Here's to a bright new year!

[Maestro]

And of course to brighten things up how about some color from our avian friends. These are photos from November and December only. Some have great light. Others have horrible light but the birds themselves help make the photo.

Northern Cardinal



Vermilion Flycatcher







Common Grackle (Yes, the same ones that congregate in parking lots in suburban malls and supermarkets, but this one is a hillbilly cousin. ;) )



Eastern Bluebird



American Goldfinch









Green Jay





And finally some ducks and geese:

Canvasback


American Wigeon


Northern Pintail at take-off


Hooded Merganser
]



Canada Goose



And as a bonus, a quick shot of a white tailed hawk, a rather uncommon species in North America.



Get outside and see what is around! It might surprise you. :) Have a great new year!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Just beautiful, and thank you..............

Here's a bird to add to your collection, perhaps?




Happy New Year!

:toast:

[Maestro]

5. That would be great to add to my collection!

Perhaps put a few more feathers on him though. :rofl:

[BarenakedLady]

2. verra purty

Right now (well it's too dark right now) I have juncos, cardinals, black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, and mourning doves frequenting the feeder.

[Maestro]

7. Thanks BarenakedLady

I have the cardinals, blue jays, bluebirds, dern cowbirds, an occasional titmouse, mourning doves, goldfinches, house finches, house sparrows, crows, Carolina chickadees, Bewick's Wrens, but no juncos. They should be around but not where I am.

[Haole Girl]

3. Happy New Year, Maestro!

I've wondered where you've been!

Thank you for posting those bright & amazing pics.

Happy New Year! :hi:

[Maestro]

8. Thanks

I've been around, here and there, over in GD and the photog group. I need to stop in here more.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

4. Happy New Year Maestro and Thank You

Those are beautiful shots :)

:hi: :pals: :toast:

[Maestro]

13. Thank you SalmonChantedEvening.

Glad you liked them.

[Maestro]

14. Dreaded double post

;)

[TZ]

6. Ooh thank you maestro!

Been awhile since you've posted a bird thread around here. Those are great..and I particularly LOVE LOVE LOVE the hooded merganser..Might be my favorite bird...I've gotten to see them a couple times myself....

[Maestro]

15. Thanks. I've been in and out, but extremely busy.

I'm not going away though. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear Maestro!

You, and your photo threads, have been missed!

These are wonderful...

I especially like the Northern Pintail at takeoff! What timing!

And the White-tailed hawk is outstanding too...

Thank you!

And a very Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!

:toast:

[Maestro]

16. Thanks Peggy

I liked the way that picture of the pintail turned out too.

[JeffR]

10. Marvellous!

And that's got to be the prettiest grackle I've ever seen.

Happy New Year, Maestro. Keep 'em coming!

[Maestro]

18. Thanks JeffR.

If they are half as good as your street scenes then I have succeeded.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. Spectacular!!! May your best day of 2008 be your worst in 2009, Maestro

[Maestro]

19. Thank you so much.

I am taking one day at a time now. If I can be a better person than I was yesterday then I am doing okay.

[Inchworm]

12. Oh! Flycatcher!

I always look up hoping to see any of these suckers :D

I also like "canada goose." Don't let some folks (lovely as they may be) hear you say "Canadien Goose" hehe

As usual, perfect pics. Thanks.

Happy New Year!

:hi:

[Maestro]

20. I love flycatchers from the drab ones to the flashy ones

like this vermilion. Soon I will have my scissor tailed flycatchers back. The first ones usually arrive in March.

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Thanks for the great pics! I definitely miss the cardinals, especially against newly-fallen snow.

[Maestro]

23. I haven't had the opportunity to photograph one against

a snowy background but I have seen them in pictures and they are always outstanding! That red just jumps from the photo against that white. Thanks for looking.

[applegrove]

21. Gorgeous shots.

[Maestro]

24. Thanks Applegrove

I'm off to take few more pics today since it is nice out but expected to get nasty by tomorrow.

[harmonicon]

22. beautiful - thank you

Were they all taken in roughly the same place? If so, where?

[Maestro]

25. Well sort of; They were all taken in Texas.

:)

The cardinal, the vermilion flycatcher, the common grackle and green jay were all taken at the http://www.fennesseyranch.com/">Fennessey Ranch near Refugio, Texas on the Texas Central Coast. The bluebird and goldfinches were from my backyard here in N. Central Texas. The ducks and canada goose are from the Dallas area. The hawk is from a small highway in between Victoria and Refugio, Texas.

Texas is great place for birds but sometimes you have to travel quite a bit. Thanks for looking.

[Bertha Venation]

26. WOW

That vermillion flycatcher alone is eye-popping.

Thanks!

Edit: where are my manners? Happy new year!

[Maestro]

27. Thanks BV

Here is hoping 2008 is better than 2009.