Showing posts with label Orange-crowned Warbler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orange-crowned Warbler. Show all posts
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Saturday, October 17, 2020
101720 September-October Migrants at Boomer Lake, Stillwater, OK
092320 Least Sandpiper
092820 Pied-billed Grebes
Migration began in September, and this was one of the earlier photos this fall. This was the day that I found a total of 26 grebes, but I believe the highest count this year was 98 in April (spring migration) at the same location. Between spring and fall, one grebe that was chosen for food was located on Shorebird Jetty.
101220 Franklin's Gull
This was one of multiple Franklin's Gulls, which is a common migrant heading south.
101620 Orange-crowned Warbler
We're in one of the higher migrant days, and this was one of several species that was located in this general area.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
This lovely specimen was one of multiple yellow-rumps AKA butterbutts found in the same Bradford pear as the Orange-crowned Warbler, not far from where it was.
White-crowned Sparrow, View 1
This was the only example of this species that I observed in the same area as the above warblers. It also enjoyed being photographed, staying for several minutes.
White-crowned Sparrow, View 2
Broad-winged Hawk
This hawk wasn't far from where the above birds were located, but far enough to attract attention if it tried to go after all of them. They had plenty of observant eyes all about them.
Great Blue Heron
This was the highlight on Shorebird Jetty. This is a great blue that was hatched this year. The gray feathers denotes a first fall bird.
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Birding On a Shoestring: Texas Hill Country and Upper Rio Grande Valley
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Ditto
White-crowned Sparrow
04-21-19
Inks Lakes SP, Burnet, TX
All the above were taken at Inks Lakes, which boats nine miles of hiking trails. However, in transit to the Upper Valley, Pecan Flats was much more doable for a shorter period of time. Since the sun was on high, you'll have to believe when I tell you that the Crested Caracara riding thermals is a very beautiful bird with white fingers, white head, and white tail. If you do a search on this site, you can actually find the bird of which I speak. Additionally, the juvenile is brown, the adult is black, and the facial skin coloration can change rapidly from blue to pink or red.
There were also Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Cardinals, Inca and Ground Doves, and many others. Though not able to get to the water, there were no doubt water- and shorebirds available.
Egyptian Goose and Goslings
Muscovy Duck with Ducklings
Turkey Vulture
04-22-19 Johnson Park in Marble Falls, TX
0720-0830, partly cloudy
This is a second visit to Marble Falls, a good stopping point in transit to the Upper Rio Grande Valley. The last time I was there, I took an award-winning photo of two Great Horned owlets in their nesting cavity. The same tree is still standing, but it was unoccupied on this date, though there were many changes and improvements to the park, including structures.
The Egyptian Geese and Muscovies are a new addition, along with many Black and Turkey Vultures.
It was impossible to resist the little ones, who enjoyed posing for photo ops.
Texas Blackbuck Antelope (Exotic)
Ditto (Note Colorful Male)
04-22-19
Harvey Lane at Gillespie County Line, Texas
These domestics were an interesting find that could not be passed.
Red Spotted Frog
04-23-19
The above red spotted frog was found at the first private ranch that was toured. It was not an active ranch, yet the owners have been working very hard to have native plants, trees, and grass to be enjoyed by the wildlife there. The ranch is five thousand acres with both breeding endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers and the recently delisted Black-capped Vireo. My first Golden-cheeked Warbler was viewed at this ranch, which is also bisected by the West Nueces River and has a cliff face with the first Canyon Wren that I have seen. This lovely property hosts the endangered Texas snowbell (native flower) and Tobusch fishhook cactus.
The family that owns the ranch personally toured us. They also manage white-tailed deer and also host both wild and exotic game.
I personally wish to thank the family who wish to remain nameless. They were wonderful hosts and very generous with both their time and welcoming nature. Kudos to you both, Mr. and Mrs. S, I will never forget your kindness and the time that you spent! You deserve an award for educating the public and helping the natural world proliferate.
Orange-crowned Warbler
Armadillo
Kickapoo Cavern SP
04-23-19
Wonderful hiking, birds, a LIVE armadillo, a nice bird blind with assorted sparrows, a Spotted Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, and several other birds primed us for even greater adventure.
Kickapoo Cavern also hosted Mexican freestyle bats after dinner, a Red-tailed Hawk eyeing the bats, and a wonderful talk about the million bats exiting the bat cave. The photo shoot wasn't as good as it could have been, but amazing things are held in my memory banks as a result of this after dinner fare.
We also observed countless birds prior to this treat, including the rarer Varied Bunting.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Monday, October 8, 2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Oklahoma Migratory Species Profile: Nashville Warbler
A small plain, short-tailed warbler, with complete eyering, the Nashville Warbler is generally uncommon. It breeds in both the northern and western parts of the US, as well as southern Canada. It does not migrate far, still enjoying a small part of the US in California and Texas, as well as Mexico and northern Central America. They do not migrate across the Gulf of Mexico as many warblers do.
This bird was found by ornithologist Alexander Wilson near Nashville, Tennessee in 1881, and was aptly named as a bird of the eastern part of the country at that time. It's climatic range is sending it north.
This common summer resident of the eastern US is closely related to the Orange-crowned Warbler.
Occasionally, one may be so lucky to see the red crown patch in both sexes, but it is even more rarely seen in the female of the species.
Nashville Warbler
Boomer Lake Park, Spring 2017
They will be found in mixed species flocks during migration, as many warblers tend to be observed. During fall migration, they can be found low as opposed to the spring and summer, when they are found higher in hardwood trees. They are insectivores, enjoying caterpillars, beetles, flies, etc.
There are two distinct populations, which include the Western breeding subspecies (or Calaveras Warbler, which is duller colored) that wags its tail, and the Eastern, which does not. The species commonly migrates through Oklahoma in both the spring and fall, including the Panhandle.
They are seldom parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird, and are threatened by climate change.
This warbler is a ground nester, found under brushy vegetation or small trees.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Sunday, May 7, 2017
May 2017 Has Started Out As the Best Spring Migration Over the Past Five Years
Least Flycatcher
Ditto
Forster's Terns
Orange-crowned Warbler
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Clay-colored Sparrow
Male Orchard Oriole
Least Flycatcher
Nashville Warbler
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Cedar Waxwing
Green Heron
Canada Gosling
Ditto
Great Blue Heron
05-02 through 05-06-17
Cedar Waxwings have arrived to take advantage of buds, fruiting flowers, and the multitudes of
mulberries, which have begun ripening. I know this, as I have been watching the berries and actually ate a couple of them right beside some Yellow Warblers. Another tidbit for you is that mulberry bushes become mulberry trees in just a few short years, which is why you can get hordes of fruit-
eating birds. Try it and you'll see for yourselves when you have an increase in waxwings and warblers. Since the Middle Atlantic and a few northeastern states are still on the chilly side, some of
these birds have been with us a little longer. Our mornings have still been a little cooler than normal, but I just as soon have these photo opportunities as long as possible. Not only that, there is a remote
possibility that if these birds are held up too long, they might just decide to start breeding here.
Monday, which was May Day, was the coolest morning of the week, which we touched on last photo posting, and that was a relatively good morning for migratory birds. Thursday the 4th was an outstanding morning. I believe I had 62 species on that day, and they were practically dropping out of the trees. Warblers were quite plentiful, Clay-colored Sparrows were everywhere, and shorebirds were still enjoying puddles, especially the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.
Our first empidonax flycatchers, the Least Flycatcher, was plentiful and a allowing for some excellent photo ops. A juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron rested for a short time at Heron Cove. This bird wasn't driven out like an adult would be. It wasn't seated far from a breeding aged Green
Heron, as a matter of fact.
Birding was still good, but slowed up a little at the end of the week, but there were a few good things
that still came along, like three Red-headed Woodpeckers at Boomer Creek, one of which managed to grace Boomer Lake proper, and we have a pair of beautiful Great-crested Flycatchers eying the largest snag on the north end of the lake. They lost the thinner snag at the wood's edge last year, but I'm pleased to note that they were not deterred by that.
We have peaked with eight Forster's Terns for the past several days and there are still plenty of Franklin's Gulls passing through the area.
Our Bell's Vireos have also returned to their nesting grounds in our area, and one is already courting
a young lady...
Due to the fact that conditions have been quite good this spring with plenty of water, there is plenty of food for the birds, and we should have a wonderful crop of rough leafed dogwood berries in short order for discriminating palates. Migratory action is still going on, so keep your bins and spotting scopes handy and see what else we can find in Payne county during the spring of 2017, which is the best conditions that I have noted over the past five years.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Days 6 and 7 Have Some Handy Waterfowl
Black Phoebe
Orange-crowned Warbler
Least Grebe
American Avocets (Non-breeding Plumage)
American Avocet
Sora (Rear, By Reeds)
Sora (Same Location)
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal (Far Left)
Northern Shoveler (Center)
Northern Shoveler
Osprey
Northern Shoveler (Left)
Northern Pintail (Right)
Green-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ditto
01-19 through 01-20-17
The Black Phoebe is another endemic bird of specifically this area, and my shot was
relatively successful. At the time, a Border Patrol chopper was flying overhead (yes, I waved)
two more were running down a steep embankment toward the river which border this area, and
arrest two people crossing the river from Mexico to our side. Since Mexico owns the Rio Grande,
it is somewhat easier to arrest people. The important this was that even with all that ruckus, I still
got my Black Phoebe!
The Least Grebe also hails from southern Texas and can be easily identified with that yellow eye.
The American Avocets are still in non-breeding plumage in January. This set of one-behind-the-
other appealed to me, as it was perfectly set.
The little Sora, can be found in any wet, marshy habitat and commonly winters in the area.
The Mottled Duck in easy to identify with the bright yellow bill.
Even though the Northern Pintail is a common duck, I had to come to Texas in order to get a
good photo, as they tend to be further away.
Ospreys are good for showing up in any vicinity that hosts fish, but I had no warning for this shot.
One more second and this bird would have been over a building. The shadows always tell!
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