Showing posts with label Northern Gannet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Gannet. Show all posts
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Birding On a Shoestring: Brevard County Florida--The Final Act
Osprey with Fish
Magnificent Frigatebird
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Royal Tern
Osprey
Laughing Gull
Laughing Gull, View 2
Dunlin
Black Scoters
Black Scoters, View 2
Northern Gannet
112318
70's/partly cloudy/windy
Most of the day was spent on the sand in Cocoa Beach off South Atlantic Ave. post Thanksgiving. The Magnificent Frigatebird showed up early, and several were seen, which is proving that pelagics are not only near land during breeding season.
The early birds were the gulls, terns, pelicans, Osprey, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, and Willets, among several others.
When the sun started cresting toward the west, it brought out the pelagics. The Northern Gannet was seen on the horizon, and I believe this photo was nearly a good half mile off. The Black Scoters were also all day birds, but these sea ducks wandered closer as time marched on. I don't think that they would have come any closer.
It was a wonderful final day, but unfortunately all good things come to an end. But see the other two adventures here:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/11/florida-birding-adventure-in-brevard.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/11/florida-birding-adventure-in-brevard_30.html
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Birds of the Sea: Brown Booby
The Brown Booby is a sexually dimorphic seabird usually observed near the Dry Tortugas of Florida, where it perches on navigational markers or in trees.
It is suspected that it once nested in the Florida Keys, but only nests in Hawaii presently in the US. It will sometimes wander into inland areas of the southwest from western Mexico, namely around the Colorado River or the Salton Sea.
Similar to the Northern Gannet, it will plunge headfirst into the water while diving at an angle. It practices kleptoparasitism and will pursue flying fish from the air.
The thick cone-shaped bill is to be reckoned with if one is in the opportunity to rehabilitate this bird, as it can deliver a vicious bite that will assuredly draw blood. It will also do the same with other birds that have the audacity to be near it while fishing, for it will peck at them until they release their quarry.
A juvenile Brown Booby visited Oklahoma on August 16, 2018 on the property of the Dolese Sandpit in Dover. This photo was obtained by workers at that location. A second report of most likely the same bird was seen a day later in Bristow, OK. It is believed to have arrived in the area under storm conditions as a reverse migrant, which will happen to single, usually inexperienced migrants.
Juvenile Brown Booby
Dolese Sand Pit, Dover OK
Another strong flier like the Magnificent Frigatebird, it is also silent, unless on the breeding grounds, and the only time they are on dry land is for purposes of reproduction.
These birds are extremely graceful fliers, but they are the most clumsy when it comes to takeoffs and landings. They must use strong winds and high perches as an assist.
Also See Today's Report on the Magnificent Frigatebird:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2018/09/birds-of-sea-magnificent-frigatebird.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)