Birds you've seen today

Oh boy, that is going to be one BIG, long apology.

Thanks for the comment on my photo's Lyn.

Hi Sue.

Apart from the birds that you have already mentioned here are some other birds that I really hope that you manage to spot in your yard.

Crested Shelduck, Labrador Duck, New Zealand Quail, Javanese Lapwing, Great Auk, Tristan Moorhen, Colombian Grebe, New Zealand Little Bittern, Jamaica Petrel, Passenger Pigeon, Dodo, St Helena Cuckoo, Cuban Kite, Bahaman Barn Owl, Imperial Woodpecker, and not to forget the Bush Wren.

By the way, if a Bittern turned up in my garden, I know that within a matter of hours I would be surrounded by dozens of 'twitchers' all eager to 'have' the bird. Are you expecting anything similar?

Regards Roy J.

I have just this moment posted to the Nevada bird listserve, but I live in a little (7,000 population) town 160 miles east of the 'big' town, and as far as I know I am the only avid birder around this area, so no, I don't expect a rush of birders at my door.

I did call the local wildlife division of the BLM just in case they wanted to come and rescue it from this unfamiliar habitat, but they said that if it wasn't injured, and it isn't, that they would let nature take it's course. I told them I would shoot any cats I saw getting near it, as it's a slow moving bird and we have some fast moving cats in the neighbourhood.

And Roy, I will definitely let you know if I see any of those extremely rare birds in my little garden.

One more shot and then I'm done.

Walking cautiously over my water station, this is one of four shots taken on the sport setting.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/strangey05/IMG_0050.jpg

That is a really great picture. So nice and sharp. I think that you have been pulling the wool over my eyes when you say that you don't know what buttons to press. You certainly will be hard pressed to do better than that. Well done.

What is the bird feeding on?

Regards Roy J.

I can only imagine it's feeding on bugs, though I would imagine it's preference would be frogs and toads, and other stuff.

In one of my pictures you can see some debris on it's bill (I'll crop and post if I can) so I think it's catching bugs.  I have been watching it on and off (it's still here albeit in the neighbours garden) and I've seen it strike the pose, you know the one, like Heron's do when they are feeding, except the Bittern is almost horizontal, so it is quite happy out there.

It's brightening up a regular day of housecleaning that's for sure.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/strangey05/Feedingmaybe.jpg

It's got some kind of grass debris in it's bill, so it's probably been foraging for something.

Hi Sue.

Could that be a locust or grasshopper leg that is on the side of the bill?

Picture is great.  Any luck with the Passenger Pidgeon yet?

Regards Roy J.