Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread

[BoxsterCy]

More owls, cause I like trying to locate and photo owls.

Went walkabout tonight at a Mpls bird sanctuary. Was looking for Screech Owls but struck out. A murder of crows harassing this Great Horned Owl did at least lead me to an okay look at an owl even if it was "...not the droid I was looking for".

 

[MTCyclone43]

We were in the North Gate of Glacier National Park- heading towards Quartz Creek Campground. These two were right next to the North Fork River.

 

[Cyismymonkey]

I'm not a big bird person, but my family got some humming bird feeders for Christmas and I was wondering if now is the time to hang them. We live in an open area on the edge of town with a grass field behind us. Not really much in the way of flowers around us. Will the little guys find it if I hang them on the porch, or is it better to hang away from the house?

We have a couple feeders hanging on the back deck. They’re fueling up for their trip to Mexico. They don’t go easy on each other chasing each other away from the feeders.

 

[NENick]

Not a rare bird sighting, but I see far more great blue herons and don't usually get close to a green heron. They're kind of cool.

 

[Bret44]

I saw a lone white pelican flying along the Cedar River in Charles City yesterday. That was weird.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Not a rare bird sighting, but I see far more great blue herons and don't usually get close to a green heron. They're kind of cool.

They are fun to watch. When they hunch down you would have no idea how long their neck is.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Related to posts above, I did a quick look and I had some images from June that show the Green Heron's neck length.

 

[NENick]

Great shots!

 

[BoxsterCy]

First Screech Owl of the fall season, this little nugget was coming out of it's cavity late Sunday. Little early for catching them in cavities, think the earliest for me is November. And first catching an owl in this particular cavity since 2022. Not 100% the shot I was looking for but it will do as a season starter.

 

[BoxsterCy]

 

[Kinch]

Sawa hummingbird and Merlin spotted a warbler last weekend.

 

[NENick]

Sawa hummingbird and Merlin spotted a warbler last weekend.

Hummingbirds are gone from the Iowa driftless area. Refilled 2 feeders on Sunday, just in case, but haven't seen a one.

 

[wxman1]

 

[baller21]

I saw a lone white pelican flying along the Cedar River in Charles City yesterday. That was weird.

This is the first time I’ve seen them in our neighborhood. A whole squadron about 15 miles NW of Des Moines.

 

[Bret44]

This is the first time I’ve seen them in our neighborhood. A whole squadron about 15 miles NW of Des Moines.


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Hell ya, those things rule.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Hummingbirds are gone from the Iowa driftless area. Refilled 2 feeders on Sunday, just in case, but haven't seen a one.

I think ours are gone, too, but I've read to keep the feeders out at least two weeks after you've seen a hummingbird there to make sure later-leaving ones still have something to eat.

 

[CycloneDiver]

Saw 2 hummingbirds in WDM Monday evening. Nothing since. Appreciate not having to clean feeders everyday since it’s cooled down!

 

[GrindingAway]

Lots of Yellow Rumped Warblers in Southern Iowa lately but that's about all. Haven't been able to get a great picture of one though. But did get a couple good woodpecker shots. Also was putting the cover on my smoker and had a Cooper's Hawk fly about right over my head which was a little weird.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Finally got my fall color and owl photo today. Was thinking I won't get one after walking 8 miles on Thursday and Friday in various parks looking for a Great Horned or Barred Owl in fall foliage. Got two GHO today in oaks and a bonus Screech Owl. Plus a Cooper's Hawk in my own yard for a trio of raptors for the day. Good birding and photo day.

Photos later, got what I hope are some good shots.

 

[madguy30]

This is the first time I’ve seen them in our neighborhood. A whole squadron about 15 miles NW of Des Moines.


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I'm late to this but I've seen a lot of pelicans in Iowa randomly the last two years.

Two spring/summers ago I saw a group of like 50 come in together and land up stream on the Wapsipinicon River one early evening.
I've also seen a few more cranes in the same area, never saw either species in all the time I've known the area (30ish years).