Today I saw:

[Bulucanagria]

...a Barred Owl (I think) in my backyard.

[Equilibrium]

That's a gorgeous barred owl!!! I have 1. It used to hang out in an elm tree snag I had but since its favorite look out post fell to the ground, it hangs out in the newly created Norway Maple snag out back by the old treehouse. I'd love to get a photo like that. My guy never shows up until dusk. I have no idea where mine goes during the day.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by Bulucanagria

...a Barred Owl (I think) in my backyard.
Attachment 35112

Very cool, Bulu.

I've never seen an owl in my backyard. I hope to some day though. Congratulations!

[dapjwy]

I'd like to believe I have an owl or two visiting the property, maybe I just have to keep an eye out at dusk.

[turttle]

Beautiful barred owl, Bulu! I have never seen one outside of captivity, but my husband saw one swoop down on our pond patio and pick some poor creature up last summer (large frog? squirrel? snake? who knows!)

Here are a few more from my yard over the past two weeks. I just haven't had time to post.

Brown headed nuthatch - I didn't have any last year!


Chipping sparrow


And a robin in a pear tree...wasn't it supposed to be a partridge? Then again, a Bradford isn't much of a pear tree, either!


One angry yellow rumped warbler


And lastly, where's waldo, or how many siskins are bathing in this picture? My pond was awash in splashing siskins that morning.

[recurve]

Nice I've never seen a brown headed nuthatch before!

I count 12 pine siskins

[dapjwy]

Great photos, turtle. Thanks for sharing.

I've only seen a drawing of a brown-headed nuthatch in a field guide. Yours looks adorable. You are so lucky to get them

By the way, I like your new avatar...now that is the kind of nuthatch I see around here.

[Bulucanagria]

I'm glad everyone likes the owl pic. It only took 38 shots to get this and a few other decent ones. Low light and distance made for tough camera work. I ended up lowering the top sash of my window and bracing the camera and camera hand against the corner of the frame. A gentle squeeze of the trigger to avoid shaking and....adequacy.

Lovely photos, turttle. It's amazing how ubiquitous birds are once you get in the habit of seeing them. Of course, sometimes it's easier than others. I have a birdfeeder outside my 3rd story bedroom window. It's hanging about 3 ft in front of my face as I write this. It provides plenty of entertainment for me and my cat, especially when the squirrel hangs upside down on it and plunders the "squirrel-proof" feeder.

Below the feeder is a small, nearly flat surface and then the gutter just below it. Between the squirrel and all the sparrows, titmice and chickadees, there's plenty of spillage on this platform and especially in the gutter. This attracts the scavengers, including Blue Jays, Cardinals and Mourning Doves. Lots and lots of Mourning Doves.

Pretty much any morning or afternoon, I can look out my bedroom window and see a gutter full of doves.

[Rebek56]

The warbler photo needs to be in the POM contest--along with others--great pictures, everyone!

[BooBooBearBecky]

Cool bird photos. Favorite today is turttle's "One angry yellow rumped warbler," just because it made me smile.

I never knew some nuthatches could have brown heads. I have lots of nuthatches here...now I'll be looking for one with a brown head!