We had a really nice spring this year, warm and pleasant, low humidity and nice breezes; but now it looks like our normal summer pattern is beginning with the heat and humidity ... not so pleasant to be outdoors!

I've spotted a few ducks today ... male Mallard and a Mottled Duck:


Cardinals have been around all day:



A Dove visiting the feeder ........ and not a bird but a Florida Red-bellied Turtle that came out of the water to sun itself in the backyard:

Nice shots Lin.

We have something very strange going on here. I have NEVER heard of this so I want to run it by you guys.

On the rear of our property we have some ancient live oaks & the property behind us continues the same way. We sit on the back porch & watch the birds doing their thing in the oaks. We each have a pair of binoculars on the table there for quick viewing. About a week ago we saw a bird walking limbs in the oaks & nibbling on the plant life that grows on the upper side of those aged limbs. The bird was high up in those limbs ~~~ I'd say at least 20' high or more. By darn if it isn't a duck. A real live duck, complete with duck bill & bright orange legs & webbed feet. We've heard it making it's little whistling cheep sounds. Since that day we have repeatedly seen it up there or heard it & subsequently spotted it with the binoculars. It has flown from one limb to another indicating there is no problem that prevents the duck from flying. We do have a lake & various ponds within less than a mile from us. I have never, ever heard of a duck hanging out in trees like that. It's not as if we have a pond or lake on this property. And the duck is so high in the trees. I've looked online & see nothing that indicates ducks frequent high limbs in trees. I find this all very weird. Have any of you ever seen this kind of thing going on or have knowledge that ducks do this? We can't as yet ID the particular type of duck as he is always so much in deep shade that we can't identify any specific markings or coloration other than those legs & feet that are almost day glow they are so bright.

Ann's mystery duck!

It is probably a tree duck, Black-bellied Tree Duck, perches in tree and nests in holes in the trunk.

Our wood ducks land in the tall trees that over hang the wetlands ...I know the first time I saw them land in a tree I was amazed,didnt think ducks could do that either...They do...lol

Yesterday we were outside heard this buzzing like loud...Oh Me it was a swarm of bee`s moving... I guess..Talk about weird,kinda scared me at first...Thought Oh no they are MAD...run for your life...it was ok they kept going...I need to sit in the birdwatching chair....and shoot some photos

Nice phots everyone

Tamara, glad the bees moved on!

Today I saw what I thought was a very odd thing. The Catbird was out on the driveway eating seeds that I put out for the birds. Never, never have I seen Catbirds eating birdseed. But I watched carefully and that is what he/she was doing.



I took this picture for another reason. For another forum to show my veggies in pots. But I realised you can just see the section of driveway on top where I thow out the birdseed each morning and the birds come and eat. I use that top section cause I can easily see the visitors there.

Margaret! You're a genius! That's what it is. I was stricken by the length of the legs on this duck ~~ I've never seen a duck with such long legs in proportion to it's body. I'm so glad you called that one for us. It would have driven the dh & I nuts trying to figure that one out.

Geez, it never occurred to me to Google "tree duck". I did everything else but that. So we might be seeing little ducklings.

Oh Ann, won't that be exciting to have little ducklings.

The hubs loves baby ducks as much as you love chickens Rita.

The hubs loves baby ducks as much as you love chickens Rita.

I have never seen a catbird eat seed either. Wonder if they only do it when it's on the ground?

I wish I could have chickens here on my "farm" ha-ha. I would only have hens cause I do have neighbors but I think those chickens would be spoiled pets! I think it is very unfair of the city to have no chickens in the zonning laws. Many more progressive urban area allow hens with a limit on the number (number depends on town). I totally agree with having a limit on the number, no one wants too many urban chickens running amock.

And hens only would be fine. NO roosters! We had people in our old neighborhood keep thinking they could break the rules & have chickens. I, personally, wouldn't have cared except the dummies kept getting roosters! Those roosters crow ALL the time. Drove me batty after a while. I could wake up at 2 am & hear that da&* thing crowing!

Back when I lived at my old house my neighbor got Easter chicks one year for the kids. 5 of them. Well, of course they grew up. Walked around the entire neighborhood. He must have kept them in the garage at night. Most of them (maybe all) turned out to be roosters as they did crow all the time. Someone must have been ticked off cause he got reported. Wasn't me. I did hear the crowing but didn't care.

The Goldfinches will have sunflower seeds direct from the plant this year. I started my own sunflowers and planted them out just now. Have 9 of them so there should be plenty of eating for the birds!

Newyorkrita said:The Goldfinches will have sinflower seeds direct from the plant this year. I started my own sunflowers and planted them out just now. Have 9 of them so there should be plenty of eating for the birds!

Most years I start some. Don't know why I didn't last year.

Glad to help Ann. I have never seen a tree duck, but I have very good memory of what birds are in my bird guide, or any that I have seen in magazines or any that I see on TV..

I hope you get to see lots of little tree ducklings. Right after they are all hatched, the mother will fly to the ground and coax the ducklings out of the nest, sometimes from a height of 30 feet, they will fall to the ground....thud, they are usually fine.

High diving ducks!