Boomer Lake's Soon-to Be Migrant and a Later Resting Migrant

                                                     Immature Mississippi Kite

082719
0805-911/76-77 F/variable to partly cloudy/N-8/81-80% RH/29.96-29.94 Hg and rising

This was about ten days before the kites left for their South American wintering grounds.  My last observation of an adult was on 091019.   Even at the time of this photo, this immature bird was still begging for food.  The adults let it beg, as it was old enough to find its own.

Kites usually nest near or even have a wasp's nest within it, which could protect the young from climbing predators.  Smaller birds also nest nearby and coexist peacefully.  However, if one injects a human in the picture, the adult kites are very territorial with parental duties, and unless the person is wearing a hat, his scalp could well be scraped by those talons.

                                                           Great Blue Heron



090119
9745-0926-71-77 F/partly cloudy/E-1/84-83% RH/30.05-30.11 Hg and rising

This lovely adult in breeding plumage was on the last southern jetty just north of Goose Island.  It calmly permitted this photo and with the backlighting, provided a nice accent.

                                                         Possible Least Flycatcher

                                                                          View 2

09-01-19
0745-0926/71-77 F/partly cloudy/E-1/86-80% RH/30.07 Hg and rising

Definitive ID of this empidonax species was not possible, but it is believed that this is the Least Flycatcher.  Most adults in fall are silent, but it would give occasional "piks."