Great Lake. Of course Mi. is surrounded with water and Canada.:)
The Red Bird or Cardinal is Ohio's state bird.
What is the state bird of Washington?
Marg.
Marg.

[Sharon Isley]

There are so many birds it could be...can you describe it more? Was it striped black and white, or all black on the back and wings, and white on the belly? The first thing that came to my mind was a black and white warbler. In fact there are lots of warblers that could fit this discription. It could also be a junco, though most of those have migrated from here in Iowa already, so I don't know if they are still where you are.

[Sharon Isley]

This is my favorite bird. It is a painted bunting. It doesn't live in Iowa, and I've only seen it once, in the Everglades. It was so flourescent, it looked like a little kid went nuts with finger paints! :)

[Gina Stevenson]

It was more the black/white striped sort of bird, rather than big splotches of any one color. 'Found both varieties when searching [in pictures], too ... striped, and then big fields of just one color here & there.

We'll check out that "Junco" you mentioned. Warbler, eh? We'll search for that, too. Thanks, Sharon! ;)

There are so many birds it could be...can you describe it more? Was it striped black and white, or all black on the back and wings, and white on the belly? The first thing that came to my mind was a black and white warbler. In fact there are lots of warblers that could fit this discription. It could also be a junco, though most of those have migrated from here in Iowa already, so I don't know if they are still where you are.

[Gina Stevenson]

It was more the black/white striped sort of bird, rather than big splotches of any one color. 'Found both varieties when searching [in pictures], too ... striped, and then big fields of just one color here & there.

We'll check out that "Junco" you mentioned. Warbler, eh? We'll search for that, too. Thanks, Sharon! ;)

EDIT: Here's a link to a warbler picture that looks a lot like s/he did, yet this one has yellow on it, and the one this morning did not. hmmmm ....

http://www.birdperch.com/galldetq.asp?sp=01600001

[had to save pic, then zoom in on it, to see details/yellow, even, it's such a distant picture ;) ]

**************

That junco looks rather like it has big spots of black/white, rather than striped. So, probably wasn't that.

Here's another link to a pic that says, "sparrow or warbler." Well, his coloring is right, but from this angle, hard to tell if he's very striped on the wings/body or not. ;)

http://www.northrup.org/photos/Animals/nl-17.htm

Thanks again, Sharon. If we can now only hear a warbler, we might know if this was indeed what we were "talking" to this morning. ;)

There are so many birds it could be...can you describe it more? Was it striped black and white, or all black on the back and wings, and white on the belly? The first thing that came to my mind was a black and white warbler. In fact there are lots of warblers that could fit this discription. It could also be a junco, though most of those have migrated from here in Iowa already, so I don't know if they are still where you are.

[Dave McClung]

What is the state bird of Washington?

Marg.

The State Bird of Washington is the Willow Gold Finch.

[Dave McClung]

Last week when Linda and I were in Texas, we saw a flock of wild turkeys. It was the first time I have seen a male wild turkey spread his tail feathers. They strut around like a peacock.

[Doug Kitchen]

Last week when Linda and I were in Texas, we saw a flock of wild turkeys. It was the first time I have seen a male wild turkey spread his tail feathers. They strut around like a peacock.


Great picture - they are beautiful birds.

We have a bunch of wild turkeys in our neighborhood but I've not seen any of the males spread their tail feathers like that - They're usually out for a walk.

I've attached a picture of one of the flock, flying. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe that those things could soar like that. They are extremely loud flyers much like those military transports.

Doug K

[Sharon Isley]

Gina, here is a pic of a black and white warbler. Is that close to what you saw?

If it was striped, no it was definitely not a junco. Juncos also chip, not sing, so it doesn't sound like a junco. Warblers have beautiful songs. :) I wish I could send you a recording of their song.

BTW that second picture you posted, is a sparrow and not a warbler. I don't know why the website said it was a warbler, though in their defence the caption did say sparrow or warbler. But those are two different families. People get them confused though because both are small.

[Gina Stevenson]

thanks so much; that might just be it, Sharon! BTW, that one picture that said it was sparrow or warbler, looked black/white ... tho't sparrows were all brownish ... so I just learned something from you, letting me in on the fact that sparrows can also have black rather than brown feathers. ;)

Gina, here is a pic of a black and white warbler. Is that close to what you saw?

If it was striped, no it was definitely not a junco. Juncos also chip, not sing, so it doesn't sound like a junco. Warblers have beautiful songs. :) I wish I could send you a recording of their song.

BTW that second picture you posted, is a sparrow and not a warbler. I don't know why the website said it was a warbler, though in their defence the caption did say sparrow or warbler. But those are two different families. People get them confused though because both are small.

[Gary Swartzlander]

I love the Gold Finches. I have several bird feeders at the front of our house and it is fun to watch the birds work for position on the feeders. I've read that there is a method by which a species determines which bird gets position or one is forced to leave the feeder so one with more authority can feed. Watching them interact is very interesting.

[Sharon Isley]

Gina I can't remember exactly what that picture was, and it won't load for me now. My first thought though, was that it was a house sparrow. Here is a pic of one of those. And sparrows generally are more brown than black, but there is an amazing variety of colors for sparrows too!

Gary, goldfinches are awesome!

Doug, thanks for posting that picture. I've seen turkeys, but I've never seen one fly!

[Gina Stevenson]

Hmmm ... that sure is a different sort of sparrow! As I said before, this has been a learning experience; I tho't a sparrow was a sparrow was a sparrow ... period ... those all-brown sparrows with which we are so familiar. ;)

Gina I can't remember exactly what that picture was, and it won't load for me now. My first thought though, was that it was a house sparrow. Here is a pic of one of those. And sparrows generally are more brown than black, but there is an amazing variety of colors for sparrows too!

Gary, goldfinches are awesome!

Doug, thanks for posting that picture. I've seen turkeys, but I've never seen one fly!

[Marg Webb]

That was a first for me to see "That Turkey Fly."
My cousin tells me they are allowed to hunt them in Mi. now. Does anyone know if that is true.??
How could they kill such a lovely species.
I will shoot with a camera any time.
By the way. There are four barn cats under our bird feeders and a Hawk crusing over. Wish we had some crows. Never thought I would say that. Recall they chase the Hawk.
The cats are really needed for the farm.
I wonder if I should bring in the feeders???
Any suggestions.? This is the only area we can have feeders as we live in a Condo with so many rules.
Needless to say we miss our own yard freedom. But thank the Lord for the Condo. It fits our style, except for cats and Hawks.
See young Naznetters, what we older one's have to worry about. It is your turn to worry now:):)
Please, no one write me a sermon on "worrying".:)
Marg.

[Dave McClung]

[quote=Marg ...It fits our style, except for cats and Hawks.

Marg.[/quote]

I don't have much good to say about the cats, but the hawks are really helpful. They do eat a few smaller birds, but they eat a lot of rodents too. In fact, we were being overrun with rodents until a hawk showed up. The rodent problem vanished in just a few days. There is no way that a hawk could have eaten that many of the critters, so I assume it scared them away.

Anyway, I enjoy watching the hawks. When the wind is blowing briskly, they can hover above our house without even flapping a wing.

[Marg Webb]

Thank you for the picture of the hawks.
Our windows are situated so right. One clear to the ceiling and we can sit in our living-room and watch them soar.
We had many squirrels, but they have all been gone for over a year.
Would the hawk also get those? Hawks sometimes pick up a kitten I understand. I never saw that.
You mentioned rodents. You know we do not have a single rodent in any form here at these Condos. I have been giving the cats the credit. I bet it has been the hawk. There are several. We have bird and dog food in the garage and there is never a mouse.
Well if the hawk would stay airborne we would be happy.
My husband is a real Ornithologist to the core. I say we would be happy, my husband does not say what he thinks about Hawks. But the cat's, well there are a great many words there.
We both like the pictures you send to all and appreciate them. George cannot walk far enough to really 'Bird Watch' anymore.
He has a friend that travels all over the world to watch. Not Roger Torry Peterson, but he is so like that man. Anyway he goes into Russia a lot as there are great sites there he says.
The Lord is so good. He found us a wonderful area to live. Right beside a small woods. Most all trees are Oak and Hickory. Lovely.
George can watch right from the Library window.
Thank you so much again everyone for your pictures. George really enjoys them too.
Marg.

[Dave McClung]

We had many squirrels, but they have all been gone for over a year.
Would the hawk also get those? ...Marg.

Yes, they would. Here are some pictures I took on the campus of ENC in May of last year.

[Marg Webb]

George wondered if that was a Cooper's hawk? If so, they are also know as Chicken Hawks. That is supposedly why they became extinct for years. Farmers had to destroy them as they ate the poultry.
He said they are more common in your area than the east. Although this may be another type of Hawk.
That is something the shot's you made.
I think I could shoot a Hawk. Not sure. I would probably "chicken out".
We have not one Squirrel left here and I really loved them.
We are still surprised at the height the Turkey flew that someone else sent in. That was a remarkable picture too.
This has been a lovely day. Thank all for your pictures.
Marg.

[Sharon Isley]

I wish I could say what those hawks are. My expertise is in songbirds. When I see a hawk, I declare it a Redtail, and everyone believes me cause I'm the ornithologist...LOL

[Dave McClung]

I wish I could say what those hawks are. My expertise is in songbirds. When I see a hawk, I declare it a Redtail, and everyone believes me cause I'm the ornithologist...LOL

In the case of the last three pictures, you would be right. Last year, when I took those pictures, someone from NazNet took them to a person who is an expert on hawks. He identified it as an "imature redtailed hawk."

And, I believe the one first one I posted is also a redtailed hawk. Last year, we had a resident Cooper's Hawk, but I have not seen him this year. This one looks like a mature redtailed hawk.

I will post a picture of the Cooper's Hawk.

[Sharon Isley]

Thanks Dave! I'd have gotten out my field guide to ID the hawk, but apparently I packed them already. What a foolish mistake! That should have been one of the last things packed.

[Dave McClung]

Thanks Dave! I'd have gotten out my field guide to ID the hawk, but apparently I packed them already. What a foolish mistake! That should have been one of the last things packed.

I use Sibley. What do you use?

[Sharon Isley]

Roger Tory Peterson. Sibley is good but I learned on the Peterson guide, and I know it so well, it would be hard to change.

[Gina Stevenson]

poor baby squirrel ... besides "talking" to that bird yesterday, a squirrel -- the way they chatter -- sat on a rather close branch, and we "talked," too.

HAVE to take that camera outside when I take Sasha out to do her thing, apparently! Could've had a couple of decent pics of that black/white bird, and then the squirrel, sitting rather closeby, too ............. ;)

[Dave McClung]

God made some beautiful birds. Linda and I are blessed to live where we see a lot of them. Today, I saw two eagles, at least a dozen robins, and several Steller'ss Jays. I have to say that the eagle is the most impressive bird, but the Steller's Jay is the most colorful.
Since several of you have responded to my bird pictures, I will post some more. We get to see a lot of eagles from where we live.

The second one is a first year eagle. They develope the white head the second year.

[Joel Merrill]

Roger Tory Peterson. Sibley is good but I learned on the Peterson guide, and I know it so well, it would be hard to change.
Rodger Tory Peterson is the one we use too. He died a year or two ago. My wife is the more serious bird watcher at our house but since she got into it, I've become interested too. I keep a bird feeder full all year round and a couple bird baths. I have a heated bird bath for the winter but it doesn't work as well as I thought it would.

It is hard to pick a favorite bird. I like Oriels but they are kind of scarce around here. I also like any kind of wood pecker. We have lots of downy wood peckers in our neighborhood. We also have mourning doves. I like their sound. I even like the lowly sparrow. I suppose if I have a favorite it might be the house wren. I have several bird houses in my yard and I usually have at least two couples. They have such a cheery song and they are such hard workers. The only bird I don't like are starlings.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

Black-capped-chickadee are tiny too, and have a black cap. They will eat out of your hand after awhile.
Marg.
My grandmother could get chickadees to eat out of her hand. I wish I lived in the country. There are lots of common birds that you never see in town. Once in a while we will be surprised by a rare bird at our bird feeder when they are passing through. We even had a hawk catch a sparrow in our yard here in the middle of town. There are lots of cats in the neighborhood but they all belong to people so I leave them alone. We keep our cat in the house all the time.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

That was a first for me to see "That Turkey Fly."
My cousin tells me they are allowed to hunt them in Mi. now. Does anyone know if that is true.??

Marg.
Turkeys have made a big come back in the Midwest. When I was a kid, they were extinct here. Now they are all over and they are a popular game bird. It is legal to hunt them in all of the states around here. Of course there are laws and limits and the DNR monitors the turkey population. They will never become extinct again.

Joel

[Marg Webb]

I really wish Hawks would starting now!! Become extinct I mean.
They are really spoiling our "Bird Watching". No birds, no squirrels and no rabbits.
Did anyone here ever meet Roger Torry Peterson?
I saw him in the Columbus Ohio Airport of all places.
I just saw him. I hurried to my friend and said "that is Roger Torry Peterson standing there, he had been looking at me, like I think I know you, well my friend that had no idea what that name meant said very LOUD, "well weather, she said '(weather)' it is or not, he sure made your day". I must have looked like some kid seeing the Lone Ranger. We had just been in Sanabel Island and had been looking at his art and here the man is in Ohio of all places.
Of course he has gone on now I believe. That was thirty some years ago:)
Oh well we all have someone we admire. Mine was Peterson.
Marg.

[Beth Larpenter-Shurbutt]

Does this count???

Beth

[Sharon Isley]

LOL, great picture Beth!

I would have loved to have met Peterson. I mourned for him when he passed on. He was such a gifted artist.

One of the great parts of my job was mist netting. I have held virtually every species of songbird in Iowa in my hands. :)

[Gina Stevenson]

Does this count???

Beth

Well, if it's found in the birdbath ... ain't it a ... bird!? HA, HA, HAAA !!! :basic05

Darling dog, BTW, Beth ... gorgeous! ;)

[Marg Webb]

Did you have a Junco in your catch. If so are they just a little fuzzy? No of course not. They just look that way.:)
That was a great time for you!!!
Marg.

[Sharon Isley]

Yep, we caught juncos! And no, they are not fuzzy! :)

[Marg Webb]

Joke from Roger Tory Petersons Autobiography --

Peterson went to a Optometrist that did not know him.
He told Peterson he needed to exercise his eyes more and suggested he "take up bird watching"...........

Marg.

[Dave McClung]

God made some beautiful birds. ...


A new bird has moved into our neighborhood. Until this week, I had never seen a "scrub jay." A pair of these are picking up materials for a nest. I have not yet spotted the nest, but it must be in our neighborhood.

I took the picture through a foggy window, so it is a bit blurred, but you can still tell how pretty the scrub jay is.

Dave

[Dave McClung]

Several birds of this type have shown up in our neighborhood this week. This is the first time I have seen them. They have a beautiful call that reminds me of the "bell bird" in New Zealand.

[Paul Whitaker]

The African Fish Eagle is one of my very favorite birds - it has a special call.

[Sharon Isley]

Several birds of this type have shown up in our neighborhood this week. This is the first time I have seen them. They have a beautiful call that reminds me of the "bell bird" in New Zealand.

I'm pretty sure that is a starling. They are very common, around here, not sure about where you live. I like them, but they are considered pest birds.

[Dave McClung]

I'm pretty sure that is a starling. They are very common, around here, not sure about where you live. I like them, but they are considered pest birds.

We live in Gig Harbor, WA. I thought starlings flew around in large flocks. I have been where hundreds of them congregate in the trees. When you put a lot of them together, their song doesn't sound very pretty.

[Marg Webb]

Dr. what a beautiful Eagle. The markings are just so lovely.. What does their voice sound like.?
Great photography!!!

Was it Benjamin Franklin that wanted the Turkey for our countrys bird? My husband says "yes".

[Hans Deventer]

We live in Gig Harbor, WA. I thought starlings flew around in large flocks. I have been where hundreds of them congregate in the trees. When you put a lot of them together, their song doesn't sound very pretty.

Made me think of song by Randy Stonehill:

STARLINGS

Riding with my family in a '58 Buick
I can still recall
How we'd drive through the valley
To my Grandmother's house
Every summer vacation
When I was small
And I'd gaze out the window
At the farms and the orchards
And the sound of our motor
Would frighten the starlings
And they'd rise from the fields to fly

My mother would grumble
"Those birds are a curse
They're a thorn in the farmers" side
But I couldn't help feeling sad and inspired
By their desperate ballet in the sky

Say a prayer for the starlings
A hot, dry wind beats their ragged wings
Have a thought for the starlings
No one ever listens to the songs they sing
Say a prayer for the starlings
There's no welcome for them anywhere
Leave some crumbs for the starlings
They say that Winter will be cold this year

She was sitting on a curb by the Seven Eleven®
She asked if I had some spare change
Her skin wore that leathered and windburned look
And the light in her blue eyes was wild and strange
I sat down beside her and asked her her name
She said, "pick one you like, I need something to eat"
And her life made me think
Of the dead leaves in Autumn
Drifting like ghosts down the street

Is the life that we celebrate only a dream
A lie that we serve like a god made of stone
And our hearts are the hunter
Birds with no nesting place
Weary and aching for home

Say a prayer for the starlings
A hot, dry wind beats their ragged wings
Have a thought for the starlings
No one ever listens to the songs they sing
Say a prayer for the starlings
There's no welcome for them anywhere
Leave some crumbs for the starlings
They say that Winter will be cold this year

[Marg Webb]

I think that is a Starling too.
Is this Jay as ready to fight as our Blue Jay?. Real rascals.
The Hawks are out in FORCE in our little woods. Still just a few Juncos and sometimes a Cardinal.
Oh well our spring flowers are coming soon in the woods and we already have buds on our Miniature Lilac Bush.
Really miss our land.
Have some good sightings for us.!!
Marg. and George

[Sharon Isley]

Dave, Starlings do flock, but at this time of year, (breeding) they will be solitary as well. :) I think they are pretty, and I like their song, but in a group, it is just noise.

I saw an African Fish Eagle at a zoo once, it is an impressive bird. I didn't hear its call though.

[Dave McClung]

Dave, Starlings do flock, but at this time of year, (breeding) they will be solitary as well. :) I think they are pretty, and I like their song, but in a group, it is just noise.

I saw an African Fish Eagle at a zoo once, it is an impressive bird. I didn't hear its call though.

I think it is funny how the starlings hold thier wings when they really get into singing. It makes me think of an opra singer holding out his cape.

[Sharon Isley]

Hehe...cute, isn't it?

[Marg Webb]

`
Great shot. I am going to pay more attention to the Starling. Have been programmed to ignore them.
They do resemble Opera singer or Phantom of the Opera

[Russell Metcalfe]

There are many beautiful birds here on Cape Cod-- Ospreys are building a nest not half a mile from here-- there are swans and Canada geese and ducks galord-- in our back yard we have titmice, nuthatches, loads of cardinals, downy woodpeckers, jays, crows, mourning doves, orioles in season, hummingbirds (haven't arrived yet), song sparows, purple finches, goldfinches, various blackbirds including redwings, and I've seen occasional flocks of wild turkeys walking right down the road (along with deer, coyote, and red foxes)-robins, starlings, but my very favorite is the Carolina wrens- I don't know why except they decide where they are going to build their nests and-- they don't care if it is right in a flower pot on the deck! they seem to know we won't hurt them-- they are so perky they encourage an old man to smile . . . I wish I could take pictures like Dave!:fun11

[Marg Webb]

Russell you and Dave have the very best location for birds and animals.
I truly envy you.!!!! We have lost most everything to the Hawks
We keep saying 1st Corinthians 2:9 Of course one can say that means this or that, but I am going to believe it is Nature.:)

[Charlene Clevenger]

My parents had a beautiful back yard in Nampa, Idaho. They planted flowers and trees that would attract birds, and had misters going in the summer. Then they would sit on the patio in the morning to drink coffee and watch the birds. In the winter they had a special heater so they birdbath didn't freeze over and they sat in the dining room for their morining show. Not a bad way to spend your retirement.

[Christine Josephson]

3411

Saved this bluebird from my tom cat.

[Doug Kitchen]

God made some beautiful birds. Linda and I are blessed to live where we see a lot of them. Today, I saw two eagles, at least a dozen robins, and several Steller'ss Jays. I have to say that the eagle is the most impressive bird, but the Steller's Jay is the most colorful.
Loons are not colorful but they are beautiful. I've attached a picture from 2 years ago from Sebec lake in Maine. This year when we were there a loon kept popping up but I wasn't fast enough to get a picture. They can swim several hundred yards under water so I find it hard to get any pictures (I don't have a very good zoom on our camera). They are black and white and very elegant looking. Their call is very eerie and a little comical too.

Doug K.

[Marg Webb]

Loons are not colorful but they are beautiful. I've attached a picture from 2 years ago from Sebec lake in Maine. This year when we were there a loon kept popping up but I wasn't fast enough to get a picture. They can swim several hundred yards under water so I find it hard to get any pictures (I don't have a very good zoom on our camera). They are black and white and very elegant looking. Their call is very eerie and a little comical too.

Doug K.
DOUG.: I have recordings of the Loons call. Just love their call and also love to watch them. Such a private bird.
Their call to me is like floating in and out of sleep. Love them!!
marg.

[Theresa St. John]

One of my favorites is the indigo bunting. It visits my feeder in mid-summer. I have only seen the male. Gina, you might want to check out the female counter parts. They can look very different from the male. For example the female redwing black bird is actually kind of a striped brown. How big was the bird you saw?

[Gina Stevenson]

'Just found your note a few days later, Theresa. Thanks for the tip! We'll have to see if s/he appears again. It was probably about the size of your usual robin, maybe not quite ............

One of my favorites is the indigo bunting. It visits my feeder in mid-summer. I have only seen the male. Gina, you might want to check out the female counter parts. They can look very different from the male. For example the female redwing black bird is actually kind of a striped brown. How big was the bird you saw?

BTW, I was going to add that there's one bird that I have fun with, but not sure what s/he is, what s/he looks like, as it's somewhere up in a rather full pine tree when we go to the back yard with Sasha. It'll whistle/sing, then be quiet. I'll copy it ... it'll do it back ... then I'll do it ... it can go on forever ... so that it ends when I tire of the back & forth; the bird doesn't ever seem to stop, so long as you'll whistle at it. It's an interesting sort of song it has ... fun to try to copy. ;)