[mention]Bower[/mention] beautiful grouse, do you get many of them in your garden

[mention]Whwoz[/mention] I usually see them in the garden a handful of times in the run of a year. They do have a great camo and may be about more often than I see, but overall they aren't often seen in the summer when there's a lot of cover. They take their camo very seriously, and move really slowly when they're in the open. In spring and fall they come to nip the green weeds, plants like evening primrose which are plentiful and green up early, and I have to protect hollyhocks from their spring attentions. They also perch in deciduous trees and nip the buds from the top of the branch. They like a dust bath if you leave a prepared bed uncovered, and will leave a hollow in the ground and perhaps a feather or two. One year I had a nest at the edge of the garden where I left a small pile of brush - I discovered them when I went to move it. The chicks are precocial - ready to run - and indeed they up and ran for the woods when I came too close trying to get a picture.
The most grouse I have ever seen was a number of years ago, I actually spotted nine birds in the garden at one time. That was very unusual, and must've been a bumper year for them, as I've never seen anything like it since.
One of the amazing things about grouse is the sound they make when they fly up in the woods - wings sound almost like the purring of a cat. They seem to hold their ground until you're right on top of them and then suddenly the loud sound as they startle up, too quickly to catch more than a glimpse.

I found these birds flying around maybe two days ago. If you watch it, don't neglect to look at 1:45 to several seconds afterward and 1:15. That's where the most birds are flying.

What kind of goose is this? I had to stop for him/her and let him/her cross the road this morning as I was coming back from my Starbucks coffee trip.

And this one?
It migrates through here in the fall/winter.

Greylag goose but they don't normally live in North America.
I'll keep looking.

Sure looks like greylags.

It looks like my goose, the one that's crossing the road, is a Toulouse goose. The wattle under its neck was a big clue. Plus the baggy white feathers by its rear end. This goose is from France, so I don't know what it's doing in Texas.

[mention]Growing Coastal[/mention] your photo is of a white fronted goose. Speckled Bellies are what some people call them. They have an interesting call, not really a honking type, more a high pitched laugh. They breed in the high Arctic and winter along the US west coast and Vancouver Island on into the Pacific coast of Mexico and also in Texas and Louisiana and on into Mexico. Not normally an eastern North American goose.

Toulouse goose, don’t tell any foie gras lovers.

Must be a serious goose fancier in the neighborhood, SpookyShoe.

It was cold and rained all day yesterday. I spotted these male and female mallards taking advantage of the puddles.

What kind of duck was Daffy?
I think in one episode he claimed to be a Blue Winged Teal.

American black duck. Anas rubripes Ruddy-legged duck. British “ruddy” is an intensive like bloody.
“bellowed like a ruddy bull when she wanted food” Seems apropos

Another water bird, taking a break after an early morning's fishing, preening in the sun.




A hawk that was watching for birds in the yard.

Dinosaurs are amazing.

Especially the ones with feathers.

The 1st time I saw a heron was from a 10th floor apartment window in Vancouver as it flew by. I didn't know what it was right away. It looked like a Pterodactyl.

[mention]Growing Coastal[/mention] Had exactly the same feeling. I live close to the river Ems and there are plenty of herons and every time they remind me of something prehistoric. We also have the common pipistelle bats living in the meadow trees and it is exciting when at dusk you are sat in the garden and they are flying around with such speed and immense precision to snap up midges etc. Drives the whippets wild as they zip by...

This morning.

These big fat floppy Robins are passing through from Alaska. They come for a morning drink on frosty mornings. The fountain is heated now to prevent freezing and losing the pump and to keep it flowing for the birds. They are also enjoying the apple I put out on the lawn for them while the earth is too frozen for them to forage for worms.




A resident spotted towhee joins in.




The little nuthatch is a regular visitor.




This little bush bird is also a regular though not alone. These birds do nothing alone. Everything is done in a flock. And their nest looks like a long sock so they are used to being on top of one another.




The fountain has had many incarnations over the years and probably many generations of these birds. I put suet out for them in winter. They go through shrubs looking for insects by way of thanks.




This rascal is the Berwick's Wren. I hear its beautiful song all over the neighbourhood. One year, one of them took to stripping the skin off the figs just as they began ripening! Rascal, Yes! It is also a nest robber, stealing eggs and possibly youngsters, too. Still, they all have their place in nature.






I miss by companion bird watcher. She is older than this now. After the magnifying glass I gave her a hand held microscope to see the world with. She was impressed and it kept her busy for quite a while indoors and out.