Monday, April 8, 2019

RED-WINGED BACKBIRD AT HUNTLEY MEADOWS, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

We go here relatively often during the year.  Not only is it a lovely place for a walk but you always see something interesting there, like this lovely Red-winged Blackbird.  

He was the first we had encountered this year. I absolutely love this bird for its pretty black feathers and red and yellow epaulettes. It also has a distinctive trill and I look forward to many more sightings on future visits.
Gregg took these photos.
You can learn more of this pretty bird here.  If you scroll down that page and come to where it says 'behaviour', there is a short video where you can hear the trill I mentioned earlier.
I still have more photos to share but I thought I would make this bird the star of my post for now.  



37 comments:

  1. They are an incredibly beautiful bird. I love to see them (on the internet).

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    1. So glad you enjoy them EC. I certainly enjoy all the beautiful birds I see on your blog :)

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  2. I am thinking one of these or a few are tricolor blackbirds, In California I used to love driving by grassy fields in the countryside and hearing them chirping and watching them catching flying insects.

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  3. These are just splendid photos! He looks very healthy and shiny. Of course because Huntley Meadows must be a fabulous place for all creatures great and small to live.

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    1. Thanks Ginny, the wildlife certainly seems to enjoy it there.

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  4. My goodness, Denise, your husband certainly captured the red winged blackbird beautifully! I don't blame you for visiting often. This park is full of many happy species. Thank you for sharing your lovely walks.

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    1. Thanks Martha, you are very welcome and I will let hubby know how much you enjoyed his photos.

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  5. Fabulous! I wish I had one of those birds in my garden.

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    1. Obrigado, e um abraço e uma boa semana para você também.

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  7. Hello, they are beautiful blackbirds. Great series of photos. Enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

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  8. I listend to the trill and bob says he used to see these in PA all the time. I have not seen or heard one. the photos are beautiful and so is the bird

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    1. That's interesting. I have all the windows open now that we have warm weather. The dawn chorus is amazing.

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  9. How beautiful! Looks like a maple tree with new leaves too! Happy Spring!

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    1. Happy Spring to you too Diane, and thank you :)

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  10. The red wing makes them quite spectacular. Well done Greg, great photos. Have a good day, Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane, I will pass that on to Gregg. You have a good day also :)

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  11. Red winged blackbirds make you sit up and take notice of them. I like to watch them.

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  12. Many thanks for sharing Greg's photographs - I thought they were great.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You are very welcome Jan, so glad you enjoyed. All the best to you too.

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  13. We have them here, though I don't believe they spend the winter here. For a few weeks during nesting season, the males can be quite territorial.

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  14. Lovely captures. We have red winged blackbirds here in the Pacific Northwest, too.

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    1. I didn't realize you could get them in the northwest. Thanks Ellen :)

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  15. And he is definitely a star...I always look forward to them because they are such a sign of spring! An I love their trill, too!

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    1. Thanks Rose, I love those first sightings in the spring :)

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  16. Gregg did a good job in capturing these images, Denise. We used to see these birds on the VA eastern shore as well.

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    1. Thanks Dorothy, he has a great eye for photography and has been getting a lot of practice :)

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  17. Thank you Linda, Gregg will be happy when I tell him you said that :)

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