birds

[low_delta]

We just saw a bluebird in the yard. It was sitting on the shepherd's hook in the garden while we were eating. It looks like it's flying around the yard looking for a nesting site.

Last weekend, Cyn and I were walking around Lime Kiln Park, and saw a bird in the trees. It was rather large, and dark blue. A rather deep shade of blackish, greyish blue. Maybe crow sized, but not crow shaped. I went after it, but whenever I got close enough to see it, it took off. I've never seen anything like it. I wonder what it was.

Comments

Could it have been a Peregrine Falcon?

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Peregrines are increasing in numbers. I watched a website on top of the Nipsco plant that is south of here a couple of years ago that had nesting boxes and showed them hatching. It was so cool!

http://www.jeffperryphotography.com/images/Birds/images/Peragrine%20Falcon%2073_4.jpg

http://www.theplatelady.com/newest-images/peregrine-falcon.jpg

Re: Could it have been a Peregrine Falcon?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

No, it wasn't a bird of prey. It had wings and a tail like a "tree bird" - it flew from branch to branch like a robin would. It was just really big for that sort of bird.

Re: Could it have been a Peregrine Falcon?

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Blue Jays are pretty big...

Re: Could it have been a Peregrine Falcon?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It was bigger than that, and it didn't have the bright blue and white - it had a solid dark blue tone. I'm sure I'd never before seen whatever bird it was.

Re: Could it have been a Peregrine Falcon?

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Hummmm...Male Mountain Bluebird?

I don't really have a clue... but now I am dying to know!

[raven-nest.livejournal.com]

Do you have grackles there? They can have a blue sheen to their blackish color. I have actually never seen a BLACK grackle in all my years, although that is what they are listed as color wise. They are always greenish, bluish, redish brownish.. etc.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

They're different colors down there? The ones I know are all black, with blue or green sheen, like an oil sheen.

This didn't have that. It was a lighter color than that, and it was bigger than a grackle.

Since it was something I'm totally unfamiliar with, I'm wondering if it was something that doesn't actually belong around here.

[raven-nest.livejournal.com]

WAS IT A DEAD PARROT??? ;)

yeah, it is that sheen that I am talking about as color.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It looked pretty lively for an ex-parrot. ;-)

This one didn't have the sheen. It was getting near sunset, and there wasn't enough light to reflect like that.

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

I wonder why bluebirds are rarely seen these days. When I was a kid, they seemed to be everywhere.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Our pair of bluebirds found our Vikings birdhouse and have set up housekeeping again in it. Tom is thrilled!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cool.

[vocalista001.livejournal.com]

Maybe the arctic bluebird (mountain bluebird)

This page also has some good photos of blue birds (http://www.tsuru-bird.net/thrushes/)

(http://www.50states.com/bird/mtblue.htm) ()

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The one in our yard was the usual kind with the rusty patch on his chest, and white beneath. The blue is quite striking.