plantladylin said:Melanie, the bird in your two photos is the Northern Mockingbird ... a Florida resident and one of my favorites! http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...

Ann, I have only spotted the Great Crested Flycatcher a couple of times, once in January and once in August. The Cornell site map: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g... shows them throughout most of the state during the summer and year-round in the far southern part of the state. This photo is from August 2010:

Well, see Lin, they say they aren't here in Jan. sooooooo?????? You saw in Jan. I think we have them. Maybe rare but I think they're here.

I only see the flycatcher around here once a year. Im lucky if I get three good looks. Still fun. Ann, I was listening to the cranes this weekend when I was out working, they are so high up, but no problem hearing them.

Pam, we were just outside & the cranes are kicking up a ruckus still. They've been at it all day. They are flying really low today & all seem to be heading west to the lake about 1 mile from our house. Just now we saw several smaller groups incoming to the lake from different directions. I have a feeling they are congregating there in preparation for a huge flock migration. I stripped wallpaper all day today & am bone weary. If not for that I would be going down to the lake & checking them out to see just how many are there now.

The official state bird of Florida and I don't even recognize it. I hang my head in shame. Although, I must admit I'm one of those who thinks we should change it to the Scrub Jay. I met a guest at MOSI one day last year whose father worked at Archbold Station back in the 60's and 70's. She said they actually had a Scrub Jay they raised in their house (I don't think they allow that anymore, LOL). And the birds became so familiar with him in their habitat they would perform their mating dance to him. I thought that was cool. One of these days I'm going to have to travel to those Scrub Jay's home and get a look at them. I was hiking down in the Golden Aster Preserve in south Hillsborough County years ago and I met a birder who was looking for them so maybe they live there, too? I told him I was butterfly hunting and not much help.

Great pics all, Dave what a treat having the cranes as guest. I haven't seen a crane since I was small.
Here's the BK egret:



I wonder if the fries are bad for it's cholesterol.

My Dad says fries always raise his sugar. I'm sure those birds just eat them as a treat, though.

That is so cute! That Great Egret has probably become used to humans giving it treats which is why it hangs out at BK.

I was just on Facebook and it reminded me that I'm friends with the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. It's a great site for bird pictures and info. You don't even have to be a Floridian to appreciate it! If you want to check it out, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/flori...

Went to FB and "Liked" their page!

I have enjoyed parts of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail when traveling around Florida, and keep an eye out for signs when traveling, it's usually a great place to take a travel break.

The number of Starlings are growing at my house. I see huge flocks when I drive to town too. They have been bullying the other birds which makes me angey. But some are learning to ignore them. This female Pileated is finally learning to do that!

It sure looks like you have a lot of Starlings around! The Pileated WP is bigger so maybe the Starlings think twice before bullying that one.

The only thing I know about Starlings is that my grandpa would shoot them in his garden. He shot a groundhog once, too. His garden wasn't just for fun. It was actual food. And it fed four families. So he was a little protective. He died before I started butterfly gardening and I often wonder what he would have thought of me intentionally feeding caterpillars.

Okay, while I was typing that Mom spotted a bird outside so I went and took pictures. Let me download them off of my camera, consult my book, and I will be back in a minute.

Okay, Mom said something about an Egret, but I think this is a juvenile White Ibis. The Ibis has a curved beak, but the Egrets are straight, right? Plus, it totally matches the picture in my book. Birds really don't like you to get close. A lot of butterflies let you approach but birds are much more elusive. Still, I think I got some good pictures. By the way, it just rained here. I don't know what effect that has on bird behavior, but I thought I'd mention it.

Boy I miss Fl. great Ibis pics. Can't wait to get back down there with my camera.

Wow! Some awesome photos! I love the BK photo! Too funny!

I have an old photo somewhere taken at least 4 maybe 5 years ago of a Sandhill Crane looking into the classroom window at my old school. It was looking in the window at all of us, so I happened to have my camera and ran around the side of the building and took a few photos of it! The kids were so excited to see a bird looking in at them. LOL!

I don't see Starlings very often here. (Fortunately.) And I have never seen a sparrow. It's mainly Blue Jays, Cardinals, various Dove species, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Grackles. Winter is much more interesting with the hummingbirds and Painted Buntings.

I would love to see a Pileated Woodpecker. They are here but I have never seen one in person.

A mated pair of flickers have been hanging around the feeders and the trees in my yard, they are so pretty.
The male...... and the female


Steller's Jay when we had a little snow a few days ago.

Melanie: Great photos of the juvenile White Ibis!

Margaret: Oh, the Flickers are so beautiful and I really like the Steller's Jay ... would love to see one of those in person!

mcash70 said:A mated pair of flickers have been hanging around the feeders and the trees in my yard, they are so pretty.
The male...... and the female


Steller's Jay when we had a little snow a few days ago.

Margaret that photo of the Jay with the snow on the tree is perfect! I love that!

Thank you Lin and Linda, the Jays are very beautiful birds.