A Flock of Robins

American Robins visited in a huge flock of several hundred birds along with about that same number of Boat-tailed Grackles on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, in my neighborhood.  Almost every one of the trees along my street here were bustling with birds!

American Robins are not true robins at all.  These birds are members of the Thrush family of birds.  I have observed that most of the American Robins like staying in taller trees.  These birds usually feed on the ground and enjoy earthworms, grubs, and insects.  They also will take seeds, berries and fruits.  This bunch of birds were here for a few hours and then moved onward.  I think they were a migratory flock.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

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American Robins in the Bird Bath!

Rub-a-dub-dub, Robins in the tub!  A large flock of American Robins (members of the Thrush bird family) arrived in my neighborhood on Feb. 21, 2015.  These are migratory birds in my neighborhood.  I am so glad they are here!

My next door neighbor’s bird bath has been extra-popular with this bunch of Robins.  They came in waves to drink and bath in the cool water.  Yesterday was a warm day here where I live so the Robins had a lot of fun splashing themselves and the other birds on the rim of the decorative concrete bird bath.  I took these pictures both in the morning and the afternoon on Feb. 22, 2015.   Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Guano River State Park and Wildlife Management Area

 

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles, a flock of American Robins, a female Downy Woodpecker, a flock of Common Coots, Brown Pelicans and a Snowy Egret were all spotted at the Guano River Wildlife Management Area and State Park on Florida’s A-1A coastal highway near Jacksonville.  I visited this large marsh and hardwood forest on February 12, 2015.  The front side of the park has a large lake and marsh, and several wonderful flat hiking trails that lead to the Wildlife Management Area.

The Wildlife Management Area is a place where hunting does take place at times so it is crucial to follow instructions given on prominent signs at the entrance gates.  We were there when no hunting was happening.  There are streams, beautiful jungle-like hardwood forests, marshes, and the large and small lakes.  I really enjoyed  the short hike we did while there.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Snowy Egret

American Robin

Brown Pelican

 

Coot

Downy Woodpecker

Brown Pelican

Robin Takes a Bath

A Flock of American Robins was feeding on the ground next to the rainfall retention basin across the street from my house.  One of these robins, a bright orange male, was happily bathing in the shallow water of this basin on a sunny warm afternoon on March 1, 2014 when I took these pictures.

This handsome robin was splashing away while its friends were hunting for worms in the lawns of the basin area and at a flower bed next to the basin.  American Robins are to me, such cheerful and busy birds!  I really enjoy seeing and hearing them.  There were about ten of these cuties here.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Songbird & Egret Gallery

Here are photographs I took this last week, of a variety of songbirds.  I so enjoy seeing new birds here!  The new arrivals this past week were:  A Chipping Sparrow; a Pine Warbler; and a pair of American Robins.  It was very cold for two days last week.  Some of the birds are seen here really puffed up so that they could stay warm.  It was only 31 degrees F. when I took the pictures of the American Robin, and the little Eastern PeWee!  Brrr.

The Eastern Blue Jay was a welcomed sight.  I seldom spot Blue Jays around here.  There at least two male Northern Cardinals here and a male Downy Woodpecker also in the area.  In fact, I saw three different kinds of woodpeckers here in the yards last week.  Additionally, there was a flyby of a flock of Cattle Egrets right over my home.  I took these pictures in my yards and around the street.  I am happy to say that the weather was much warmer this past weekend here.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

More Robins

American Robins have arrived here in my neighborhood.  I had seen just a few the other day and posted about those birds here yesterday.  As it turned out, many more birds joined the advanced scouts soon afterward.  I also spoke too soon when yesterday I described their calls as having characteristics vaguely similar to that of a Blackbird’s call.  I’ll “Eat crow” on that one.  Ha!  Guess what birds were among the flock of American Robins?  Yes, several Red-winged Blackbirds.  So, moral of the story is:  If it sounds a little like a certain bird, well, just maybe it is that other bird (mockingbird calls excepted).  I saw about fifty to sixty American Robins in my yard yesterday morning.  There also were a lot of European Starlings here too.  I took these pictures on Feb. 11, 2013 in my yard.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Some Robins Have Arrived

These are American Robins.  There were about four of the Robins here the other day.  They are not around much in the Winter here so seeing a few was a big treat.  I took these pictures in my yard on Feb. 5, 2013.  The American Robin is an insect-eating medium-sized bird.  They are members of the Thrushes and not true Robins like those found in Great Britain.  The bird has a bright burnt-orange breast, a grayish-brown back and head and a distinctive broken white ring around each eye.  They have sharp yellow bills.

The male and female Robins really look very much alike, except that the males are a bit brighter in color.  I am amused when I hear Robins as they sound to me very “Blabby”.  The sound is a high-pitched thin and loud sort of “Blab-blabty-blab”.  Quite the vocalist!  I have been seeing more America Robins in other spots around the community so this wave of migration seems to have arrived for this bird.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture,  Enjoy!  P.S.  I just went out and to my amazement, I saw the big flock of American Robins had arrived.  I guess these few birds I saw the other day were the advance scouts.  I will post more pictures of the American Robins tomorrow.  Wildlifewatcher