The wax-wings migrate thru here in Neb about in March. Got a good shot of a bald eagle in our cottonwoods last week. We to use the hulled sunflower seeds, pricey but not as much mess. We get ours at the local feed store, LOTS cheaper than mail order catalogs!
Bruce
You take great pictures, I have to invest in a good camera with zoom.
If you ever get up my way for some birding let me know I would love to join ya. Remember I could hook you up with free camping and if off season Before mem day/after Lab day during the week I can probably get you a cabin. We have some great northern species up this way
Shawn,
That sounds great. Though a cabin may be a bit rustic for these old bones. 
I’m thinking that May could be a great time to come up.
I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 - it’s 18x zoom with image stabilization. It’s often hard to get the focus exactly right when the bird is surrounded by branches.
Here’s the shot I took of the bald eagle in our cottonwoods. Used my Canon ProShotS3 with image stabe, but the two shots before this of him sitting on the branch came out blurry. I happened to click this just as he took off.
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/jerrybarnes/EagleFlyingSm.JPG)
Nice shot! They usually are just too far away for me to get a good shot.
I thought Spring was coming…
Here’s a shot of a Junco enjoying the snow…
Bruce,
You are not the only one who though Spring was coming.
Thanks again for all the beautiful bird pictures.
Yesterday before the snow started I had 4 Woodpeckers right in front of the house.
Startled them when I went in to get the camera.
My yard is always full of a dozen or more Cardinals, until the Blue Jays chase them off temporarily.
My Cedar trees are home to hundreds of birds. Make a loud noise while walking by a Cedar and it is like a scene from Hitchcock’s movie.
Ralph
Well, it was a bit cool this morning, but it was still great for birding. It’s rare that we don’t see a Great Blue Heron flying around, but I usually don’t have the camera ready in time.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030029.JPG)
We have signs of Spring! Some of the “regulars” have returned. Here some Tree Swallows are checking out a nearby nesting box.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030040.JPG)
The Ospreys are back and already pairing up.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030053.JPG)
The Eastern Towhee is a year round visitor, but we always enjoy his call - “drink your tea”
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030047.JPG)
This hawk was perched near a normally busy location…but he kept it quiet today.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030065.JPG)
The Blue Bird is around all year as well, and we always like their bright plumage.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030070.JPG)
This woodpecker was busy on the tree right above us; he just kept tapping away…
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Birds/P1030081.JPG)
There are a number of eagles that frequent this area as well.
Bruce, where did you go to get those shots? Occoquan?
I’ve never been able to get close enough to a Hawk to get a shot of one. As soon as I get in range he flies off…ya done good!
Ken,
Yep, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=occoquan++bay+national+wildlife+refuge&sll=38.645702,-77.231355&sspn=0.023429,0.040298&layer=t&ie=UTF8&ll=38.644763,-77.23805&spn=0.023429,0.040298&t=p&z=15&iwloc=addr
644 acres…and hardly anyone there.
x 10
A young hawk flew right into my car this morning, as it manoevred away from a dive on a nearby roadside embankment. I was only doing about 15mph along the track, but it died instantly.
Feeling pretty bad about it.
tac
Not your fault, Terry.
I get a big lurch in my heart whenever I get a bird-strike - not uncommon here in hedgerow country East Anglia . Oddly enough, we have a great many peacocks ambling around as well and not for nothing are they connected with the word ‘pea’. Dumb doesn’t come into it.
tac
Wow. This thread has been running more than a year.
Tom, that’s because birds just never stop being beautiful and comment-worthy!
Keep those beautiful pix coming…just v sad that I can’t post any.
tac
I’m not a “birder” but I do enjoy taking pictures of birds of prey. This guy was in our back yard a week or two ago. I have no idea why, but he let us get 10 or 12 feet away from him…
(http://www.pbase.com/jfoster/image/109908762.jpg)
Jon.
Jon Foster said:
I’m not a “birder” but I do enjoy taking pictures of birds of prey. This guy was in our back yard a week or two ago. I have no idea why, but he let us get 10 or 12 feet away from him…(http://www.pbase.com/jfoster/image/109908762.jpg)
Jon.
My guess is that you look a lot like food. 
tac www.ovgrs.org
I was once interested in Dawn, who had a soft heart toward critters. ANY time we were together, creatures would dive into my pickup.
Jon,
Was your bird eating something? Could you tell what it was eating?
Thanks.
Joe
We watched him gently swoop down into the yard and land behind the kids old play structure. He stayed there for a while so we walked back to see what he was doing. He just stood there and watched us watch him. He was standing on one leg for most of the time though. You can see his leg lifted in the picture. He didn’t act aggressive, we didn’t see any food he would have been after and he wasn’t too concerned with us either. I think there were 5 of us standing there. The dogs were in the house… After a while he flew away to another yard not too far away.
Jon.