Saturday, July 27, 2024
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Sunday, May 8, 2022
Monday, May 2, 2022
050222 Migratory Action in the Heat of 2022
Warbling Vireo
042722 Clay-colored Sparrow
042922 Lincoln's Sparrow
Green Heron, First of Season
There was also a second one in the area.
042122 Gray Catbird
Every year a pair come to breed.
042022 Snow Goose
At the end of March, this bird who was a juvenile at the time, and in the company of 19-20 Canada Geese remained at Boomer Lake until close to the end of April. It simply disappeared, even though it went everywhere with its Canada Goose entourage. Writer believes that nature finally struck and it reached the time when Zugunruh made it restless. It could easily be in its northern breeding area now doing what comes naturally.
Brown Thrasher
Several thrashers appeared in the area all calling for mates, which was fine for a day or two, but even nest mates will become angered and expect the others to move on, even if they must be forced to do so. This is the male that is left and he has a mate. As a matter of fact, just on May 4, one was seen collecting nesting material.
041522 Yellow-rumped Warbler
We still have a sparse amount of Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers that hatched later than the first group, which should be in breeding territory now. As one can observe, this male was in breeding plumage when this photo was taken.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Monday, September 23, 2019
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Friday, November 30, 2018
Birding On a Shoestring: Brevard County Florida, Days 2 and 3
Gray Catbird among serviceberry
Sandhill Crane (Florida Subspecies)
Boat-tailed Grackle
Loggerhead Shrike
with Armored Catfish
Sandhill Crane
Snail Kite
Boat-tailed Grackle
Cape May Warbler
Red-shouldered Hawk
Florida Subspecies
House Wren
Juvenile Alligators
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Limpkin
|
White Ibis
American Bittern
11-18 and 11-19-18
One photo from 11-18 was taken at Turkey Creek in Palm Bay. This bird, the Gray Catbird, was in the shadows and a very dense area with creeping vines. It was feeding upon the fruit seen in the photo. Also seen were the Pine and Prairie Warblers, but photo potential was non-existent due to their extreme height and bad trajectory on a boardwalk.
The Sandhill Crane was in Brevard County while enroute to Joe Overstreet Rd. and Landing. There was a pair of them in a front yard near the street, not far from a dog.
The first Boat-tailed Grackle and Loggerhead Shrike were on private property which were pastures and on the Florida Birding Trail, also enroute to Joe Overstreet Rd..
The next five shots were taken on Joe Overstreet Road which is off Lake Kissimmee, terminating at a public boat launch. The head shot of a Great Blue Heron with the armored catfish, or plecostomus is an aquarium invasive species, of which Florida has many dumped in their waters. Two Sandhill Cranes flew overhead, and one of them was photographed. Also seen and shot was the Snail Kite or everglades kite. This bird was once losing population due to drainage of wetlands and disruption of water levels. This in turn affected the native apple snail negatively. Surprisingly, the invasive apple snail, another aquarium invasive, is actually responsible for causing their numbers to rise and stabilize. I don't believe it is known how the South American apple snail is affecting native biota.
Next is the Boat-tailed Grackle in more suitable habitat, which is in a marshy area. Also located in this area was the rare Cape May Warbler, which is usually found at the southern tip of Florida, not as far north as this location. Also in attendance on this date was the Western Palm Warbler, Wilson's Snipe, a couple of Limpkins, and the Common Gallinule, as well as a few other birds.
Later enroute to Three Lakes around Jackson boat ramp, we discovered the Florida subspecies of the Red-shouldered Hawk, which is generally smaller than other subspecies of red-shoulder. Also noted was a House Wren. At the boat ramp, close shots of the Limpkin, White Ibis, and American Bittern were taken. Other birds present were the Common Gallinule, White-faced Ibis, Wood Stork, and several other species.
Juvenile alligators were also located later after leaving Jackson boat ramp. The small gator in the foreground was from this years hatch and the one in the rear is believed to be from last year's crop.
More photos are coming.
For more on the Florida adventure, see:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/11/florida-birding-adventure-in-brevard.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/12/florida-birding-adventure-in-brevard.html
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Friday, September 7, 2018
Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Gray Catbird
This video on assorted avian mimicked voices was a remarkable rendition by a California Gray Catbird. Never have I heard such accomplished material, for this is what I would expect from an older bird that has seen many breeding seasons. A bird like this could easily have his choice of mates, for a female would easily realize how special he really is for the valuable syrinx that he has.
A uniform gray bird with a black cap, long black tail and rufous undertail coverts, this is a gorgeous and remarkable bird once it opens its mouth.
Common to uncommon in brushy thickets in woods, along forest edges, parks, often in damp shaded areas, as well as generally solitary. However, the exception is when the male sings from an exposed perch to attract a female or protect his territory. This species forages at ground level for berries, insects, and other invertebrates.
Gray Catbird
South Padre Island, TX 2015
Mimic thrushes like this are talented, as well as natural mimics, and one of ten in the Mimidae family. The harsh mew of this bird is especially diagnostic in the field, especially if heard near the ground. Females also sing, though rarely, and not nearly at as much of a volume. Catbirds, like Northern Mockingbirds, often sing at night.
Rather tame, it will respond readily to pishing calls and will come quite near.
Catbirds are late spring migrants, arriving on breeding grounds from May to June, and fall migration is between late August and September. Birds residing on the coast sometimes choose not to migrate.
The Brown-headed Cowbird parasitizes this species, but may not in Oklahoma. In other locations, the female simply ejects cowbird eggs. The territoriality of the Grey Catbird is restricted to the area of the nest site. The female does most of the nest building, though the male will provide the supplies. He will even actually point out possible sites by sitting on branches and moving twigs about as though constructing a nest. Incubation is solely by the female. The male doesn't feed her very much during this time. The species is known to double brood.