I know this top photo is not in focus, but is this a blue-winged teal? I think it is from my book and also from googling it. 
I am embarrassed to tell this, but it had not dawned on me that the bird below is the female version of the blackbird. It sort of made me wonder when they act so much alike, but I had never thought to look it up. But when googling red-winged blackbird, it appears several times.
I would hate to have to count the number of red-winged blackbirds out at the strip pit. I think it would be an impossible task. They are everywhere you look.
Two fellow bloggers, Tom and Leedra, identified the questionable bird in yesterday's post as the grebe, pied-billed grebe by Tom...Leedra just called it a grebe. Now if someone would just identify the one Sunday's post...I have also ran into pictures of sandpipers and sandpiper like birds that are similiar to it.Today was a windy day...it felt like the wind came direct off an iceberg. It was dark and dreary to begin with, the sun came out for a bit and then back to dark and dreary. If I had not had things to do, I would have went out to the strip pits just to watch the changing skies.
Nice bird shots. I used to live by a pond with dozens of red-winged black birds. Where I am now... none!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy birds but know little about identifying them.
You are finding so many neat water birds lately. All I've seen here are mallards and Canada geese. Maybe I'm checking all the wrong spots. ;-)
ReplyDeleteNice shots of the red-winged blackbirds, Rose. We have tons and tons of them here in East Gwillimbury because we have many square miles of marshland covered incattails.
By the way, I have a couple of sandpiper shots scheduled for Camera Critters on Saturday.
Yes, definately a blue-winged teal, with that crescent. As for the sandpiper-type bird, hard to tell size and other field marks, but I'd by guessing an Upland sandpiper (bill might be too long for that) or maybe one of the yellowlegs. Those marsh and shore birds can be real stumpers!
ReplyDeleteI've been playing catch-up on my blog reading. Love all your bird photos, Rose. That strip must be bird-heaven!
ReplyDeleteRe: reading -- I grew up with libraries, and carried out armloads even as a child; couldn't read them fast enough to suit me. I went through a phase in my 30's of reading a lot of non-fiction, but in my 'declining' years, I tend to choose fiction, British mysteries for the most part. Also, I discovered that I've quit trying to figure out who-done-it before I get to the end of the story. Tsk, tsk!
Hi Rose, Looks like you are getting some great pictures of birds. Isn't it amazing how different the females can look from the males at times?????
ReplyDeleteI read your post about not knowing much about your mother and father. You and Neal both need to talk to YOUR George (brother) more---to write down some of that information. I don't know much about my Daddy's family either.
Hope like you had a great week/weekend.
We are glad to be home.. It was a wonderful trip --just getting to see my son and family. BUT--the weather was horrible. Oh Well!!!!
I'm going to check through some of your older blog posts.
Hugs,
Betsy
Rose: Neat shots of the teal and female red winged. Protective colors are very important in the bird world.
ReplyDeleteI wish you would have guessed the buckeye tree.
I'm impressed with the variety of birds you are finding at your strip pit. I'm also very impressed with the pictures you're getting. Great job.
ReplyDelete