Seeing Starlings

European Starlings have been here off and on all year.  I am fortunate in that their numbers in my yards vary from just a few dozen to about two hundred.  They never seem bothersome at all.  They graze in the grass, and usually perch on in the Oaks.  Once in a while, I will see the European Starlings perch on the electric lines.  These birds eat just about any grains, and fruits.  They also like grubs and earthworms.  I took these pictures of the beautiful iridescent black-blue and brown birds in my yard.  The Starlings were out with all the American Robins in my pasture the other day.   Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

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Wordless Wednesday

Male Eastern Bluebird

House Finches

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Just a collection of photographs of birds I took in my yard on Feb. 8, 2013, and again on Feb. 9, 2013.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Male Red-winged Blackbird

European Starlings

Male Northern Cardinal

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!

A Flock of Starlings

European Starlings often come around in a flock of about one hundred birds.  The Starlings feast on worms and insects in the grassy pastures around here.  I took these pictures on a rainy January 1, 2013 from my covered front porch.  I saw a lot of the Starlings in the grass but also saw a group perched in the crowns of two Oaks just at the side of the pond.  The Starlings are smaller medium-sized birds that are a lovely iridescent blue-black with a long pointed yellow bill and black eyes.  They are interesting and don’t seem too wary about people being around.  The Starlings are around this community quite often but do come and go.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture in the gallery.  Enjoy!

Starlings Getting a Drink

This small flock of European Starlings was photographed catching a drink from the lovely little farm pond here.  I was trying to take pictures of what I thought may have been Kildeer, but it turned out that the birds in question were really Starlings.  I have never seen a whole flock swoop down together to get a drink of water before.  It was an amazing sight.   The flock basically swooped down to the shoreline for just a quick few seconds and then up and off they went.   I took these pictures from across the pond and was quite a long distance from the birds.  I took the pictures on Nov. 13, 2012 in my yard.  I also have included a picture of a European Starling sitting in an Oak that I also took in my yard on Nov. 10, 2012.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

European Starling

Starlings

European Starlings have come in big numbers several times this year.  Starlings here feed in the grassy yards and cow pastures.  The neighbor’s pasture across the pond has more than forty acres of open space where the birds can find lots of insects to eat.  They perch in several larger trees both here and across the pond.

European Starlings mostly eat insects as well as several types of grains and seeds.  The European Starlings have slender, sharp bills.  The males are iridescent blue-black with brown areas, and are very attractive birds.  The females are a lighter version of the males.  Although these birds have been in the United States a long time, the European Starlings are natives of Europe.  I took these pictures on September 4, 2012 in my yard.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

More Yard Birds

House Finches

Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

European Starlings

A Great Blue Heron, Eastern Bluebird, European Starlings, House Finches, Red-headed Woodpeckers and more birds were here in the yards in the last two days.  I delight in watching all of the action!  The heron was on this side of the pond because the cows were wading in the pond from the other shore.  I evidently startled the big bird and off it flew.  There have been a lot of House Finches taking seed from the feeder lately.  Just mobbing it!  The Eastern Bluebird juveniles are out and about and are charming.  So many beautiful birds to admire, and enjoy!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Juvenile Eastern Bluebird

Great Blue Heron

Adult Red-headed Woodpecker