David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
February 29, 2008
Bulletin #28 – winter birds Houston area #4
Hello friends,
Each winter, I seem to have an unusual bird or two in my yard. Last year it was a Hermit Thrush that stayed all winter. This was the first time I had seen this bird in Texas! This year so far, the most unusual sighting was a male Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus). Again, this is a first for my yard and I think the first time I have seen this bird in Texas. He was on the feeder outside my kitchen window one morning as I was leaving for work. I grabbed my camera with 300mm lens and got several photos through the kitchen window. Then I got my big lens and tripod and went outside to get clearer photos, but he was gone and never seen again.
Peterson describes this bird as a ‘sparrow dipped in raspberry juice’. It is purplish all over with an unstreaked breast.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92940498 click ‘next’ once
Another common yard bird in winter is the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius). As well as eating sap and insects, they also take fruit. I had a female in my yard last winter that I managed to photograph on numerous occasions. Most photographs of woodpeckers show the bird vertically on a tree trunk, so I was delighted to get this bird in various other locations. One of the most comical was watching her eat berries from a hackberry tree. She would land at the end of a branch and then flip upside down to reach a berry.
These 3 photos are consecutive, about 1/3 second interval. The first is upright, the second going over backwards, and the last with a berry in her beak while completely upside down.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92940674/original click ‘next’ twice
One of the ducks that has eluded me until this winter is the common Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis). This is its split name on the IOC world bird list. It was split from Eurasian (Common) Teal (Anas crecca) by IOC but it hasn’t been recognized yet here in the USA.
The sleeping male in photo #1 has bright brown head with green racing stripe. The female in the second photo is brown with green wing patch.
http://www.pbase.com/image/93551909/large press ‘next’ once
Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) also winter in Texas. They are beige and white, but have a white line around the bill. In addition, the black markings on the belly are visible in the photo. Hunters call this bird ‘speckle belly’.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/93551959
I found this Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) on an organized field trip in January. It is a typical brown sparrow with streaked breast. However, the identifying markings are the distinct white eye-ring and white edges on the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/93551982
Lastly, the huge White Pelican winters along the Texas coast. They are very tame and will come right up to you for fish scraps etc The Texas City dike is a great place to see these beautiful birds as fisherman are cleaning their catch and feeding them the entrails.
The first shows a bird preening and the second shows a close-up of a bird with a corneal scar on its right eye. I saw that this bird had an abnormal eye color and was able to get a photo. Fortunately, it appears that he still has some clear cornea left so it isn’t likely to be totally blind in that eye. As a physician, I’m interested in these medical problems or injuries in wildlife when I find them.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/93552455 click ‘next’ once
I birded on New years Day and the weather was warm (60s) but windy. I found a new butterfly at High Island to start 2008. I have since had this butterfly in my backyard.
This is the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebes sennae). This butterfly is yellow with open wings and more greenish with wings folded. He has reddish or rusty spots. He landed on this wild grape vine that was an identical color to him.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/93552623 click ‘next’ once
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bulletin #27 - Houston winter birds #3
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
February 13, 2008
Bulletin #27 – winter birds Houston area #3
Hello friends,
There are a few more waterfowl to complete the photos I have taken the last 2 winters.
These 2 ducks were also photographed in Hermann Park in downtown Houston, but last tear.
This male Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a stunning bird. The dark brown head with vertical white stripe in distinctive.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92928311 click ‘next’ once
The male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) has a purple head, mostly white body, yellow eye and blue and white beak. The ring on the neck is seldom seen! It is brown and the second photo with his neck extended shows this. The female in the 3rd photo is mostly brown with grayish head, white eye ring and yellow eye.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92928564 click ‘next’ twice
The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) at 23” length is one of the larger members of the sandpiper family. Curlews all have downcurved bills. This bird has warm brown plumage and 2 toned bill.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92928758 click ‘next’ once
The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)is a stately bird at almost 4 feet tall. They breed in northern USA and Canada and winter in the south. This bird was photographed at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, southeast of Houston. The bird is gray with a red crown and wash of rusty color on body.
The second photo shows a crane in flight. Cranes always fly wit their necks extended.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92929019 click ‘next’ once
An unusual Houston visitor this winter was a male Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope). At 3.25 inches in length, it is the smallest bird in North America. It normally lives in the western USA, but this one showed up in someone’s yard in northwest Houston and I was able to visit and photograph the bird. This was a lifer for me. It has a distinctive striped throat. The red throat feathers look black without any light on them.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92929368 click ‘next’ once
On a visit to Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife refuge 50 miles west of Houston, I saw my first Bison (Buffalo) outside of a zoo. They have established a small herd on this refuge. It was an exciting discovery for me.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92929563/large click ’next’ once
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
February 13, 2008
Bulletin #27 – winter birds Houston area #3
Hello friends,
There are a few more waterfowl to complete the photos I have taken the last 2 winters.
These 2 ducks were also photographed in Hermann Park in downtown Houston, but last tear.
This male Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a stunning bird. The dark brown head with vertical white stripe in distinctive.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92928311 click ‘next’ once
The male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) has a purple head, mostly white body, yellow eye and blue and white beak. The ring on the neck is seldom seen! It is brown and the second photo with his neck extended shows this. The female in the 3rd photo is mostly brown with grayish head, white eye ring and yellow eye.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92928564 click ‘next’ twice
The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) at 23” length is one of the larger members of the sandpiper family. Curlews all have downcurved bills. This bird has warm brown plumage and 2 toned bill.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92928758 click ‘next’ once
The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)is a stately bird at almost 4 feet tall. They breed in northern USA and Canada and winter in the south. This bird was photographed at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, southeast of Houston. The bird is gray with a red crown and wash of rusty color on body.
The second photo shows a crane in flight. Cranes always fly wit their necks extended.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92929019 click ‘next’ once
An unusual Houston visitor this winter was a male Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope). At 3.25 inches in length, it is the smallest bird in North America. It normally lives in the western USA, but this one showed up in someone’s yard in northwest Houston and I was able to visit and photograph the bird. This was a lifer for me. It has a distinctive striped throat. The red throat feathers look black without any light on them.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92929368 click ‘next’ once
On a visit to Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife refuge 50 miles west of Houston, I saw my first Bison (Buffalo) outside of a zoo. They have established a small herd on this refuge. It was an exciting discovery for me.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92929563/large click ’next’ once
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 - 2008 David McDonald
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Bulletin #26 - Houston winter birds #2 - ducks
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
February 5, 2008
Bulletin #26 – winter birds Houston area #2 - ducks
Hello friends,
As expected some people preferred the original format, so I will include the pictures and also post them to my Pbase web site with the links. Hopefully everyone will be happy!
Hermann Park in downtown Houston has a large pond and thus is a great location for waterfowl. Many species winter here along with some year round residents and of course the domesticated varieties.
The following photos were taken in this park Jan. 26, 2008.
The first is the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). The drake with his long crest and vibrant colors is the most beautiful waterfowl in North America. The female is drab gray and brown, but has a large white eye-ring.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92627965 click next once
The Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)is a small bright brown duck. There was a pair of males in the pond, but no females.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92627998
The male American Widgeon (Anas americana) has a white central head stripe and is called ‘baldpate’ by hunters. There is a green stripe behind the
eye.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628057
The male Gadwall (Anas strepera) is drab brown, but has a black tail, and white wing patches.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628001
The male Redhead (Aythya americana) is appropriately named. The female is dull brown with warmer brown head.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628017 click next once
The Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) is a long-necked duck with brown plumage and large white wing patches and a white tail that is seen in the second photo. This is a resident duck in Houston.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628020 click next once
The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a permanent resident and breeder in Hermann Park. It is beautiful with black belly, dark brown body and pink beak and legs. I took these photos last winter.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628028 click next once
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
February 5, 2008
Bulletin #26 – winter birds Houston area #2 - ducks
Hello friends,
As expected some people preferred the original format, so I will include the pictures and also post them to my Pbase web site with the links. Hopefully everyone will be happy!
Hermann Park in downtown Houston has a large pond and thus is a great location for waterfowl. Many species winter here along with some year round residents and of course the domesticated varieties.
The following photos were taken in this park Jan. 26, 2008.
The first is the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). The drake with his long crest and vibrant colors is the most beautiful waterfowl in North America. The female is drab gray and brown, but has a large white eye-ring.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92627965 click next once
The Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)is a small bright brown duck. There was a pair of males in the pond, but no females.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92627998
The male American Widgeon (Anas americana) has a white central head stripe and is called ‘baldpate’ by hunters. There is a green stripe behind the
eye.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628057
The male Gadwall (Anas strepera) is drab brown, but has a black tail, and white wing patches.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628001
The male Redhead (Aythya americana) is appropriately named. The female is dull brown with warmer brown head.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628017 click next once
The Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) is a long-necked duck with brown plumage and large white wing patches and a white tail that is seen in the second photo. This is a resident duck in Houston.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628020 click next once
The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a permanent resident and breeder in Hermann Park. It is beautiful with black belly, dark brown body and pink beak and legs. I took these photos last winter.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/92628028 click next once
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 - 2008 David McDonald
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