Spring Finally Here!

TheNevadanStig · May 25, 2015

And I have awaken once again from hibernation. Some shots from my first hike.

Not sure of the ID on these first two birds:

025 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

104 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

109 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

Blue and White Swallow:

202 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

Common Mergansers:

141 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

137 by Jason Lighthall, on Flickr

baturn · May 25, 2015

Very nice! 2nd and 3rd are Blackheaded Grosbeaks. 1st could be an immature Redheaded Woodpecker.

TheNevadanStig · May 25, 2015

baturn said:
Very nice! 2nd and 3rd are Blackheaded Grosbeaks. 1st could be an immature Redheaded Woodpecker.

Thanks for the ID!

Raj_55555 · Jun 1, 2015

Very nice captures, the swallow pic was my favorite

JacaRanda · Jun 1, 2015

Nice - I agree the Swallow is sweet!

WesternGuy · Jun 1, 2015

Jason, very nice shots. I also like the swallow, but I believe it is more accurately a Tree Swallow. We have them all over the place here during the summer. Their favourite trick is to nest in bird boxes that are put out on country fence posts intended for use by our bluebirds. The swallows often "beat them to it", as well, our bluebird population has been decreasing, so more and more of the nesting boxes are being taken up by swallows.

WesternGuy

bribrius · Jun 1, 2015

beautiful and nicely done.

where ya been?????????

Hunter58 · Jun 1, 2015

The first bird looks to be a House Wren. Very nice set.

TheNevadanStig · Jun 1, 2015

WesternGuy said:
Jason, very nice shots. I also like the swallow, but I believe it is more accurately a Tree Swallow. We have them all over the place here during the summer. Their favourite trick is to nest in bird boxes that are put out on country fence posts intended for use by our bluebirds. The swallows often "beat them to it", as well, our bluebird population has been decreasing, so more and more of the nesting boxes are being taken up by swallows.

WesternGuy

I think you are right. I just googled blue and white swallow and low and behold they exist by that very name, so I went with it without paying attention to the range. Both species look very similar. Here they like to nest under bridges that run above rivers and streams.

bribrius said:
beautiful and nicely done.

where ya been?????????

Hibernating. Told y'all I'm not a winter person [emoji6]

scooter2044 · Jun 1, 2015

WesternGuy said:
Jason, very nice shots. I also like the swallow, but I believe it is more accurately a Tree Swallow. We have them all over the place here during the summer. Their favourite trick is to nest in bird boxes that are put out on country fence posts intended for use by our bluebirds. The swallows often "beat them to it", as well, our bluebird population has been decreasing, so more and more of the nesting boxes are being taken up by swallows.

WesternGuy

My mother has the same problem with wrens in her bluebird boxes. She is almost 80 years old and recently decided to remove them with my fathers BB gun, which she has never even held in her life. I pity the neighbors and the neighborhood cats. She also has a squirrel that keeps getting in the bird feeder so she nagged my dad to make her a buzzer that would scare them away. She just watches out the window till she sees him and then bzzzzz, presses the button. Poor squirrel is gonna have a heart attack.

scooter2044 · Jun 1, 2015

I really like the lighting on the first one, that's my favorite.

limr · Jun 1, 2015

Lovely set. Really like the blue and white swallow.

Now more Toonces and Jonesy, please!

TheNevadanStig · Jun 1, 2015

limr said:
Lovely set. Really like the blue and white swallow.

Now more Toonces and Jonesy, please!

I need to get on that! I believe my wife even has a few new outfits for them...

WesternGuy · Jun 2, 2015

scooter2044 said:
WesternGuy said:

Jason, very nice shots. I also like the swallow, but I believe it is more accurately a Tree Swallow. We have them all over the place here during the summer. Their favourite trick is to nest in bird boxes that are put out on country fence posts intended for use by our bluebirds. The swallows often "beat them to it", as well, our bluebird population has been decreasing, so more and more of the nesting boxes are being taken up by swallows.

WesternGuy

Click to expand...

My mother has the same problem with wrens in her bluebird boxes. She is almost 80 years old and recently decided to remove them with my fathers BB gun, which she has never even held in her life. I pity the neighbors and the neighborhood cats. She also has a squirrel that keeps getting in the bird feeder so she nagged my dad to make her a buzzer that would scare them away. She just watches out the window till she sees him and then bzzzzz, presses the button. Poor squirrel is gonna have a heart attack.

I guess if the solution works without any damage to the neighbourhood cats and the neighbours, then maybe the wrens will stay away. As for the squirrel - that brought all sorts of interesting and amusing pictures to mind.

WesternGuy