yes it does look like Tristram’s Starlings  but did not see any red on the wing.  It was a first time viewing and never came back

Hi all
I have been in Hospital yet again. This time for my left knee.
Hopefully this time next year I will be able to walk

I think I'm lucky  when I look around and I see people far worse off than myself

Here is the gorgeous............... Mr Blackbird
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Good shot, Chocky.

Great catch, Beryl.  Looks like he's talking to you over his shoulder.   

Your blackbirds are more appealing than our blackbirds.  Or else you know how to get them to smile for the camera.

Too bad about your knee.

Our Blackbirds are the Thrush family

My knee is doing fine . can walk on it already 

A romantic pair of mute Swans

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An app from Cornel that can identify your bird photos, automatic photo ID;


http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/merlinphotoid/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=267cf4355d-Cornell+Lab+eNews+12_13_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-267cf4355d-302696385

That is interesting.  Larry hasn't put up any bird feeders here because there seem to be more cats in the neighborhood.  So far we haven't seen the variety of birds here that we saw in Ocala.  I'm going to bookmark the page.

The lab at Cornell also sponsors the winter bird count.  If you want to participate, check out the Cornell U. website--it will take you to the birding page.

Sue (SCF)

Little Egret fishing

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WOW!  Just like a mirror.  Chocky, you do catch the most amazing bird pictures I ever saw.

Bubble's right, Beryl.  This is another of your amazing bird photos.  Thanks for sharing.

I hope you're feeling better and that you have a lovely Christmas.   

Thank you kindly for your comment. 

I am a lot better with another new knee to boot. I still lack balance though,

Glad you are better, beryl.  Love your photos.

Thank you.

It's freezing cold and not a nice time for photography

Thank you all for your kind comments. I am getting there slowly but surely

Here is a photo with a reflection . I took a while ago. I think it is very pretty

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I like this photo even better.  Very nice!

Beryl - Very professional looking photos.  A pleasure to see and enjoy!

Thank you  kindly for your comments 

The weather at the moment prevents any photography.

I've seen 2 large pileated woodpeckers in the last couple of days.  I think one is a male--he's quite large and the one which could be a female is more cautious and I can't decide if it's another male.  My Alabama bird book says the female is not much smaller than the male.  He's a gorgeous bird.  He's been in my back yard but when I saw him last was flying across the street to another large oak tree.  He may have just been hunting insects in both yards.

Sue

We have a couple of red-bellied woodpeckers that are regular visitors.  One of them pecks out a signal on the chimney cap when he apparently is asking for someone to go out and toss him a peanut. He often grabs it out of the air when one is tossed high.  We have a good assortment of wildlife here even though we are "city people".  However we are near a golf course, a hiking/walking path, and a park.

Where I lived before moving to this condo 35+ years ago, I had an outside TV antenna.  One day I heard a strange noise that vibrated throughout the house.  I also had a water softener in the basement and I thought the noise might have come from there.  I checked and all was quiet down there.  It wasn't a steady noise, but would start up every few minutes.  I finally went outside to see if it was something outside and a flicker was on the TV antenna and would peck it every so often.  There was nothing I could do, so I bore with it.  It was both funny and unnerving (at first).

Mary Ann

Rick, you are so lucky to see and know the birds around your area!

MaryAnn, I don't know what a Flicker is, but you are right about it being unnerving.

A Flicker is a member of the Woodpecker family ad very pretty

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Flicker+bird&biw=1920&bih=963&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2ndbOweDRAhVIDsAKHVN_BlQQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1

Chocky, very pretty, patterned birds! I was curious so I googled to see if we had any flickers and found there is one called a Northern yellow-shafted. I also listened to the calls and recognized the sounds! So I have learned something new, thank you!

Also, my cat Farrah was intrigued by the calls coming in "her" living room! 

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-flicker

The flicker that caused so much commotion at my former residence was the one with the red spot on the back of its head.  All that vibration - and I could not figure out where it was coming from.  I really thought something was coming apart.

Mary Ann

Well done angelface555.

They do make quite a commotion don't they? 

I have heard that call for years and never had an idea where or what was causing it. Living in the middle of a large arboreal forest, bird sounds and calls are a constant throughout all the seasons.

I was about posting this in our newly run  " Show me a Photo of..." when I got pipped at the post on the give me a " bird " subject so, rather than let this go to waste...I am posting it in here...This was taken by me several years ago at a place called The Swiss Gardens...a stately home and gardens very popular with weddings in its beautiful settings...at this place you would be wandering around amongst various Peacocks which at the time I took so many photos, think I must have had an obsession with them...they are such beautiful and elegant creatures....Link...


http://www.shuttleworth.org/swissgarden/

https://www.ngs.org.uk/?bf-garden=12881