Summer Bird ID Thread

[Lava Lamp]

Thought it might be time for a new one...

Shot these today. First time I've seen this bird.

[cyberlord]

Sure resembles a Caspian Tern, but the colors are off a bit.

I'm not sure what this is.

Cools shots tho.

Tim

[paulnj]

Black Skimmer ;)

[cyberlord]

Well, now that you say the name, it sure fits the last photo to a tee!

Tim

[Mike T]

Here's one I shot yesterday, I didn't get a very long look at this one and never did run into again.

Mike

[paulnj]

Female blackpoll warbler ;)

The females are migrating strong this weekend on the east coast.I went out birding early saturday for a few hours and we found alot of females.
They were all good though.... wilson's, canada, hooded, blackpoll(everywhere).

[Mike T]

I was thinking it was a female, I guess I should have looked harder. Okay here is one from today, I think I looked pretty good in my Sibley but I can't come up with the ID at all.
I only have one other picture of this bird and it doesn't show anything more, the bird was pretty high up and didn't stay around to long.
Mike

[paulnj]

my god.... That has got to be the oddest warbler I have seen. Let me think about that.

[Loupey]

This is probably an easy one for ya. I haven't noticed them until now.

[Lava Lamp]

This is probably an easy one for ya. I haven't noticed them until now.

Looks like a cedar waxwing to me.

[Lava Lamp]

I'm thikin this is a house sparrow, but there were three of them in the sand making little bowl-shaped depressions -- maybe for nest -- when I was under the impression house sparrows mostly nested in buildings, etc.

[Mark Hope]

Sparrows (and other birds) will often have a 'dust bath'.

[paulnj]

Mark is correct..... female house sparrow taking a bath.

[paulnj]

As funny as this will sound...... looks like a common yellowthroat/ american redstart hybrid. Do you have a different head angle?

[Mike T]

Sorry Paul the other shot its head is turned away. Here is a link to the same photo but a much tighter crop and a bit larger than this site allows.

http://users.tellurian.net/mtracy/2638b.html

Mike

[paulnj]

I forwarded that link to my friend and cousin(same office) for further input. Where and when do you shoot that BTW?

[paulnj]

It's a 1ST spring male redstart(last summer's hatchling)

[Mike T]

Thanks Paul,

Does that mean this bird will slowly turn black as the year goes on ? I was looking at the picture this morning and I thought it looked like a Redstart but that black on its face was throwing me off.
Mike

[paulnj]

HMMMM..I guess so? Believe me, that facial pattern made me look like a fool when I asked my friend, so don't feel bad for being thrown off to.

[Vania]

These are all great bird shots. I admire anyone who can catch them in flight, I've tried several times and the only bird I can get in focus are Seagulls..arrgh.

[paulnj]

Go through the archives and find the other ID threads ;) The original one in viewfinder got so large we broke the thread last year!

[Mike T]

Things are a bit slow so here's a couple of birds with pretty much the same colors, I know they are different birds. I know the first bird for sure but the second I'm not 100% sure of.
Mike

[paulnj]

rose breasted grosbeak and a eastern towhee...... both are males

[Mike T]

Here's one from the middle of May. Sometimes these plain looking birds give me the hardest time trying to get an ID, I guess I just don't know where to start my search.
Mike

[paulnj]

Well......... I looked at sparrows first, but it's not a wet song/swamp or other sparrow.
HMMMM young starling/cowbird..nope!

AHHHHAAA Female indigo bunting!!! Being wet through me off, because it looks dirty!

I may be wrong, because that throat looks took brightand the beak too dark, but the size/shape/legs/tail/color/shape /eye stripe ALL look right.

Have you gotten any other ID's and why are your birds always the hardest?????