Crappy pic.. but...

[AmberC]

The first time I ever saw these birds was on Loupey's post here:Red-Winged Blackbirds

And since then.. I have had a few frequent my bird feeder (when the camera was not near! ) and I have seen a couple out and about. Like today! I just thought it was cool because I think they are really neat and have never seen them before.




I really was in the worst place for these (or the bird was cause I could not get a better spot due to the almost 6' high grasses and swamp between myself and this tree lol) so that is the grass you see mucking up the shots



Thanks for looking
Amber

[paulnj]

Don't be so hard on yourself! All you needed was some fill flash or expose for the shadows.That isn't an easy sceen to expose.

[Loupey]

They are cool, aren't they?!

That distinctive call, the male's coloration - one of my first target birds! Very cooperative too if you know where they nest. Allows for close approaches as long as you don't look directly at them

Thanks for sharing!

[AmberC]

Thanks Paul Well it seems this guy likes to hang around this park a lot because I've seen him now two days in a row so I'll definitely go back

I dont know where he nests Loupey, but perhaps I can find it since it has to be around the park somewhere. Yesterday I watched him chasing down another bird that was too near this one tree. But I couldn't find a nest in the tree.

Amber

[paulnj]

redwinged blackbirds are ground nesters. They prefer swampy areas too for nesting.

[quetzal]

Nice try, I've been getting quite a few of these birds visiting my area for a while now and have yet to get a decent shot of one.
I like the flash of color on the males wings when they fly by.

[AmberC]

redwinged blackbirds are ground nesters. They prefer swampy areas too for nesting.

Oh ok lol.. well there is a river right there by the park. I think its brackish if not saltwater, but I'm pretty sure its salt water. Anyways.. there is are a lot of swampy areas. (This is Virginia after all lol)

Amber

[paulnj]

I find nests in cattail swamps and those clumpy grass mounds(don't know the name of them) that grow in swampy areas.

Follow the males back to the nest once they start having young. Males don't call to often once young are born