Muscovy duck and Gallinule Chicks

The human snowbirds are starting to head north and the migratory birds seem to be heading out as well. Over the weekend, I took a few pics at Ding and the Bailey Tract, but I ended up getting some photos of more interesting birds back at home.

Do I look bigger when I do this?

I think these are honey bees on the thistle.

These two Ospreys have been hanging around this dead tree across from our house.

I was surprised to see a Muscovy Duck in the back yard. I’d never heard of them prior to my daughter telling me about them a couple of years ago. People seem to either love them or hate them. However you feel about them, they are not as pretty as other ducks, in my opinion.

There are a couple of mother Common Gallinules nesting near the lake behind our house. Between the two moms they have 7 or 8 chicks. They move so quickly, I wasn’t able to get a good count. The chicks already have the little candy corn nose of their parents!

This Pileated Woodpecker was hanging upside down and working very hard at finding the tasty critters hidden in this tree. I watched him tearing away parts of the tree for a long time.

We’ve seen the Eastern Screech Owl one more time. We hope it is making a nest!