051620 Storms to Yard Birds and Back Again

051420                                                      Great Blue Heron

Shortly after writer was on the lake, it began raining to some degree, forcing me to believe that this would be a fast trip.  The roiling clouds showed unsettled weather but it wasn't supposed to rain for an hour.  Figuring that either the birds just arrived and came down or they did the night before, chances were good that there would be a few things on the lake.  Not really so, other than several Snowy Egrets flying in the direction of the wind, away from the storm.  Even Shorebird Jetty showed little for birds.  The jetty was also very windy, beginning S-18, finally gusting to 31 mph.  Batten down the hatches.

This Great Blue Heron landed upon Shorebird jetty while wind and rain were part of the general atmosphere.  I observed the bird in what appeared like slow motion.  Its wings were outstretched to keep if from being thrust into the forward-facing wind and it bounced as it came down.  It was also at a run, rapidly slowing down to keep from going into the high water that was nearly lapping at the shores of the jetty, nearly cresting the land.

Several minutes of this and a northbound flying Great Egret made me wonder if we might not be soon heading for Kansas, but we remained safe.  Needless to say, when the clouds parted, it was best to head back to base.  The rain never stopped, even with the partly cloudy weather after the front went through.

051520                                                        Least Flycatcher

It was not raining (yet), but it was warm and humid.  Birding was better.  Having found seven Franklin's Gulls upon the water, it was impossible to get good shots due to the darkness.  A Bell's Vireo was heard north of where there was an adult last year prior to fireworks, yet it slowly made its way closer to The Cove, singing all the way.  An American Redstart was briefly spotted and heard in the run of trees south of Bald Cypress Row.  There were more birds there, but I was unable to hear or see any more.   Swainson's Thrush was in the southern line of trees west of Bald Cypress Row in song, the tremolo effect just like the Veery and Song Thrush.  The bird has a well developed syrinx, which makes its dual song similar to the double sound of a twelve string guitar.  It sounds almost ethereal with the quality of reverberation.   Since Swainson's had been in the area for the past two weeks, my curiosity had been piqued to hear its song, which finally happened for the first time today.  It was worth waiting for.  Also located was a male Common Yellowthroat and over two hundred Cedar Waxwings were heard in two hours.  All they cared about was stripping mulberry bushes and trees of the ripe fruit, then they wafted away in song to seek more.

051620

Slightly cooler, mostly cloudy and a little rain opened the day at Boomer Lake.  There was a high count of three Barn Swallows and six Cliff Swallows around the Lakeview Road Bridge.  Three Carolina Chickadees, one parent and two immatures, were found on the north end of Heron Cove in the line of trees off the water at the bottom of the hill midway between The Cove and Shorebird Jetty, as was a Least Flycatcher.  A female robin was coaxing her older immature down a Bald Cypress.  There were five Spotted Sandpipers, a northbound Great Egret, a total of four Green Herons, one at The Cove and three more that may have come from Boomer Creek.  Two out of the three soon returned north.  Two Bell's Vireos were found, one just shy of Heron Cove and the other in the deciduous trees between the northeast jetty and Goose Island.  Three male Eastern Bluebirds were hawking insects from the power lines while four or five Western Kingbirds filled the skies with boisterous activity.  A conservative three dozen Cedar Waxwings were in search of breakfast all over the lake, likely many more.  A male and female Orchard Oriole lay claim to separate territories, while a dozen Yellow Warblers filled the air with song, and a Turkey Vulture rode thermals alone.

051620                                               Immature Barred Owl

                                                                Tufted Titmouse

These above beauties were obtained through an invitation.  An area resident though of writer today and wanted to share the immature Barred Owl, since I had never seen one.  It was a wonderful afternoon as a result.  The titmouse was a bonus, as were several other birds that I didn't photograph.