Thank you Lin. We have large flocks here too, it is really neat to see so many of them, they are gorgeous looking birds.

Some one wanted to see a flying-fox. It is not a B,B or B but another B: Black Flying-fox. BFFs are big pollinators of our forests. They are about 13" long and weigh about 2.5lbs and have a wing span of about 3.5'.

It is an awful picture but tonight was my first attempt - it was 80' up feeding on blossom nectar of an eucalypt.
Now, if I only could photograph the Boobook Owl calling from near that tree. (And pigs might fly).

Wow! Cool!!

Cat said:Margaret, I have never seen any! I looked them up, they show in IN year round. I need to figure out what I can plant that may help. They are Beautiful Birds!!!

I was shocked when I learned they are here too, And then when I saw some just down from my house I was so HAPPY!

Glen, Oh WOW ... that Flying Fox is the coolest creature!!

And, I'd never heard of a Boobook Owl: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.p... so I had to google. I've always loved Owls and the Boobook sure is a cutie! You can listen to their vocalization on this page: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?b...

I was outside a few minutes ago and spotted a couple of juvenile White Ibis feeding in the front yard. When I'd try to slowly walk closer they'd hide behind the Ixora shrubs.

Great Shots Lin! Amazing!!

Claudia, I know! I am definitely going to be planting something with berry's if I don't already have some just newly planted. They are so pretty and I would love to see some here!

Glen that would be So Cool to get to see those Flying Foxes! I have seen them at our Zoo but that is just not the same.

Here's a few I took today...

Red Bellied Woodpecker




Black-Capped Chickadee


House and Gold Finch




Sparrows (AKA The Mob!)


The One Eyed Bandit! (I call him that because his right eye is bad.) You can tell when you see it. He doesn't act like he can see out of it either.


And last but not least, IN State Bird Northern Cardinal


Can you tell I am bored today...

Way cool Glen!

Would to see an Ibis in my front yard!

Cat, glad you are bored!

Cat: Lovely shot of that female Red-bellied WP and oh how I love the Chickadees, Finches and even the Sparrows. I noticed a couple of dozen tiny little sparrows out in the yard a few days ago ... we only see them when the weather in the north turns real cold.

I think the Northern Cardinal is a favorite of most everyone ... how can you not love that gorgeous bird! It's the state bird of six or more states I think. The Cardinal is one of the most prolific backyard birds here in Florida too but the Northern Mockingbird made it as our state bird.

~ Well, the pair of juvenile White Ibises had another youngster join up with them this afternoon; it was weird though, two stayed real close together with the third lagging a few yards behind most of the time; they were in my backyard feeding near the water for a few hours this afternoon. I let the dog out at one point and he apparently startled one through the fence and it jumped and landed in the water! They are wading birds of the shallow water but not swimmers so thankfully it was able to flutter and flap enough to get back on dry land! He stood there flapping his wings to dry off for a few minutes, then began preening and the one it was with all day began to preen too. I was able to get a few more pictures:

Cool birds, great shots Lin!

Thanks Margaret. My camera has been acting up for a few weeks. It's so weird, I look through the viewfinder and it looks real bright but when I depress the button to take the photo it darkens and the photos are dark and I have to try to lighten them once I've downloaded them to my laptop. I know nothing about cameras and haven't had a chance to get my husband to look at the settings for me ... I'm sure I've messed them up once again.

This is a little Warbler from a little while ago, again I had to *fiddle* with the color once I got it downloaded because it was almost black it was so dark and the picture was taken about 4:30 this afternoon when it was very sunny.

Lin, I know nothing about cameras either, I try and learn but it won't stick in my head so I put it mostly on auto.

That's the Boobook's call. Its name is onomatopoeic.

LOL, I keep my camera set on the "P" setting but there are a couple of buttons on the side of the camera that I have a tendency to hit sometimes in error. For some reason I can't get my flash to work lately either ... I'm OLD, forgetful and have a shorter and shorter attention span as the years pass.

Wow Lin, Great Photos! That is so great to be able to see them around you home! I know what you mean about the camera's. I have one I recently got and I am still not sure how to use all the features on it. Need to learn but just can't seem to drag myself to read the instruction book.

Lin, I am loving your Ibis. Glad they came back for more photos! Cute warbler too.

Thanks y'all, I love my backyard birds.

Cat: I downloaded the manual for my camera a couple of years ago but I have the attention span of a gnat.

@Cat To keep the mob of House Sparrows away from your feeders you can try something like the "Magic Halo". (I've not tried it myself but its worth a try, or make something similar yourself using fishing line)

I'd never heard of the Magic Halo but googled and found this. And, please do not use fishing line, it can harm the birds.

I've never heard of it either. Going to check it out, Thanks Brenda!