Winged Wednesday favorite bird edition 12.27.2023

[Eric Gofreed]

My contributions for today's Winged Wednesday are Part 1 of my favorite bird photographs of 2023. Part Two is next week.

Atlantic Puffin, Machias Seal Island, Maine

Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, Colombia South America

American Kestrel, Arizona

American Bittern, North Dakota

Cinnamon Teal, Bubbling Ponds, Arizona

Common Merganser Hen, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Bald Eagle, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Double-crested Cormorant with white crests, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Cooper's Hawk, my yard, Village of Old Creek, Arizona

Hooded Mountain-tanager, Colombia, South America

American White Pelicans, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

 

[larryj]

More American White Pelicans:

 

[larryj]

My contributions for today's Winged Wednesday are Part 1 of my favorite bird photographs of 2023. Part Two is next week.

View attachment 68204
Atlantic Puffin, Machias Seal Island, Maine

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Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, Colombia South America

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American Kestrel, Arizona

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American Bittern, North Dakota

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Cinnamon Teal, Bubbling Ponds, Arizona

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Common Merganser Hen, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

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Bald Eagle, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

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Double-crested Cormorant with white crests, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

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Cooper's Hawk, my yard, Village of Old Creek, Arizona

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Hooded Mountain-tanager, Colombia, South America

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American White Pelicans, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Wow Eric you put up a wonderful display of masterful bird photography. You make it hard for us to follow and maintain such great image quality!
I posted below a few American White Pelican images for my contribution to winged Wednesday.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

More American White Pelicans:

Excellent work, Larry

 

[AlanLichty]

I am back to my usual beachside offerings - in this case an Oystercatcher along the Oregon coastline.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I am back to my usual beachside offerings - in this case an Oystercatcher along the Oregon coastline.

View attachment 68232

Thirty-five years ago when I listed the birds I had seen, the black oystercatcher was number 500. Thanks for posting, and thanks for the memory and it's a fine photo too, Alan

 

[Trent Watts]

My contributions for today's Winged Wednesday are Part 1 of my favorite bird photographs of 2023. Part Two is next week.

View attachment 68204
Atlantic Puffin, Machias Seal Island, Maine

View attachment 68205
Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, Colombia South America

View attachment 68196
American Kestrel, Arizona

View attachment 68207
American Bittern, North Dakota

View attachment 68199
Cinnamon Teal, Bubbling Ponds, Arizona

View attachment 68200
Common Merganser Hen, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

View attachment 68197
Bald Eagle, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

View attachment 68202
Double-crested Cormorant with white crests, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

View attachment 68201
Cooper's Hawk, my yard, Village of Old Creek, Arizona

View attachment 68206
Hooded Mountain-tanager, Colombia, South America

View attachment 68208
American White Pelicans, Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Thanks for sharing these spectacular images Eric. Every one is a real winner. I really enjoyed looking at them.

 

[Trent Watts]

I'll stick with Eric's theme of best of 2023 with the twist of insects rather than birds.

Unknown fly on Isle of Skye, Scotland

Likely a Blue Bottle fly on Isle of Skye as well.

A Clouded Sulphur Butterfly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Hover fly in Saskatchewan.

While looking for Monarch butterflies on some Milkweed I saw this Ichneumonid Wasp.

A Common Drone Fly in Saskatoon.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I'll stick with Eric's theme of best of 2023 with the twist of insects rather than birds.

Unknown fly on Isle of Skye, Scotland
View attachment 68235

Likely a Blue Bottle fly on Isle of Skye as well.
View attachment 68236

A Clouded Sulphur Butterfly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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Hover fly in Saskatchewan.
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While looking for Monarch butterflies on some Milkweed I saw this Ichneumonid Wasp.
View attachment 68239

A Common Drone Fly in Saskatoon.
View attachment 68240

Each macro is spectacular, Trent. The first photo is my favorite. I think it's the Golden Dung Fly and is found throughout the cooler temperate zones all over the world. (spread with the shipment of cattle.)

 

[Trent Watts]

Each macro is spectacular, Trent. The first photo is my favorite. I think it's the Golden Dung Fly and is found throughout the cooler temperate zones all over the world. (spread with the shipment of cattle.)

Thanks Eric.. I appreciate the help with ID.

 

[Roger Bailey]

Eagle visiting the park across the street from our home.

 

[Roger Bailey]

Our highlight of the year for birds was this eagle that decided to sit in a not so very tall tree across the street from our home. We have Eagles around us all the time here in the PNW but it was a treat to observe him at this close range for a while. He was keeping a close eye on the ducks in the pond and on the farmland to the east.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Eagle visiting the park across the street from our home. View attachment 68334

Fabulous photo, Roger.

 

[KevinA]

Some excellent images so far from everyone and a pleasure to view. Always hard trying to pick favourites, but here are 10 of mine, that I like for one reason or another.

Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus - England

Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis - England

Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis - England

Gannet, Morus bassanus - England

Barn Owl, Tyto alba - England

Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus - England

Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis - Thailand

Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis - Thailand

Collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris armstrongi - Thailand

Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola - England

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Some excellent images so far from everyone and a pleasure to view. Always hard trying to pick favourites, but here are 10 of mine, that I like for one reason or another.

Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus - England
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Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis - England
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Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis - England
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Gannet, Morus bassanus - England
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Barn Owl, Tyto alba - England
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Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus - England
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Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis - Thailand
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Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis - Thailand
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Collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris armstrongi - Thailand
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Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola - England
View attachment 68369

World Class bird photography, Kevin. Highest Compliments

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I'll stick with Eric's theme of best of 2023 with the twist of insects rather than birds.

Unknown fly on Isle of Skye, Scotland
View attachment 68235

Likely a Blue Bottle fly on Isle of Skye as well.
View attachment 68236

A Clouded Sulphur Butterfly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
View attachment 68237


Hover fly in Saskatchewan.
View attachment 68238

While looking for Monarch butterflies on some Milkweed I saw this Ichneumonid Wasp.
View attachment 68239

A Common Drone Fly in Saskatoon.
View attachment 68240

Exquisite images, Tent.