I think I’ve gotten every photo that was sent to me in England, though it will take me some time to compile and post them. Thanks to all the readers who responded.
Today we have some nice bird photos from Pete Moulton, whom I have to beg for pictures when I see him posting them on Facebook:
Here are a few of my recent bird photos that you might want to share with your readers. All these are from spots in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area, and all are common and easy to find here.
First is a Curve-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, during the sunrise at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Next, one of the Curved-bill’s relatives, a Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos.
Male Gila Woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis:
And, finally, a hen Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis. These are common enough here, but typically stay as far from photographers as they can get.
Really good! Now, does the curved bill thrasher feed on pollen and nectar in flowers? Its beak looks like it would be good at that.
Mark, they eat plenty of cactus fruits when those are in season, and they use their bills to dig out the soft pulp. Most of the year, though, they forage on the ground for invertebrates. Their bills are handy for sweeping aside the leaf litter to expose the bugs underneath.
Great pics. That curving-down beak and yellow eye make the Thrasher look like a real Angry Bird. If looks could kill, we wouldn’t be getting to see these photos!
You’d never know it to look at them, but they’re excellen songsters, like all thrashers.
Wow! No, I would never have guessed that. Interesting. 🙂
That duck looks like it is on to you. You can tell by the eyes.
She was foraging by the usual Ruddy Duck diving method, and came up too close for comfort just that once.
What? nobody sent you a very opinionated, aggressive Cactus Wren? they are, in their own opinion, the largest and most ferocious critter in the entire Mojave Desert. Come to think about it, they may be right, I have seen them chase off many much larger and nastier beasties including humans.
Nice pictures, especially the first one. Thanks!
Beautiful! Nice photos of some of my favorite birds – morning doves, woodpeckers and mockingbirds.
lovely shot of the Gila Woodpecker
Great shots (as always), Pete!
I can’t help but cringe every time a see a bird sitting among cactus spines! How on earth do they do that?
Ruddy Ducks have to be among the world’s cutest birds. 🙂