Thursday, April 26, 2012

Yard Visitors (take II)

My first yard visitors post did a mysterious disappearing act when I tried to make an edit from my iphone. I'm not sure how that happened...(I'm sure it wasn't any sort of operator error)

While frequently I encounter the same regulars that congregate in my yard, I occasionally come across ones that only make a brief appearance.


Ospreys are among the regular visitors. Since early February, this Osprey has been working diligently on constructing a nest in my neighbor's pine tree. For every one stick this Osprey would put in place, five more would fall to the ground. For the past 3 years, Ospreys have attempted to build in the same area of this tree without success. Just as I was beginning to speculate that this tree was some sort of Osprey nest building training tree, this guy finally had success!
   

If you really enjoy watching the painstaking process of nest construct (and you have A LOT of free time) check out this video from a post I did a while back. Osprey Nest Building Video (We made this video from our living room window)


This week a Downy Hairy Woodpecker stopped by to join the regulars, the Red-bellies, for some Oak tree foraging fun. Check out a great post on Dwayne's Blog (Nerdy for Birdy) on differences between the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.



Blue-Jays can regularly be seen and, of course, heard in the yard. This week we watched them collecting some nesting materials.


A Great Crested Flycatcher made a brief appearance this week, but my camera wasn't nearby for a capture of this beauty.

38 comments:

  1. Como siempre preciosas fotos. Las aves allí deben ser más confiadas que en España, aquí no dejan que te acerques a ellas.
    Saludos!!

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  2. Awesome yard birds!!! I will definitely check out your video when I have more time... I like watching the process!

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    1. I probably should mention, it unfortunately doesn't have a happy ending...

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  3. Ospreys nesting in your neighbours garden, you lucky are you!! what a daily sight in the lovely weather you have seemingly all the time. Is it ever not sunny there?

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    1. Haha, it did rain quite a bit last weekend!

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  4. You live in a birders paradise to have Osprey so close. You have a birding video?

    Have a great weekend, Tammy!

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    1. I hope you have a great weekend too! If you scroll over "osprey nest building video" it links to it.

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  5. laughing at the 'training tree'. glad they made it work!

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  6. Luckey you! Training tree for Ospreys in you neighobors garden.
    Very nice photos and a greatvideo Tammy.
    Greetings /Kenny

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  7. Amazing birds to have in your back yard Tammy! I am extremely jealous of the Osprey, although I have seen one from my house, but it was just flying over!
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

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  8. Tammy,
    I think the Downy Woodpecker is a Female Hairy Woodpecker! I could be mistaken though. The differences are so subtle, but beak length, and pure white outer tail feathers hint that its a Hairy Woodpecker. Beautiful photos! -DM

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    1. I thought at first it was a Hairy because of it's bill length, but it does have the barred outer tail feathers, you can see them in the first photo, so that made me think Downy...Im used to the red-bellied coming by; that's much easier to id:)

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  9. Tammy, you're sooo lucky having all these guests in your yard! your photos are great like always, and the blue feathers of the blue jays are the most enchanting me!!

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  10. Love the osprey shots. Very nice!!

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  11. De una gran belleza esta águila pescadora, muy bien captada con las alas abiertas y en pleno vuelo, buenas tomas las de las otras aves.

    Saludos.

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  12. What a great selection of 'yard-birds' you have, Tammy. Can't imagine Ospreys in your garden as they are birds of the wilderness over here!

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  13. Just came along to echo DM's comment about the woodpecker. I don't get to see Hairy Woodpeckers too often. So my initial reaction to those photos: I'm jealous! ;)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Amy! I think Dwayne was correct also; I didn't know that Hairy's could have barring on the their outer tail feathers, but I have since read that in some cases they do. Always learning:)

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  14. I just love the osprey! Gorgeous bird and your shots are wonderful! Beautiful photos of the jay and woodpecker, too! It's nice you can see all that just in your yard.

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  15. ufff!!!!! a fantastic osprey, great pictures congratulations Tammy
    health

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  16. Hola Tammy.. Greats shots.. Beautiful de osprey... Greetings...

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  17. Hi Tammy!
    Absolutely stunning photos of the osprey.
    Have a nice weekend
    /Ingemar

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  18. Hi Tammy, awesome photos of the Osprey (and yes, spent 20 minutes watching the video while doing something at work on the side). The bluejays and the woodpeckers are something we don't get in Australia so love to see them above as well, and in such wonderful detail too. Cheers, Richard

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    1. Hi Richard, Thanks for your comments. Glad you were able to check out the video. Have a great weekend!

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  19. Nice shots, Tammy! That Hairy/Downy Woodpecker is interesting. It seems to have that dagger like bill of a Hairy, but I measured the head to bill ratio on my computer screen and it does seem to be somewhat shorter than the head (though perhaps that's due to the angle of view). The upper photo also seems to have the black "comma" on the shoulder. Those make me lean to ward Hairy. But the inside of the tail is not all white, and she appears to be perched on a pretty small external branch, instead of on the trunk or one of the main branches. That makes me lean towards the Downy. Do you remember the size of it? If it was about the size of a Red-bellied Woodpecker, I'd go with Hairy. If it was noticeably smaller, I'd go with Downy.

    Btw, I hope you had a good time at Mead Gardens today and took some good photos too.

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    1. Thanks so much for your input Scott! I'll be watching for this woodpecker to visit again. Mead Gardens was beautiful; we have a great time there!

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  20. A wonderful collection of images Tammy!

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  21. Hey Tammy, ospreys are some awesome birds. I don't have to many opportunities to photograph them but when I do they always are preforming some special spectacle just being themselves. All of your photos are terrific and a pleasure to view. Thanks.

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  22. Hahaha!
    Poor Ospreys!
    Its great to know that at last a brighter bird has succeeded in the building of a nest in that tree and that means much watching excitement for you!!
    How lucky can one get??! LOL!
    Wonderful post Tammy!
    Enjoy your WE!

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  23. Wow, awesome birds you have visiting in your yard.
    And as always stunning shots.
    Wish you a wonderful weekend.
    Mette

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  24. Klasse Bilder sehr schön.

    Gruß
    Noke

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  25. Well done on capturing these wonderful beauties to your yard Tammy. Wonderful Osprey images.

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  26. As another commenter mentioned, I love the "training tree" idea. It made me laugh. All of the Osprey couples I'm seeing around the Seattle area are building on nesting platforms or cell towers. After watching your video, I understand more thoroughly, the appeal of broad, flat surfaces.

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I greatly appreciate your comments!