We came from here: The thread "Bird Photos, November 2016" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

It's December, and I have a decent photo to share despite my camera being at the Panasonic repair facility in Texas. So this is my old Sony. And these are some Sandhill Cranes I saw on the way to Starbucks today. I took the shots from my car after rolling down the window. There were three more just across and down the road a bit from these two.

Hi Lucy, glad you joined us. I think most birders take a lot of photos through the window, we take what we can get.

Nice shots Melanie!

I have the usual birds, the Steller's Jays, American Gold Finches, Northern Flicker, Ringed Doves, I could do without those, there's been a hawk hanging around in a huge tree across from me, Raven's and Crows, huge flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, got some photos of them yesterday but they are still in the camera, I will check those out tomorrow.

I've been seeing a lot of Cattle Egrets, and not near cattle. A large flock was in a strip mall parking lot. I was watching them while I had the red light and one landed on a pole so I got a good look at it. Then, I saw another one in the Starbucks parking lot. For once, there wasn't a massive line in the drive-thru so I didn't have a chance to take a picture. Lots of vultures around lately. I think it's directly related to the number of dead raccoons along the main road through my neighborhood. I've seen more dead raccoons in the last week than I have in months. Is it raccoon "season"? Dad reported seeing several "of those Lumpkins" the other day. I corrected him to Limpkin.

Oh, while I'm thinking about it, Mom and I moved the Iceland trip to August 2018 because it's much cheaper. We're booking directly through the cruise line instead of going through my alumni society. Bonus - direct flights to Reykjavik from Tampa begin in Sept 2017 AND we'll be cruising on a new ship that's being built right now! I'm still going to hug a Puffin.

What elegant birds, Melanie. Cranes have class.

My baby Masked Lapwings really aren't babies anymore. They can fly very well when they want to. But like most lapwings they like a good walk.

Melanie, your new camera may be in the shop but you sure got some great shots of those Sandhill Cranes with your old camera!! I hear and see Sandhill's here quite often and I'm hoping I can grab my camera in time and get some shots of them before long!

Lucy, from me too! And, don't hesitate to try taking pictures of the birds through your windows, we love seeing pictures of birds in different parts of the country and world ... whether through a car window or a kitchen window!

Glen, those Lapwings have grown up ... love those long legs and that face!

I saw several Sandhill cranes when we were in Wisconsin several years ago. they are not this far East so we don't have them here. I think that they do go to Florida however.

The usual crew most of which were mentioned yesterday are hanging around the feeder. I love it when we get snow overnight as the Cardinals show up. I know that they nest in the area because we know that it is spring when they start calling.

Some black vultures hanging around.

Christine, Awesome shots of those Vultures! Love the expression on the face in the 3rd photo!

Lucy, we have a resident Sandhill Crane (Grus canadnesis subsp. pratensis) here in Florida which is a threatened species: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabit... but there are indeed flocks of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) from the midwest that migrate to Florida for the winter! http://www.audubon.org/field-g... I can't tell them apart.

Ooops, I accidently posted this on the Butterfly Forum and was very politely asked to post it here (sorry Melanie)...

I had rescued a Sharp Shinned Hawk a couple of days ago. I started calling people in my area that would rehab an injured bird. It took two days (poor thing) of being in pain from a broken wing and a broken leg, he was also very nervous about his surroundings. I brought him indoors out of the rain and cold (I was nervous too).

My nervous energy calmed once the box was placed in the rehabbers hands. It's not often one can get up close and personal with a wild animal and the experience is humbling. I hope he gets better and back to hunting in no time, even though he hunts smaller birds.

I couldn't bring myself to terrorize him more and take photos...so I didn't. You'll have to take my word that he was incredible.

No apologies needed! Just wanted to make sure all the birders got to hear the story, too! I'm so glad you managed to get the hawk some help.

Yes, Robin is now the patron saint of sharp shinned hawks. I really admire what she did.

Robin, bless your heart for taking in that injured hawk and getting it to a rehabilitator! I hope they will keep you posted on how he/she is doing and please do update us here if you find out any information on the hawk's recovery and hopefully release back to nature!

Robin, that was good of you to take the Hawk in and find help for it, I hope it recovers.

Hard to get those birds to pose in proper daylight and to sit still, all were taken through the windows.

Northern Flicker



Bohemian Waxwings

Margaret, oh what lovely birds you are seeing at your feeders! It looks like it's cold in your area but those pretty birds sure do brighten up the landscape! I love the Northern Flicker but oh my, the Bohemian Waxwing is really beautiful!

Lovely pictures, Margaret. You should save that last shot of the waxwings for next year's photo contest.

That's a great shot of the waxwings!

Thank you everyone for the nice comments. Glad you like them, I will try and post more photos tomorrow.

Oh, I'm so jealous of all you who have so many beautiful birds! I love them and had put out a feeder, but all the birds who came were very picky about what they eat. They tossed everything they didn't want to the floor of my deck, where squirrels and chipmunks promptly came to gather them up. I enjoyed seeing them, but then several chipmunks nested in the garden area up against the foundation of my home, which is not a good thing. Plus, they totally undermined the small grassy area near it. It took me over a year to get them out (I don't want to say how). Now that they're gone, I don't want to tempt them back with food. Anyone have any good ideas about how to attract birds without attracting the chipmunks? So far, I've had black capped chickadees, tufted titmouses (titmice?), cardinals, blue jays, yellow finches, white breasted nuthatches and even some woodpeckers who came to peck the seeds from between the boards of my deck. Without the feeder, I see no one I miss them!