A Northern Mockingbird

I hear this Northern Mockingbird pretty often but only see the lively bird once in a while.  This time the song I heard was an imitation of the Northern Cardinal.

It makes me laugh when the Mockingbird suddenly changes its singing and out of the open beak, comes the song of a totally different species of bird.  Just like that, two or even three bird songs in a row.  Talented!

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Songbird Sightings

Northern Mockingbird

A Northern Mockingbird, juvenile male Northern Cardinal, a sweet Morning Dove, and a Palm Warbler in the grass were all spotted along my street this last weekend.  Not much going on other than the big wading birds and ducks on the ever-shrinking local park lakes (I have seen a large number of Seagulls in recent days on the water).  It has been quite windy and cooler here.  We are also in a drought which is not helping matters.  Hopefully rain is in the forecast here in coming days.  Wishing everyone a very happy 2017!  Happy birding!

Northern Cardinal

Mourning Dove

Palm Warbler

More Birds in the Neighborhood

Eastern Blue Jay

Northern Cardinals, Boat-tailed Grackles, Eastern Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, House Finches, White Ibis, Northern Mockingbirds, and a pair of Brown Thrashers were all spotted here on my street and in a neighboring yard on the next street over in the last week.  Additionally, we have had Eastern Bluebirds, Crows, Chickadees, and Carolina Wrens around.   The finches were rooting around in a lot under construction where a new home is being built.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of that picture.  Enjoy!

Mourning Doves

Female House Finches

Northern Mockingbird

 

Juvenile White Ibis

Male Boat-tailed Grackles

Brown Thrashers

 

Early November Songbirds

 

A sweet Downy Woodpecker, a vibrant male Northern Cardinal, and a Mockingbird were all spotted here in the past week.  I so enjoy hearing the Mockingbirds sing a chorus of different tunes.  The Northern Cardinal is a bright cheery addition to the Oaks where it is actively hunting for insects, particularly caterpillars.

The Downy Woodpecker is likely a female.  I have seen that woodpecker here on a couple of recent occasions.  I believe that bird lives in the trees near the rainfall basin across the street.  That basin abuts two streets and the woodpecker lives on the side of the basin along the next street over from us.  I really get excited seeing all these birds, especially the woodpecker!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photograph.  As ever, enjoy!

Fooled!

Don’t believe all the bird calls you may hear.  I recently was fooled by what I thought was a Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker Woodpecker.  I chuckle to myself just thinking of it.  The song was so convincing that I just knew that the big woodpecker was nearby in the trees.  No!  Guess what the bird was?  Yes, it was the master mimic, a Northern Mockingbird!  Wow!  Unfortunately that mockingbird was in deep shadow and quickly disappeared before I could take good pictures of it.  The picture here, is of a Northern Mockingbird that was in the gulch area near my yard.   I took this particular picture last Fall.   Please click on the thumbnail images to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!