Welcome to Week #26 of the Bird Weekly Photo Challenge. Week #26 challenge is Birds beginning with a “B”. “B” is for Bird but not just any bird. It has to be like a Brittany or Barbara…A Barry or Brandon.
As long as one of the main words in the name of the bird begins with a “B” it is all good. Like Red-bellied Woodpecker or Lazuli Bunting.
The feature image is a Black-crowned Night Heron. They give us plenty of photo opportunities up close and personal when we visit Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa, Florida. It has been almost a year since our last trip down there and due to covid, we are not going down there anytime soon. I can’t even make a birding trip without seeing my kids and grandkids and that is just not an option right now. So I will have to enjoy my archives from the safety of my home.
Brown-headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is quite abundant throughout North America and can be seen as far South as Central America. The Cowbird, simply put belongs to the Blackbird family. The one above is a male. Neither the male or the female build nests. Instead, the female can lay up to three dozen eggs in a summer to which she deposits in other species nests for them to raise her young. Often times, the host bird’s own chicks don’t survive. Cowbirds have surged in numbers and I can see why when they just drop and go.
Painted Bunting
This Painted Bunting gave me a hard time. Not a decent shot of the bunch, but this was the best one. They can be seen at feeders after breeding season, starting in midsummer. This is a male which is full of color. The female is a bright green with a pale eyering. They breed in the Southeast and the south-central United States. We have them during spring and summer migration in Florida, but they winter in South Florida and further south.
Black & White Warbler
The Black-and-white Warbler is primarily found in North, Central and South America, plus throughout the Caribbean. This migratory bird is distinct with its black stripes running from the chest across the back, through the wings and atop the head. They creep along trees similar to a woodpecker and poke the bark with their bill for insects.
Black-capped Chickadee
Found in Central and North America, the Black-capped Chickadee is one of the first birds you will learn if you live in its region. They frequent bird feeders and are quite enamored with humans. Consider putting up a nesting box to attract a breeding pair. If you think you may do that, it is recommended to put a guard on the box to keep out predators like the Brown-headed Cowbird and birds of prey who will raid the nest for the eggs and/or the young.
Blue Grosbeak
The Blue Grosbeak is a large dark blue bunting with a thick silver bill and chestnut colored wingbars. These birds like the thicker habitat and can be hard to spot and equally hard to photograph. I spotted this one in Texas a few years ago and never got a clean shot. This was the best of the lot. They will visit feeders with grains and seeds in a shrubby backyard. They have come by my yard a time or two. They breed across the central and southern United States and Mexico, but live year-round in Central America. They will migrate throughout the Caribbean Islands.
Little Blue Heron
The Little Blue Heron is white in its first year. This is typically a good thing as they are learning to feed themselves and are tolerated a lot better by the Snowy Egrets. While feeding near the Egrets, the juvenile is more likely to catch fish than a mature bird in full blue plumage trying to feed around Egrets. The juvenile above was starting to get his blue color in and still learning how to land without looking extremely clumsy.
Pied-billed Grebe
The Pied-billed Grebe is rarely seen in flight because they are poor flyers. They are found throughout North America in marshes, lakes and ponds. They may lack the wings to fly, but they are talented divers and use their bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a large variety of fish, amphibians, insects and other invertebrates.
Western Bluebird
The Western Bluebird can be spotted in the Central to western parts of North America. I took this beautiful female in Montana last September. They are abundant in open fields in the mountains. They sit on low perches like this one and swoop lightly down to the ground to catch insects. We watched 3 of them do this for about 10 minutes. It was quite amazing. This is another bird that will nest in a nesting box if you are located in their habitat.
Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher can be spotted along streams and shorelines of North America. They have a piercing loud rattle call that you will often hear before you see them. They are wicked fast and do not cooperate when you are trying to photograph them. The above photo is the best one I’ve ever gotten.
Bonus – Brown Pelicans
Just a bonus of a small flock of Brown Pelicans flying over us at Little Talbot Island State Park beach this summer. MY FAVORITE BIRD!
Upcoming challenges can be found on my Bird Weekly Challenge Page.
Until next week…Week #27 – Birds with Red Feathers
Our Eyes Open 
Comments
62 responses to “Bird Weekly – Photo Challenge – Birds With a “B” in the Title of their Name”
Wonderful examples!
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Thank you very much! I tried to do new birds. I think I’m running out of new birds to talk about. Covid really messed things up. I still have plenty of archives so I’m good! 🙂
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I know what you mean. Welcome.
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[…] Barn swallows, Blue Jay, and Bald Eagle for Bird Weekly challenge: Birds that start with the letter B […]
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What a lovely and wide range of birds. The Painted Bunting looks unreal with its amazing colour combinations.
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Thank you Margaret. I wished he would have lifted his head. He’s a real pretty bird. 😊
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Great selections and images for this challenge Lisa! I love your Painted Bunting the best in this group though. What a treat to see that one!
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We see them occasionally but rarely get a photo op. He just didn’t cooperate. 😊
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[…] Posted for BIRD WEEKLY – PHOTO CHALLENGE – BIRDS WITH A “B” […]
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What a stunning collection! Love it… Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2020/12/04/the-b-birds/
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Beautiful birds!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
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Thank you so much. 😊
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[…] The Bird Weekly Photo Challenge: Birds With a B in Their Name […]
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[…] Photo Challenge hosted by Lisa from Eyes Wide Open. The topic of this week’s challenge is birds with a “B” in the title of their name. However, before I launch into it, I would just like to make a speech/lecture (cue violins) on […]
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Hello Lisa, I thought I would join in your challenge this week. Birds and difficult go together, don’t they? I love your selections. The little kingfisher is a real beauty with attitude, and I was fascinated to see the pied-billed grebe. Here is my contribution. https://reflectionsofanuntidymind.blog/2020/12/05/my-best-birds-plus-gratuitous-advice/
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I just gave you my speech! LOL! Thank you for your kind words and that Pied-billed Grebe wasn’t cooperating for a long time. I was patient and finally got some good shots. I used to think that about birds being difficult. Well, actually…I still do. I’m really happy you joined us this week and hope you do so as often as you like. No intimidation in our group at all! We just all love birds! 🙂
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🙂 I saw that. I agreed with it all.
I’ll be back as they say in the classics.
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Yay! 🙂
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I like the fun fact about the blue heron first being white. And it’s funny how those Cow birds just take over another Birds nest. Talk about squatters 🙂
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Yes, many people don’t know about the Little Blues being white unless you are a crazy bird lady or guy…. 🙂 Yeah, and the cowbirds don’t even stick around. Squatters is the perfect term for them. Like finding a bathroom on the interstate. Squat, drop and go! LOL!
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I’ve never heard that phrase about bathrooms on the interstate but now I wanna use it at some point 🙂
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I made it up in my own creative mind just now. LOL! You can quote me on that! 🙂
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I like the creativity!
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Thanks! I love being creative. I’m plum up to my eyeballs in orders right now. Selling these Dog Bone Ornaments like crazy. I’ve shipped 40 in the past two days and have another 25 in orders right at this moment. I just had to order more. Good problem to have. 🙂
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I’m so happy to hear that you’re so busy. Congrats and I wish you continued success.
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Thanks Jim! I’m ready for some R&R! 🙂
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I guess it will slow down a bit after the holidays. But ti sounds like you are laying a nice foundation for the future… 🙂
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That is correct. I’m selling some of my regular items but the holiday stamps & ornaments are doing really well. After a little time off, I will hit the ground running. 😊
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I love to see artists doing well!
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Thank you Jim! Eventually, I’m going to try selling some of my photography but for now, I can create the products I know will sell. LOL! 🙂
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go with the flow!
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[…] BirdWeekly:…Letter-B-Birds […]
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Nice shot of the night heron! They are a striking bird.
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Thank you! They can be easily shot at this park. I’ve have so many great shots from years of going there both when I lived in Tampa and all the trips to go back to see my kids & grandkids. They are so photogenic. 🙂
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[…] BIRD WEEKLY – PHOTO CHALLENGE – BIRDS WITH A “B” IN THE TITLE OF THEIR NAME […]
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[…] The theme for this week’s Bird Weekly Challenge, hosted by Our Eyes Open, is Birds With a “B” in the Title of Their Name […]
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I have all the same birds you do (although the black-headed night heron doesn’t live this far inland) and I don’t think we have the painted bunting. We have the blue bunting, but I’ve only seen ONE of them to date. I posted the rest of my b-birds tomorrow. it is frustrating not going out but at least I’m getting to go through my archives. I have found whole folders where apparently I never used a single picture because I forgot the folder existed.
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Yay for the archives! I haven’t been birding in weeks getting ready for the holiday season. It’s here and I’m working 9 hour days to keep up with the orders. Since it’s a new business, I’m trying to get as much momentum as I can going into the new year. I will take some time off in January so we can go birding for a few days. Can’t wait. Until then, my archives will get me through. 🙂 A lot of birds at the feeder though.
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So many beauties you have there! I’ve only seen a black and white warbler once- such cute little birds!
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They are awesome to watch. Hard to photograph! 🙂
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[…] Birds with B’s […]
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https://dailymusing57.com/2020/12/06/bird-weekly-birds-with-the-letter-b/
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Now this is a LOT of B birds, Lisa. Great shots and so many to see! I managed to sneak a bluejay into my Sunday Stills post, which goes live at 7am PST. Hope you are having a great morning!
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My days have passed me by. No time to do anything but proofs and orders….orders and proofs. I’m so thankful for it too! 🙂 I’ll take a look…next up!
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[…] On my walks, I see many types of birds. Frequently seen in my own neighborhood are mockingbirds, mourning doves, and robins. Bluejays are also everywhere as pictured below (on my backyard feeder). Shared for Lisa’s Bird Weekly: Birds beginning with “B.” […]
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Beautiful birds! That belted Kingfisher looks like a punk rocker 🙂
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hehehe! That’s a good one! Guess he prefers the 80’s! 🙂
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[…] For Lisa´s Bird Weekly. […]
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[…] BIRD WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: BIRDS WITH A BIT “B” IN THEIR NAME […]
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[…] https://oureyesopen.blog/2020/12/04/bird-weekly-photo-challenge-birds-with-a-b-in-the-title-of-their… […]
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[…] Birds Weekly: https://oureyesopen.blog/2020/12/04/bird-weekly-photo-challenge-birds-with-a-b-in-the-title-of-their… […]
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[…] If you would like to join in you can find the info here – https://oureyesopen.blog/2020/12/04/bird-weekly-photo-challenge-birds-with-a-b-in-the-title-of-their… […]
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Here is mine for the week
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[…] Bird Weekly – Photo Challenge – Birds With a “B” in the Title of their … […]
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[…] White ibis White Ibis Bird Weekly – Photo Challenge – Birds With a “B” in the Title of their … […]
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[…] post was prompted by Lisa’s Weekly Bird Challenge: Birds Beginning with “B”. Why not fly over to her site to see lots more from birdwatchers around the […]
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[…] BirdWeekly:…Letter-B-Birds […]
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[…] BirdWeekly:…Letter-B-Birds […]
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HI Lisa, Here is my B-Birds link
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Hi Lisa
Here is my B-Bird post:
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I got it this morning and was able to include it on the round up. 😊
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