David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 4, 2010
Bulletin #110 – Spring Migration #5 – more warblers
Hello friends,
Last weekend was rather slow except for Sunday afternoon. I was back at LaFitte’s Cove sanctuary on west Galveston Island.
The bird of the day for me was a male Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerula). He appeared ‘out of the blue’ in the drip puddle as I was taking photos of other birds and he was in my camera viewfinder. He is an easy ID with the blue back, white underparts and blue/black breastband.
A short time later he was on a branch above the drip.
A male Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) showed off his chocolate cap, throat and flanks.
In the previous bulletin, I showed some photos of a Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca). This day, there were at least 4 birds, more than I have ever seen at one time. Here is a male.
And for the first time I saw a female. Here colors are muted and tend toward the yellow rather than the flaming orange.
Several Canada Warblers (Wilsonia canadensis) also showed up. This bird is more common during fall migration, so it was fun to see them. I got my best photos ever of this species. Here is a male. He is IDed by gray back, yellow breast and a ‘necklace’ of black streaks. The large white eye-ring is an easy mark to see.
Also, a female was seen. Her necklace is faint, but the eye-ring is still clear.
The breeding male Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) is a dramatic looking bird with gray and black back and head; black face with white over the eye; large white wing patch and bright yellow underparts with extensive black streaking.
A nice male Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) also came to the drip to be photographed.
I showed a male Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) in the last bulletin. On this day, there were many of this species. On one occasion, there were 5 of them bathing in the puddle at the drip.
The female by comparison, has gray on the face and shorter chestnut stripes. Notice that she is on the same branch that the male was on!
I also found several plumages of the American Redstart (Septophaga ruticilla). The male is black, orange and white. He sort of looks like a small Baltimore Oriole.
The female American Redstart is gray where the male is black, and yellow where he is orange. I thought this was a female, but when I got home and processed the photos, I noticed that he has some black on his face and breast. This is actually a 1st summer male. He will assume the full plumage above by August.
I will be leading a 9 day bird photography tour to Costa Rica in conjunction with Lillian Scott-Baer of Baer Travel March 3-11, 2011. We have worked out an itinerary to visit La Selva Preserve, Savegre Mountain Hotel in the central mountains for Resplendant Quetzal and other montane species and Wilson Botanical Gardens (Las Cruces). We have also retained the services of local guide Rudy Zamora to accompany us and locate and ID the birds for us to photograph. We will also have beautiful flowers and hopefully some mammals - tamanduas, monkeys etc.
Friendswood Texas
May 4, 2010
Bulletin #110 – Spring Migration #5 – more warblers
Hello friends,
Last weekend was rather slow except for Sunday afternoon. I was back at LaFitte’s Cove sanctuary on west Galveston Island.
The bird of the day for me was a male Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerula). He appeared ‘out of the blue’ in the drip puddle as I was taking photos of other birds and he was in my camera viewfinder. He is an easy ID with the blue back, white underparts and blue/black breastband.
A short time later he was on a branch above the drip.
A male Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) showed off his chocolate cap, throat and flanks.
In the previous bulletin, I showed some photos of a Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca). This day, there were at least 4 birds, more than I have ever seen at one time. Here is a male.
And for the first time I saw a female. Here colors are muted and tend toward the yellow rather than the flaming orange.
Several Canada Warblers (Wilsonia canadensis) also showed up. This bird is more common during fall migration, so it was fun to see them. I got my best photos ever of this species. Here is a male. He is IDed by gray back, yellow breast and a ‘necklace’ of black streaks. The large white eye-ring is an easy mark to see.
Also, a female was seen. Her necklace is faint, but the eye-ring is still clear.
The breeding male Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) is a dramatic looking bird with gray and black back and head; black face with white over the eye; large white wing patch and bright yellow underparts with extensive black streaking.
A nice male Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) also came to the drip to be photographed.
I showed a male Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) in the last bulletin. On this day, there were many of this species. On one occasion, there were 5 of them bathing in the puddle at the drip.
The female by comparison, has gray on the face and shorter chestnut stripes. Notice that she is on the same branch that the male was on!
I also found several plumages of the American Redstart (Septophaga ruticilla). The male is black, orange and white. He sort of looks like a small Baltimore Oriole.
The female American Redstart is gray where the male is black, and yellow where he is orange. I thought this was a female, but when I got home and processed the photos, I noticed that he has some black on his face and breast. This is actually a 1st summer male. He will assume the full plumage above by August.
I will be leading a 9 day bird photography tour to Costa Rica in conjunction with Lillian Scott-Baer of Baer Travel March 3-11, 2011. We have worked out an itinerary to visit La Selva Preserve, Savegre Mountain Hotel in the central mountains for Resplendant Quetzal and other montane species and Wilson Botanical Gardens (Las Cruces). We have also retained the services of local guide Rudy Zamora to accompany us and locate and ID the birds for us to photograph. We will also have beautiful flowers and hopefully some mammals - tamanduas, monkeys etc.
The price will be $1960 double to $2380 single. This includes hotels, all meals, guide, transportation in Costa Rica etc. The only other cost will be airfare and personal purchases (alcohol, souvenirs etc) . Space is limited to 10 persons to maximize our opportunity to see and photograph the birds. I have birded in Costa Rica previously. It is a wonderful country to visit and the bird life is exceptional. I hope that you can join us.
Here is the schedule of payments for the trip.
$ 25 reservation fee (not refundable)
$ 575 due April 30, 2010
$ 600 due July 30, 2010
$ 740 due January 15, 2011
Please send deposits to:
ScoBar Inc.
34 Galway Place
The Woodlands, TX 77382
Note - we will try to pair up singles and triple would be $1890 per person.
There are only 2 spaces left for this trip as of today, so please email me, if interested.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
email: davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2010 David McDonald
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1 comment:
Hi David:
Wondering if you might donate your female Blackburnian Warbler photo to my free online Birds of Vancouver Island http//picasaweb.google.com/pat.mary.taylor
Email pat.mary.taylor@gmail.com
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