Some birds, like these Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Great-blue Heron, stand still and suddenly strike their prey.
Great Egrets and Snowy Egret.
Great Blue Heron
The Reddish Egret is known for its “dancing” to scare up fish. This guy was resting when we saw him.
This Tri-color Heron was stirring up fish with its feet and using the wing shadows to spot fish.
Sally spotted a Green Heron while we were birding at South Padre Island Birding Center and we watched him get lunch.
When he leaned way over, he nearly toppled and I missed the shot because I laughed, but he recovered with a tasty treat that he promptly swallowed.
One of our favorite birds has become the Phainopepla. We just love how this guy struts his stuff, posing like a male model, feeding like a flycatcher, whistling and calling like a Northern Cardinal.
The other day at Organ Pipe National Monument, I saw a female Phaina fly out of a bush near the trail with her partner nearby. Peering in to where she departed, I spotted this nest.
Waiting quietly with the dog, I watched her watch me and after a bit, ease toward the nest. She settled in and I took a few shots and left her alone, showing her to Sally a little later. We loved the punk hairdo.
As Vermonters, we tend to forget that February is nesting season along the border, but the next day, a similar thing happened. I saw a Cactus Wren emerge from a Cholla Cactus and watched her scout around for grass and twigs. I went over and found a nest, which was under construction.
Retreating, I watched her return with nest lining matter and then pause before her next venture.
Now really interested about nests, we started to find several others. I peeked into one, jumped back with a shout of surprised, and then carefully looked at a nesting Curve-billed Thrasher. Can you see her?
She’s at the bottom of the dark area, her beak is headed toward the ten o’clock position and her red eye is barely visible behind a tiny branch.
Looking for nests is a good way to sharpen our birding skills and observe bird behavior unobtrusively. It is a nice new challenge.
While I record each species we see and use eBird to track birds as we travel, my birding partner is more interested in "slow birding" – taking time to "smell the flowers" – to mix metaphors. It’s got me seeing more and enjoying birding even more.
We came upon these gulls just after a lesson from a local bird walk leader. So we paused and sorted them out into Laughing Gulls, Ringed-billed Gulls, and Herring Gulls. Right now,those are the three species here so it is fun to sharpen ID skills by just going over groups – and when they line up on a pier it’s even more interesting.
Just up the road we saw these Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Can you see what they were looking at?
Yes, it was an Anhinga, a relatively rare bird here. We watched it as it fished with snake-like movements and then strolled back up to the larger group of ducks, spreading its wings to dry out, and hanging out with the kids with bubble-gum legs.
In the next field we saw an odd couple – a young Crested Caracara and an adult Turkey Vultures. I know that they are both carrion eaters and sometime soar (kettle) together, this seemed almost like a foster mom situation.
A second juvenile joined the group as we watched entranced by what appeared to be flying lessons.
There were three juveniles, one of whom could barely fly, several Turkey Vultures, and everyone seemed at ease with the scene. No adult Caracara seemed present. We loved what we had seen but were a bit bewildered about what was going on. Anyone have any suggestions? Leave a comment if you do.
Yes, even though it’s a cool spring, the real estate market is hot!! Location, location, location… This neighborhood has mature trees, a small pond, is close the commuter rail and is frequented by birds and birders often during spring migration.
At Oak Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, I left my car at the compost area to just wander about. I was alone; the dog walkers hadn’t arrived yet. I heard Wood Ducks; then a pair of Wood Ducks flew over the Larch trees and continued southeast over near the water tower. They landed briefly, then flew tree to tree. Again, they landed.
The hen peered into a cavity ~ a home that Northern Flickers held the deed to just a breeding season ago. The drake Wood Duck perched above horizontally; he was attentively watching the hen. She flew to another tree; he followed. He again landed above on a branch of girth; he watched and waited as the hen fulfilled her role. She’s the inspector of the grand opening; that entry is her concern for herself and the sharp-clawed young.
Frank Bellrose’s Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America states that when Wood Ducks are seeking nest sites, “They leave their water area shortly after daybreak, fly to wooded areas adjacent to or, rarely, more than a mile away.” I stayed with them as they did their fly-bys in search of a suitable home. I likened it to the drive-bys we’ve done prior to that “Open House” scheduled for a spring, Sunday afternoon.
The pair flew down to the water in that secluded cove and landed. I watched with binoculars and then with my scope. They started to toss their heads back, pointing their bills skyward. Then they were showing off their throats and chins, those white patches that we use as key field marks from afar.
The Stokes’ A Guide to Bird Behavior -Vol.III calls this the “Bill-Jerk“, a visual display. The drake took a drink; the hen swam, and the drake followed her. The drake approached her, then held on to her with his bill while his genetic material was passed on. Afterwards the drake swam in front of her, and she freshened herself with a wiggle and a splash.
Wood Ducks photo by David Mitchell.
She left the water and flew up past those Larches. I heard her drawn out “wee-e-eek” as she perched. The drake joined her, putting down above her in an oak.
They continued with a few more home inspections and then worked their way back to the water.
I’m not one who’s known for watching television; I enjoy watching people and bird behavior. This early morning show was a thrill for me, and there was no remote…
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
Website: www.newburyportbirders.com
Blog: http://nbptbirders.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @ nbpt_birders
A wonderful guest post by Sue McGrath …
I’ve been watching a small flotilla of Buffleheads on Plum Island this week.
It’s Butterballs’ diving that forces me to stop and linger, to observe for understanding. I watch the thrusts, leaps, propulsion and buoyancy. Their plumage is pulled tight into their body; then, with a thrust of power and a slight, forward, nearly upward leap, they plunge. Their pink legs and feet force this propulsion. Upon surfacing, they bob cork-like on the surface like a tiny toy used to lure a reluctant toddler to its evening bath.
They’re the smallest of the diving ducks native to North America. They are sexually dimorphic both in plumage and in size. Drakes just exceed a pound in weight, and the hen, even smaller, weighs in at three-quarters of a pound. They’re agile swimmers and divers. On land, they’re awkward because their legs are set well back on their bodies.
I’ll never tire of watching these buoyant, petite ducks that fly low over water and then higher over land. These black and white ducks are fast in flight with rapid wing beats without even a whistle. They are one the fastest waterfowl and are easily recognized by their small size, large head and flight cadence.
photo by Mike Baird
While a flock is diving for food, there’s almost always at least one sentinel on the surface alert to danger. I see them divide their time between shallow dives and rest periods on the surface. I’ve timed their dives – they stay under 10 – 14 seconds. After the dive, they surface, and their bills are prey-less since they consume their prey while underwater. On freshwater, they eat mostly insects, and in waters of salinity, they feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Aquatic plants and fish eggs are often on the menu too. Once during the shorter, harsher days of winter, I saw some foraging even after dark.
On the water, when lighting permits, Buffleheads create stunning reflections of symmetrical beauty. They have dark-chocolate, brown eyes. Drakes are white with a black back, and their black head has a greenish to purple iridescence and a large, white patch from behind the eye to the top and back of the head. The dark hen sports a single, almond-shaped, white patch behind the eye.
Buffleheads have a woodpecker and boreal forest connection. Buffleheads nest almost exclusively in cavities excavated by Northern Flickers and Pileated Woodpeckers. The breeding range of the Bufflehead is restricted to the woodlands of North America. The vast majority of Buffleheads breed in boreal forests and substrates studded with aspen.
The Bufflehead is shy and mostly monogamous, often remaining with the same mate for several years – an admirable trait in today’s world of short-term commitments. The hen lays eggs at a slower interval than most other ducks, commonly with intervals of two or three days between eggs.
I think of the importance of the Northern Flicker and the Pileated Woodpecker and their skills as excavators as I study Buffleheads in local rivers, sheltered waters of Ipswich Bay or the Plum Island estuary area.
The intertwined threads in nature continue to amaze me. When one pulls one thread, others unravel…
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Newburyport, MA 01950 USA
www.newburyportbirders.com
As I try to heal from a torn meniscus or two from my birding mishap, I have had a lot of time to sit and quietly observe the many birds at our feeders. We have dozens of young Purple Finches along with more sparrows than I’ve seen before — chipping, white-throated, song — many little brown jobs.
Let’s try this before Mr. Macho chases me off.
The woodpeckers and nuthatches hit the suet, as do the chickadees. Mourning Doves clean up the deck while Common Yellow-throats and an occasional warbler also hang out in the nearby crabapple tree. Sitting and just observing is much better than TV, and there is the undertone that most of these guys and gals are trying to add weight for the journey ahead.
Many are in molt and some come looking pretty ratty. This is particularly noticeable after some of the many rains we’ve had. It makes the ones with new outfits, some of the male American Goldfinches and Purple Finches, really stand out.
But why can’t the hummers get along? All day long, they seem to be chasing one another off a feeder. Sitting there reading, you get one buzzing by pretty close, with another right behind. We have two feeders and usually no more than three hummers at a time, but it is bothersome. The males seem to be the harrassers but I’m not sure the gals don’t reciprocate. Mating season is long gone and it seems like they all need to tank up and get ready to head southward before two long.
I hope she left some for me.
I guess, as I get my knee back in shape, I’ll have plenty of time to do some reading on this subject – right now it just makes me want ask them. “You’re acting like seventh-graders. Why can’t we all just get along.”
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After a nice cold front passage, the dawn chorus this morning, starting before five, was lovely. Several very persostent and loud American Robins sang non-stop, nearly drowning out the other singers. Song Sparrows tuned up as did Common Yellowthroats and Purple Finches. A ways off, a White-throated Sparrow sang the “peabody, peabody” tune. Then, about 5:30, it got very still except for the quiet cooing of a Mourning Dove. What a lovely way to start a summer Sunday in Vermont.
I put out the bird feeder and suet about six and a Hairy Woodpecker shows up right away with a “it’s about time” attitude. Four finches hit the feeder as does a chickadee. I hear our first Chestnut-sided Warbler and Blue Jay.
On our early morning walk, the dog and I took our time, she checking new smells, I listening for bird calls and enjoying the cool morning air. A sweatshirt felt good — a little unreal after the 90+ temperatures of last week. I heard a Brown Creeper and then an Ovenbird. The bird activity picked up again as the sun rose.
I heard a Black and White Warbler and then a Yellow-rumped Warbler began singing right overhead. I chased it around with the binoculars and then the camera but it moved pretty erratically. I grabbed a couple of lousy shots including this one:
Down in the meadow, things were hopping in the dew-soaked goldenrod. Several Common Yellowthroats and about a half dozen Song Sparrows cavorted. The foliage and weak morning light made photos tough. Here are a couple:
Yellowthroats love to hide in the underbrush — and are a challenge to photograph.
There were several juvenile Song Sparrows like this chasing each other around.
I happened to look up just as a hawk, likely a Broad-winged, flew over with a rodent in its talons. It was being harassed by a group of smaller birds. It returned, empty-handed, a bit later and I suspected it might have youngsters to feed. Several Red-eyed Vireos started up in the tall sugar maples, singing their seemingly never-ending song. I could spot them but they were way up there and moving a lot.
As I headed back, I thought about how precious these days are, filled as they are with bird song and many youngsters learning the ropes. They’ll be heading out soon — I haven’t seen our Rose-breased Grosbeak pair in about a week and suspect they are easing southward. I was encouraged, as I poured another coffee, to see one of our juvenile hummers tanking up. They have a long trip ahead of them.
Drink up buddy, you’ve got a long trip ahead of you.
Hummingbirds are a thrill to watch! Their brain is about the size of a BB. The nest is constructed of plant down, spider webs, lichen & tree sap. Hummers eat about every 10 minutes. Their long tongues aid in nectaring. Hummingbirds’hearts are larger proportionally to their body than any other bird or mammal. There are over 325 species of hummingbirds, making them the second largest family of birds in the world, second only to flycatchers.
Here’s a primer on hummingbird vocabulary. You’ll appreciate these gems more & share their beauty knowing these terms…
Bill – The bony, keratin-covered projection of a bird’s mouth – A hummingbird’s long, thin bill is specially designed for sipping nectar & is one of the most distinctive features of these birds. The length, thickness, color & curve of the bill varies by species.
Dimorphic – The distinct physical differences between genders – Most hummingbird males are brightly colored & iridescent while females are plain, affording them to stay camouflaged while nesting. Young male hummingbirds often resemble females but will attain more color as they mature.
Gorget – The brightly colored throat patch – Many male hummingbirds have distinctly colored gorgets that serve as key field marks for proper
identification based on the gorget’s color & shape. The gorget is often flared to show off its brilliance while breeding or defending territory.
Hyperphagia – A hormonally-induced state of extreme appetite & overeating prior to migration – Hummingbirds may increase their mass by 50 percent or more before migrating so they have enough energy for the journey. Bird feeders are especially important to help hummingbirds gain this weight.
Insectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of insects – While hummingbirds are known for drinking nectar, they also eat a great number of insects as a source of protein, often picking them from spider webs or out of the air. Insects are especially important for young birds so they will develop properly.
Iridescent – Shimmering feathers with metallic-like colors that may change color when seen from different angles – Many hummingbirds have iridescent throats & upperparts, & the exact colors, when seen in good light, are a key to proper hummingbird identification.
Nectar – The sugary water produced by many flowers that is a main food source for hummingbirds – The exact sugar concentration of nectar from different flower types can vary. Use the simple recipe of sugar & water to fill hummingbird feeders ~ no red dye please!
Nectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of nectar – All hummingbirds are nectivorous & may feed dozens of times a day, visiting different flowers & feeders. Hummingbird feeding is important for the pollination of many flowers, & hummingbirds will frequently visit nectar feeders as well.
Guest post by:
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
newburyportbirders@comcast.net
www.newburyportbirders.com
We have had sweltering days with high humidity and afternoon storms for nearly a week. The birds are looking pretty bedraggled but they are active because there are lots of bugs. It’s not unusual to see a grosbeak or robin fluff up their feathers as they sit between showers.
Yesterday, I visited the local airport to do a little work on my Luscombe. As I approached the locked gate, I noticed a Chipping Sparrow fly up to a puddle in the tarmac. The dog and I waited as he went through a long routine of cleansing and cooling off. I grabbed a few photos.
Hey, this feels pretty good
I’m going for it.
That was awesome — let’s try that routine again. Those guys can wait.