Showing posts with label Osprey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osprey. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Sunday, April 4, 2021
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
042120 Here We Are At Migrant Central
041920 Bonaparte's Gulls
042020 Orchard Oriole
First day at the lake. Baltimore Orioles were right behind, one of which was here near my residence before this oriole.
042120 Blue-winged Teal
There was a total of eleven of these at Boomer this morning.
Savannah Sparrow
There were three on Shorebird Jetty alone. There were five or six spotted.
Least Sandpiper
Two on Shorebird Jetty. Migration is quite active active with a lot to offer today.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Six were fueling up on Shorebird Jetty, while these three took their time.
Lesser Scaup
Still coming through the area. The scaup were not far off the point of Shorebird Jetty when they took to the air. They preferred settling on the east side of the jetty and were much closer by choice.
American Avocet
This group of 35 arrived shortly before 0800 and as is their habit they made around six passes over the lake. They were flushed a few times, by both a Bald Eagle and an Osprey, which you'll see shortly.
Lesser Scaup
As can be seen, their plumage is very striking. They were only twelve feet from the shore.
Mallard Ducklings
First of the Year
This is the first group that we've observe this year, obviously some were adopted. There were eleven. Mother and father are not far.
Mallard Ducklings
View 2
Grasshopper Sparrow
It was surprising to see this sparrow up in a cottonwood tree near the water, a typical riparian area.
It must have been desperate for a rest and sustenance.
Great Blue Heron (Rear)
Double-crested Cormorants (Front)
Writer considered this a striking pose, something not seen every day. The Great Blue Heron is a second year individual.
Osprey
Pretty close, eh? This raptor was in the area the entire morning. It was spotted on the return trip.
Green Heron
"The Patriarch"
Before we called it a day, it was in order to check The Cove to see if Green Heron was here yet. It was not disappointing. Also made a swing by to see if the Summer Tanager arrived, but not quite yet.
The mulberry bush near here has berries just starting that were pollinated over the past ten days or so.
Overall this was an excellent birding day with 56 species in a four hour day.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
041820 Boomer Lake Migrants and Residents Make the Sky the Limit
Savannah Sparrow
This bird has been living here for a few weeks now. It is usually a lot shyer.
American Robin
More nest material, most likely due to yesterday's windy weather. A bird's work is never done.
Lesser Yellowlegs
This shorebird has been here since yesterday's challenging weather, making several birds batten down the hatches.
Osprey
As can be seen, this individual was somewhat distant. The sun's rays didn't help capturing it, either.
Savannah Sparrow #2
Note differences in coloration.
Today was a far cry from the front that came through yesterday. It was quite a bit warmer and more
songbirds were in the open. We shared time and space with two Common Loons first thing in the morning. Sadly, they left with no goodbyes. Soon discovered were three Blue-winged Teal, two males and a female. Just south of Shorebird Jetty, three Pied-billed Grebes were lazily swimming, three more later discovered by Goose Island near three American Coots. Sleeping in the sun were a pair of Northern Shovelers, the male's coloration being intensified by the lighting. Wafting overhead, an Osprey proved the health of the lake.
Four Franklin's Gulls, three of which rested upon the southern part of the lake, while eight Spotted Sandpipers moved from one location to another in search of sustenance. Three or four Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were heard before they were seen, then four Great Blue Herons flew off with a distinct purpose. The Warbling Vireo called in the distance to remind us that spring is here. One American Crow passed overhead with the sound of three Fish Crows denying its presence. Nearly three dozen Barn and Cliff Swallows rose up near the Lakeview Road Bridge gobbling up insects until their bulging crops refused them more. Harris's Sparrows crept along the ground near the sidewalk until they were flushed by by human presence, who completely ignored them. The male Common Yellowthroat probed the leaf litter and stayed within the brambles near shore, while the Purple Martins remained astute for possible intruders.
There were considerably less shorebirds and ducks that stayed and hunkered down until yesterday's storm system passed. Hopefully they are winging their way near and far to mate and raise families, while we watch the Circle of Life begin once again..
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
Sunday, May 13, 2018
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!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Another Day In the Life of Songbird Central
Ring-billed Gull
First Cycle
Osprey
Great Blue Heron
Yellow-rumped Warbler(Myrtle)
Breeding Plumage
Ditto
Female Black Swallowtail
0825-1130 hrs./65-75 degrees F/partly cloudy/25-30 mph wind gusts
These shots were from yesterday and today. Even though today had some eventful winds that
actually pushed me backward, it was still a remarkable day for birding. For the first time this
year, the Osprey came to visit. One tends to find Ospreys where eagles reside, so this seems
to show that our American Bald Eagles find this a worthy place in which to live. Since they
still visit the lake, it appears to me that they have young this year, a banner event.
Yesterday, I heard the Marsh Wren on the north side of the lake in the reeds and rushes. It
never came out, but I had noticed something in the grasses in the past. It had been filled with
song yesterday, hence the positive ID on the bird.
Yellow-Rumped Warblers are all over the area, but the Song Sparrows are moving north now. There are still a few hangers-on, and the Savannah Sparrow was recently seen, too. We still have plenty of Harris's and Field Sparrows, AND even though they will soon be covered, we do have at least one breeding pair of Eastern Meadowlarks. It would be nice if they could raise a clutch, but their field usually gets mowed.
Another Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was observed today, and one Cattle Egret was seen just east of
Goose Island.
There are at least two broods of Canada Goslings, one of five and another of three young. I was
told that there was a single gosling seen with its parents recently, so there will be more coming.
Killdeer eggs have also been laid, more male Mallards are out and about than females, so the hens
are likely on theirs nests, too.
There had been large rafts of Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Blue-winged Teal. and Northern Shovelers this morning, but once the wind subsides and they are well-rested, they will be on their way, too.
Let the spring and summer games begin, as we are ready!
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