Showing posts with label Herring Gulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herring Gulls. Show all posts
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Winter Birds Bring Good Fortune to Boomer Lake
American Goldfinch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Herring Gull
Dark-eyed Junco (slate colored)
American Robin
Female Downy Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Ditto, Surrounded by Ring-billed Gulls
American Kestrel at Magruder Plots, OSU
Warbling Vireo Nest
Adult (RIGHT) and Juvenile (LEFT)
Herring Gulls in Rear
12-28-16 through 01-01-17
Temperatures during this period of time were relatively warm for this time of year, unlike what
had just rudely dominated our early mornings.
There were standard birds in our midst, like the American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Juncos, the
Carolina Chickadee and Wrens, Bewick's Wren, Song Sparrows, and other winter sparrows.
As luck had it, there were other gulls among the mix at Boomer Lake, like the more common Herring Gull, adults having a red spot on the lower bill, and are larger than the yellow-legged Ring-billed Gulls, which really do have a black ring around the front of the bill.
A European gull that is getting to be more common in the area, was willing to be photographed, the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
While a friend and I went to Magruder experimental wheat fields at OSU, we had high hopes to see
a couple of different longspurs, but there were none. There were plenty of Eastern and Western Meadowlarks on New Year's Day, as well as Eastern Bluebirds, and a gorgeous male American Kestrel.
This is the time of year for al the woodpeckers to make nest cavities, choose a mate, and think about
laying eggs. A couple of representatives are shown here, the Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
There are several yellow-shafted Northern Flickers, including the rarer Red-shafted. We had a female last year and she has returned to us. I don't believe any of her young from last year were red-shafted, but just because I didn't see any, doesn't mean that there were none elsewhere.
Even though the Brown Pelican caught a southern tailwind after two weeks of reigning over Boomer Lake, all good things do come to an end. A Brown Pelican is a coastal bird used to salt water fish and warmer temperatures, so it was a rare fluke, but not totally out of the question during the tail end of an El Nino year.
We'll continue to seek out more uncommon birds this winter, and chances are good that more will be visiting with us.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
More From the Latter Half of December
Bald Eagle Over Boomer Lake
Fox Squirrel in Wood Duck Nesting Box
Female Belted Kingfisher
Gadwall Pair
Herring Gulls (in rear with Red Dots on Lower Mandible)
These are more shots from the latter half of the month and the time period encompasses both cold and warmer mornings, which is still happening.
Since it has been more warm than cold recently, we just haven't been getting normal duck influx, but
the area has been getting plenty of longspurs not far from here. Chances are excellent that I might be
able to get a shot or two if Lady Luck is on my side tomorrow. Keep those fingers and toes crossed for me, but don't do that with your eyes.
I'm behind on editing and posting pictures, as this new photo program is not yet to be trusted in my hands without a little guidance, so by next weekend, I hope to have more shots for you to see.
Head over to the lake, especially on those days when the barometer is falling, as that is the best time
for you to see plenty of birds. They can detect air pressure and will lie low during those times, so what is already there will not go elsewhere. Try it, and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed. Get a weather station and you'll always be in the know, just like I am.
Happy New Year, and may you experience spectacular birding in 2017.
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