David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
Oct 10, 2007
Bulletin #15 – Monterey CA birds September 2007 – part 3
Hello friends,
I was back in California on vacation over the week of Labor Day.
There is a bird banding facility in Big Sur at Andrew Molera State Park. Thanks to Jay for telling me of this place. I went there 2 mornings and was able to get close-up photos of several small passerines. Thanks a million to Josh Scullen and his staff for allowing me to photograph the birds as they were banding them.
The first is the Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla). The yellow bird with black cap is diagnostic.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109479697
The next is the Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis). I had tried to get photos in May of this small empid, but he wouldn’t sit still long enough. This bird is actually a juvenile as the wing bars are buffy. In the adult they are white.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479698
The next is the Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata). This is a very secretive bird who keeps to the underbrush. I have seen it many times, and heard it hundreds of times, but getting a photo in the wild is tough. He actually belongs to the family of Old World Warblers. Notice the white iris. The second photo is a close up of the face.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479699 click ‘next’ once
The next bird is a Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479703
The close up shows the broken eye-ring with a dark area above eye. The lores are also white. The hooked beak, characteristic of vireos, is easily discernible.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479704
Lastly, the Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) is a tiny bird that I photoed in May, but here is a close up. He appears somewhat similar to the Wrentit in hand, but the iris is buffy. In the wild, small flocks of Bushtits move through the canopy and are easy to see.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479706
The last bird was a bonus for me. I had seen the American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) a couple of times in Colorado. I knew that it was listed as living along the Big Sur River, but I had never found it on earlier trips. Well it turned out that the banding station was beside the river and the Dipper is a regular. I waited beside the river and in about 15 minutes I found the bird and got some photos.
For those unfamiliar with Dippers, these cute little birds are the only aquatic passerines. They can swim and also dive under the water to catch insect larvae. The adults are uniformly gray with gray beak. The juvenile shown here has a yellow beak and light gray throat. The second photo shows the thick white eyelids.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479707 click ‘next’ once
Another favorite area for viewing wildlife is the Point Lobos State Preserve. This park is on the coast about 2 miles south of Carmel. Mule Deer, Sea Otters, California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and Douglas Ground Squirrels are readily found in the park. The birds include sea birds gulls etc as well as a variety of land birds. One of the interesting habitats is the kelp beds just offshore. Kelp is a giant seaweed that reaches to the waters surface. Many birds pluck food off the leaves, but the most interesting thing to me is to see wading birds walking on the kelp or driftwood in the kelp beds.
The first is a Snowy Egret on some kelp behind a pair of Harbor Seals.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479709
The next is a Great Egret on some driftwood.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479711
And lastly, a Great Blue Heron on another driftwood log.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479712
One last unique phenomenon in Point Lobos is the orange growths on branches and rocks right by the shore. It is actually a green algae species that makes carotene (the dye in carrots) giving the orange appearance. This is a very arid area, but the fog is so dense that the algae can survive. It doesn’t harm the trees at all.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109479713
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Bulletin #14 - Monterey CA #2
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
Oct 3-2007
Bulletin #14 – Monterey CA birds September 2007 – part 2
Hello friends,
I was back in California on vacation over the week of Labor Day.
This bulletin will be devoted to shorebirds and other non-passerines.
The first bird is the Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). I have taken hundreds of photos of oystercatchers, but this one, taken last month, is the best ever. The light was right etc.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109477894
Here is the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477895
Here is the juvenile plumage Semi-palmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477897
The Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) is a sandpiper that breeds in Alaska along streams and winters along the Pacific coast. It inhabits rocky areas rather than beaches. Here it is in the non-breeding plumage. The yellow legs, overall plain gray coloration and white eye-ring are the field marks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477898
The Black Turnstone is another Alaska breeder, but along the coast. It also winters along the Pacific coast. Here is the non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477899
In an earlier bulleting, I had photos of breeding plumage Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). Here is the juvenile plumage. The streaking on the back indicate a juvenile.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477900
Sometimes the light is just right to give a striking photo. I caught this Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) at dawn, just as he reached the crest of the beach and came into the sunlight.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477901
The Carmel River mouth has a nice fresh water lagoon and marsh and is a nature preserve. Because marshy areas are infrequent along the California coast, it is a good location for rails as well as other marsh loving wildlife.
Here is a Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). This is the adult plumage. The long red bill is diagnostic.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477902
Here is the juvenile plumage Sora (Porzana carolina). Notice there is no black on the throat. The short yellow bill is the field mark for this rail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477903
I attended a NANPA (North American Nature Photographer Association) seminar in Houston in August 2006. It helped me tremendously to take my photos to a higher level of quality. One of the speakers said that an important thing to do is when you have spent some time looking in one direction for subjects, turn 180 degrees and perhaps the best photo opportunity is behind you.
One morning at sunrise, the sun was a brilliant red ball. I was photographing the birds on the beach. I turned and looked back at the sun. It was reflecting on the lagoon, as a flock of Brown Pelicans swam through the reflection. This gave a photo of the pelicans in silhouette.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477905
A little further along the beach, there is a cross on a hill above the beach. I caught the sun behind the cross.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477909
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Notice – photos with name preceded with an asterisk (*) were updated for this blog and the text was edited accordingly
Friendswood Texas
Oct 3-2007
Bulletin #14 – Monterey CA birds September 2007 – part 2
Hello friends,
I was back in California on vacation over the week of Labor Day.
This bulletin will be devoted to shorebirds and other non-passerines.
The first bird is the Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). I have taken hundreds of photos of oystercatchers, but this one, taken last month, is the best ever. The light was right etc.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109477894
Here is the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477895
Here is the juvenile plumage Semi-palmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477897
The Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) is a sandpiper that breeds in Alaska along streams and winters along the Pacific coast. It inhabits rocky areas rather than beaches. Here it is in the non-breeding plumage. The yellow legs, overall plain gray coloration and white eye-ring are the field marks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477898
The Black Turnstone is another Alaska breeder, but along the coast. It also winters along the Pacific coast. Here is the non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477899
In an earlier bulleting, I had photos of breeding plumage Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). Here is the juvenile plumage. The streaking on the back indicate a juvenile.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477900
Sometimes the light is just right to give a striking photo. I caught this Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) at dawn, just as he reached the crest of the beach and came into the sunlight.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477901
The Carmel River mouth has a nice fresh water lagoon and marsh and is a nature preserve. Because marshy areas are infrequent along the California coast, it is a good location for rails as well as other marsh loving wildlife.
Here is a Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). This is the adult plumage. The long red bill is diagnostic.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477902
Here is the juvenile plumage Sora (Porzana carolina). Notice there is no black on the throat. The short yellow bill is the field mark for this rail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477903
I attended a NANPA (North American Nature Photographer Association) seminar in Houston in August 2006. It helped me tremendously to take my photos to a higher level of quality. One of the speakers said that an important thing to do is when you have spent some time looking in one direction for subjects, turn 180 degrees and perhaps the best photo opportunity is behind you.
One morning at sunrise, the sun was a brilliant red ball. I was photographing the birds on the beach. I turned and looked back at the sun. It was reflecting on the lagoon, as a flock of Brown Pelicans swam through the reflection. This gave a photo of the pelicans in silhouette.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477905
A little further along the beach, there is a cross on a hill above the beach. I caught the sun behind the cross.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477909
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Notice – photos with name preceded with an asterisk (*) were updated for this blog and the text was edited accordingly
Friday, September 28, 2007
Bulletin #13 - Monterey CA
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
Sept-28-2007
Bulletin #13 – Monterey CA birds
Hello friends,
I was back in California on vacation over the week of Labor Day. Despite vacationing there for the past 25 years, I always seem to pick up new birds!
The first lifer for me was the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). I saw this unusual bird on the Carmel River mouth beach in the washed up kelp. I took some photos. When got back to my hotel and looked at them carefully, I was convinced that it was this species. This is a common migrant spring and fall on the upper Texas coast, but in 15 years had never found it. It is a rare migrant along the California coast and is a reportable bird! I saw the bird 3 days in a row and got many photos of it. In the Peterson’s western birds, it says that most of the birds found in California are juveniles. This bird was a juvenile. I called the bird in to the Monterey bird hotline and others came and saw it!
http://www.pbase.com/image/109477217
There are a couple of species of gulls and terns that breed in Mexico and then disperse northwards along the coast after breeding. These birds are only seen in the fall in Monterey County.
The first is the Heerman’s Gull (Larus heermanni). This is the most distinctive of all the ABA area gulls with its dark gray coloration. I was able to find several different plumages in the large flocke of these gulls.
Here is the adult non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477219
The next is 2nd winter plumage. The face is darker and the plumage has some brownish feathers.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477220
Lastly is the 1st summer plumage with a pinkish bill and very dark all over.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477222
The other bird that breeds in Mexico and also extreme southern California is the Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans). Again, despite birding Monterey for 15 years, I had never found this bird until this trip. Actually, there are few terns along this area of the California coast. I found a flock of them at Moss Landing harbor. They are mid-sized terns (17”) with a long slender bill, bushy crest and a pinkish wash on the breast in some plumages.
Here is the adult non-breeding with black legs, orange bill and the pinkish wash on the breast.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477223
The juveniles have a yellow beak and orange legs. These 2 photos seem to show a couple of juveniles with partial adult features. The first has a yellow beak but the black legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477225
This next one seems to be a juvenile who has an adult orange beak, but still has the orange legs, although they have black patches starting.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477226
If you remember an earlier bulletin (#3) about the Alcid family of seabirds, I found this Common Murre (Uria aalge)swimming just off the beach. This photo is the non-breeding plumage with white on the face
.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477228
The very large Western Gull was featured in bulletin #3 as well. On this visit I found some babies. It was sort of strange to see this huge 24” dark baby gull following its parent around on the beach begging for food. Here is the baby in the begging posture on the beach.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477230
And here he is getting regurgitated food from the parent.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477234
The last new bird I found on this trip (a lifer) but it isn’t ABA countable yet, is the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus). These magnificent birds have been brought back from the brink of extinction with captive breeding programs at the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos. They are now being released back into the wild in Big Sur area and along the Grand Canyon in Arizona. They are all labeled and tracked. Also, the released birds are starting to pair up and have some wild offspring! What a success story.
Here is the adult with pink neck. Notice the tag #13 (same as this bulletin #!) on the wing. A number of them also have transmitters on their back so they can be tracked.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477236
Here are a couple of juveniles. They have black necks. This photo sort of reminds me of an Edgar Allen Poe story with the carrion birds hanging around the house.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477239
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
Sept-28-2007
Bulletin #13 – Monterey CA birds
Hello friends,
I was back in California on vacation over the week of Labor Day. Despite vacationing there for the past 25 years, I always seem to pick up new birds!
The first lifer for me was the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). I saw this unusual bird on the Carmel River mouth beach in the washed up kelp. I took some photos. When got back to my hotel and looked at them carefully, I was convinced that it was this species. This is a common migrant spring and fall on the upper Texas coast, but in 15 years had never found it. It is a rare migrant along the California coast and is a reportable bird! I saw the bird 3 days in a row and got many photos of it. In the Peterson’s western birds, it says that most of the birds found in California are juveniles. This bird was a juvenile. I called the bird in to the Monterey bird hotline and others came and saw it!
http://www.pbase.com/image/109477217
There are a couple of species of gulls and terns that breed in Mexico and then disperse northwards along the coast after breeding. These birds are only seen in the fall in Monterey County.
The first is the Heerman’s Gull (Larus heermanni). This is the most distinctive of all the ABA area gulls with its dark gray coloration. I was able to find several different plumages in the large flocke of these gulls.
Here is the adult non-breeding plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477219
The next is 2nd winter plumage. The face is darker and the plumage has some brownish feathers.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477220
Lastly is the 1st summer plumage with a pinkish bill and very dark all over.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477222
The other bird that breeds in Mexico and also extreme southern California is the Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans). Again, despite birding Monterey for 15 years, I had never found this bird until this trip. Actually, there are few terns along this area of the California coast. I found a flock of them at Moss Landing harbor. They are mid-sized terns (17”) with a long slender bill, bushy crest and a pinkish wash on the breast in some plumages.
Here is the adult non-breeding with black legs, orange bill and the pinkish wash on the breast.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477223
The juveniles have a yellow beak and orange legs. These 2 photos seem to show a couple of juveniles with partial adult features. The first has a yellow beak but the black legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477225
This next one seems to be a juvenile who has an adult orange beak, but still has the orange legs, although they have black patches starting.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477226
If you remember an earlier bulletin (#3) about the Alcid family of seabirds, I found this Common Murre (Uria aalge)swimming just off the beach. This photo is the non-breeding plumage with white on the face
.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477228
The very large Western Gull was featured in bulletin #3 as well. On this visit I found some babies. It was sort of strange to see this huge 24” dark baby gull following its parent around on the beach begging for food. Here is the baby in the begging posture on the beach.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477230
And here he is getting regurgitated food from the parent.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477234
The last new bird I found on this trip (a lifer) but it isn’t ABA countable yet, is the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus). These magnificent birds have been brought back from the brink of extinction with captive breeding programs at the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos. They are now being released back into the wild in Big Sur area and along the Grand Canyon in Arizona. They are all labeled and tracked. Also, the released birds are starting to pair up and have some wild offspring! What a success story.
Here is the adult with pink neck. Notice the tag #13 (same as this bulletin #!) on the wing. A number of them also have transmitters on their back so they can be tracked.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477236
Here are a couple of juveniles. They have black necks. This photo sort of reminds me of an Edgar Allen Poe story with the carrion birds hanging around the house.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109477239
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Monday, September 17, 2007
Bulletin #12 - Texas birds
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
Sept-17-2007
Bulletin #12 – Misc Texas birds
Hello friends,
Summer is a slow time for birding. However with the babies and juveniles, there are some new plumages to photograph.
July 4th weekend found me in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. I was able to pick up several new species and some improved photos of species of which I already had photos.
The first is House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). A pair were very cooperative on the bird feeder. First is the male.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109476076
Here is the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476081
The local hummingbird in this area in the Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). The male has a purple throat patch with black above. It is very difficult to see the purple gorget on this bird, but with flash, the camera picked it up rather nicely.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476084
The female has no throat patch, just some dark spots.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476087
Another local bird I was able to photograph just before leaving the area was the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476090
The last bird of note is the distinctive Lark Sparrow. The facial pattern and clear breast with central spot are diagnostic of this species. This bird was on the ground under a feeder. This makes life simple for the photographer! The first photo is on the Houston Audubon web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476093 click ‘next’ once
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) nests in my yard and daily visits the sunflower seed feeders. The juveniles have black beaks rather than the red beaks of their parents. The juvenile male has considerable red on the breast.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476102
The juvenile female is plainer.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476106
A trip to Anahuac NWR in August produced some good photos. The first was a singing male Dickcissel (Spiza americana).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476109
The next was a Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) perched on a fence post.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476111
The last bird was a Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris). This secretive bird usually stays hidden in the reeds. However, that particular day there were many singing. I waited patiently, and finally he popped up to the top of the reeds to sing and I was able to get a couple of good photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476114 click ‘next’ once
As the summer is slow, and I was at Anahuac NWR I decided to try my luck with dragonflies. There were far more numerous than birds that day. I think they are rather colorful and interesting to learn about. I had to buy a guide book to see what species were in the pictures.
The first is Eastern Pondhawk (male).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476119
The next is Four-spotted Pennant (female).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476121
The last one is Needham’s Skimmer (male).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476124
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
Photos copyright David McDonald 2007
Friendswood Texas
Sept-17-2007
Bulletin #12 – Misc Texas birds
Hello friends,
Summer is a slow time for birding. However with the babies and juveniles, there are some new plumages to photograph.
July 4th weekend found me in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. I was able to pick up several new species and some improved photos of species of which I already had photos.
The first is House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). A pair were very cooperative on the bird feeder. First is the male.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109476076
Here is the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476081
The local hummingbird in this area in the Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). The male has a purple throat patch with black above. It is very difficult to see the purple gorget on this bird, but with flash, the camera picked it up rather nicely.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476084
The female has no throat patch, just some dark spots.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476087
Another local bird I was able to photograph just before leaving the area was the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476090
The last bird of note is the distinctive Lark Sparrow. The facial pattern and clear breast with central spot are diagnostic of this species. This bird was on the ground under a feeder. This makes life simple for the photographer! The first photo is on the Houston Audubon web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476093 click ‘next’ once
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) nests in my yard and daily visits the sunflower seed feeders. The juveniles have black beaks rather than the red beaks of their parents. The juvenile male has considerable red on the breast.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476102
The juvenile female is plainer.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476106
A trip to Anahuac NWR in August produced some good photos. The first was a singing male Dickcissel (Spiza americana).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476109
The next was a Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) perched on a fence post.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476111
The last bird was a Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris). This secretive bird usually stays hidden in the reeds. However, that particular day there were many singing. I waited patiently, and finally he popped up to the top of the reeds to sing and I was able to get a couple of good photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476114 click ‘next’ once
As the summer is slow, and I was at Anahuac NWR I decided to try my luck with dragonflies. There were far more numerous than birds that day. I think they are rather colorful and interesting to learn about. I had to buy a guide book to see what species were in the pictures.
The first is Eastern Pondhawk (male).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476119
The next is Four-spotted Pennant (female).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476121
The last one is Needham’s Skimmer (male).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109476124
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
Photos copyright David McDonald 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bulletin #11 - South Florida #6
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
August-20-2007
Bulletin #11 – South Florida – part 6
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
My wife, Linda, and I were staying on Sanibel Island, off the coast from Ft. Myers. It is famous as the best shelling location on the gulf coast. The beach has much human traffic and apparently the birds have become quite tame as they are very approachable. I have never before been able to walk to within 15’ from a group of gulls and terns.
Each late afternoon, a small mixed flock of gulls and terns was on the beach in front of the condo where we were staying. I was able to get close up pictures of several birds.
The first is a 1st summer plumage Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). The second is the adult winter plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109475101 click ‘next’ once
The next is a winter plumage Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Notice the black bill tipped with yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475105
Lastly, there was a larger gull that I saw one afternoon when I didn’t have my camera. Fortunately, he came back to the same place every day. I was ready for him and I got many photos. It had a black back, so I knew it was either Lesser or Greater Black-backed Gull. The difference is the leg color, with Greater BBG having pink legs and the Lesser BBG having yellow legs. The Greater is also much larger.This was a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus). This medium sized (21”) gull is primarily a European resident along the Atlantic coast, but it occurs rarely along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the USA. It was a lifer for me. Here are a couple of photos. The field marks are the black back, yellow legs, yellow beak with red spot, and yellow eye. The brown wash on head and neck is the winter plumage. In summer, the head and neck are pure white.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475107 click ‘next’ once
Several shorebirds also were very tame and allowed good photos.
This Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) shows a few black feathers under his wing. In fact the whole underwing is black, but this is the first and only photo where I saw the tips of the black feathers when the wings were folded.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475110 click ‘next’ once
The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is a common winter resident all along the Gulf Coast. Here is the winter plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475114
The last photo is an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) swimming. Unlike Cormorants who have at least some of the body visible while swimming, the Anhinga swims with its body completely submerged. Only the head and neck are visible. I saw this phenomenon twice in Florida, but managed only a single useful picture.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475115
Lastly, here are a couple of photos of Manatees, and endangered mammal.
The first shows an adult with a baby beside. The second shows the animals back covered with barnacles. There is a location to see these huge beasts near Ft. Myers and these photos were taken from the bank of the river at that location.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475117 click ‘next’ once
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David & Linda McDonald
Friendswood Texas
August-20-2007
Bulletin #11 – South Florida – part 6
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
My wife, Linda, and I were staying on Sanibel Island, off the coast from Ft. Myers. It is famous as the best shelling location on the gulf coast. The beach has much human traffic and apparently the birds have become quite tame as they are very approachable. I have never before been able to walk to within 15’ from a group of gulls and terns.
Each late afternoon, a small mixed flock of gulls and terns was on the beach in front of the condo where we were staying. I was able to get close up pictures of several birds.
The first is a 1st summer plumage Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). The second is the adult winter plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109475101 click ‘next’ once
The next is a winter plumage Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Notice the black bill tipped with yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475105
Lastly, there was a larger gull that I saw one afternoon when I didn’t have my camera. Fortunately, he came back to the same place every day. I was ready for him and I got many photos. It had a black back, so I knew it was either Lesser or Greater Black-backed Gull. The difference is the leg color, with Greater BBG having pink legs and the Lesser BBG having yellow legs. The Greater is also much larger.This was a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus). This medium sized (21”) gull is primarily a European resident along the Atlantic coast, but it occurs rarely along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the USA. It was a lifer for me. Here are a couple of photos. The field marks are the black back, yellow legs, yellow beak with red spot, and yellow eye. The brown wash on head and neck is the winter plumage. In summer, the head and neck are pure white.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475107 click ‘next’ once
Several shorebirds also were very tame and allowed good photos.
This Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) shows a few black feathers under his wing. In fact the whole underwing is black, but this is the first and only photo where I saw the tips of the black feathers when the wings were folded.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475110 click ‘next’ once
The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is a common winter resident all along the Gulf Coast. Here is the winter plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475114
The last photo is an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) swimming. Unlike Cormorants who have at least some of the body visible while swimming, the Anhinga swims with its body completely submerged. Only the head and neck are visible. I saw this phenomenon twice in Florida, but managed only a single useful picture.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475115
Lastly, here are a couple of photos of Manatees, and endangered mammal.
The first shows an adult with a baby beside. The second shows the animals back covered with barnacles. There is a location to see these huge beasts near Ft. Myers and these photos were taken from the bank of the river at that location.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109475117 click ‘next’ once
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David & Linda McDonald
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Bulletin #10 - South Florida #5
David & Linda McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
August-7-2007
Bulletin #10 – South Florida – part 5
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
Between Sarasota and Ft. Myers and right off I75 is the Babcock-Webb preserve. It is one of the best place for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. The trees with the nest holes are marked etc. Unfortunately I didn’t see them. This is still a species I have never seen.
But I did get a different life bird there, the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla). I was driving around and came upon a couple of birders who had a pair of nuthatches right beside the road. Here are a couple of photos. The second one shows the characteristic white spot on the nape of the neck.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109474250 click ‘next’ once
I also chased a beautiful male Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) for a considerable distance along a sandy trail to get the following photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474252
My wife, Linda, and I were staying on Sanibel Island, off the coast from Ft. Myers. It is famous as the best shelling location on the gulf coast. But, it is also famous for Ding Darling NWR. This fabulous wildlife sanctuary has a 4 mile paved road through mangrove swamps, forested area etc. Every day is as busy as High Island Texas in migration. One can drive along and pull off to the side to watch the birds or take pictures anywhere along the route. As well as lots of waders, there are alligators, raccoons and other mammals to see if one is lucky.
These next 3 photos were taken by my wife Linda, with the landscape camera. The first shows typical mangrove swampy area in Ding Darling at low tide.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474253
The next 2 show the extensive number of wading species and water birds seen in Ding Darling. How many species can you find in each photo?
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474255 click ‘next’ once
Here are some of my photos from Ding Darling. The birds are quite tame as there is so much vehicular traffic. Often with the 500mm lens, I would have to move away from the bird so I could get the whole bird in the photo!
The first is one of my favorite. It is a preening Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474257
There were many Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) seen here. Did you find the Wood Stork in the second picture above? Here are several photos of this magnificent bird. The first photo showed the pink feet. I did not know this feature of the Wood Stork. Notice the bare black neck and head. Also, they will completely submerse their head to capture food.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474258 click ‘next’ once
I also got a good photo of the Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor). This is a non-breeding adult.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474261
Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) were common and easy to photograph. Here are the male and female of this species at Ding Darling.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474262 click ‘next’ once
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David & Linda McDonald
Note – photos with the name preceded by an asterisk were updated for this blog and the text was edited accordingly.
Friendswood Texas
August-7-2007
Bulletin #10 – South Florida – part 5
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
Between Sarasota and Ft. Myers and right off I75 is the Babcock-Webb preserve. It is one of the best place for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. The trees with the nest holes are marked etc. Unfortunately I didn’t see them. This is still a species I have never seen.
But I did get a different life bird there, the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla). I was driving around and came upon a couple of birders who had a pair of nuthatches right beside the road. Here are a couple of photos. The second one shows the characteristic white spot on the nape of the neck.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109474250 click ‘next’ once
I also chased a beautiful male Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) for a considerable distance along a sandy trail to get the following photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474252
My wife, Linda, and I were staying on Sanibel Island, off the coast from Ft. Myers. It is famous as the best shelling location on the gulf coast. But, it is also famous for Ding Darling NWR. This fabulous wildlife sanctuary has a 4 mile paved road through mangrove swamps, forested area etc. Every day is as busy as High Island Texas in migration. One can drive along and pull off to the side to watch the birds or take pictures anywhere along the route. As well as lots of waders, there are alligators, raccoons and other mammals to see if one is lucky.
These next 3 photos were taken by my wife Linda, with the landscape camera. The first shows typical mangrove swampy area in Ding Darling at low tide.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474253
The next 2 show the extensive number of wading species and water birds seen in Ding Darling. How many species can you find in each photo?
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474255 click ‘next’ once
Here are some of my photos from Ding Darling. The birds are quite tame as there is so much vehicular traffic. Often with the 500mm lens, I would have to move away from the bird so I could get the whole bird in the photo!
The first is one of my favorite. It is a preening Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga).
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474257
There were many Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) seen here. Did you find the Wood Stork in the second picture above? Here are several photos of this magnificent bird. The first photo showed the pink feet. I did not know this feature of the Wood Stork. Notice the bare black neck and head. Also, they will completely submerse their head to capture food.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474258 click ‘next’ once
I also got a good photo of the Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor). This is a non-breeding adult.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474261
Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) were common and easy to photograph. Here are the male and female of this species at Ding Darling.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109474262 click ‘next’ once
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David & Linda McDonald
Note – photos with the name preceded by an asterisk were updated for this blog and the text was edited accordingly.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Bulletin #9 - Miami parrots
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
August-2-2007
Bulletin #9 – South Florida – part 4 – Miami parrots
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
The last group of exotic birds in Miami are the parakeets and parrots. These are all escaped or introduced birds. Miami and Los Angeles are home to more than a dozen mostly Neotropic birds in this family.
In Miami, they are very local in specific neighborhoods, and a good guide is essential to quickly navigate around the known areas. Paul Bithorn was superb and I had a great time seeing and photographing these birds. I have been to the tropics numerous times and the parrots are the hardest to see, but easy to hear with their squawking. Locating a mostly green bird in the rain forest is a challenge. In Miami, they were relatively easy to find in the scattered trees of a suburban area. We ended up with 7 species in 4 genera. There are numerous others for another visit to Miami, but these are the most commonly encountered.
The first is probably the most common parrot encountered in the USA. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a native of southern Brazil and Argentina. I have seen it in its home range. In the pet trade it is known as the Quaker Parrot. It builds large communal nests in trees or power transmission towers. According to Sibley, colonies can be found across the USA as far north as Oregon, Illinois and New York. We have them in numerous locations in the Houston area and I have actually had an occasional one fly over my house. It has been established long enough that it is an ABA countable species.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109472852
The next genus is the aratinga parakeets. As you know, parakeets are smaller parrots with long pointed tails. There are several species of these in Miami, but I was able to get photos of only 2 of them due to time restraints. They differ mostly with head, face and wing colorations. These parakeets are about 13.5 inches in length.
The first is the Mitred Parakeet (Aratinga mitrata). This was the most common aratinga that I saw on my visit. It is distinguished by red on face, red spots on head on neck and red socks. Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472855 click 'next' once
The other aratinga is the Scarlet-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga wagleri). It has a deeper red on the face but only occasional other red spots on head and neck. It also has extensive red on the wing bend and underwing as shown. Here are 2 photos of this bird. Notice how closely these 2 parakeets resemble each other. Without my guide for confirmation of the ID of them, I would have been very confused.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472859 click ‘next’ once
Neither of these 2 aratinga species are ABA countable birds, but both were lifers for me.
The other parakeet genus that I saw was brotogeris. Originally called Sulphur-winged Parakeet, this was an ABA countable species. However about a decade ago, it was split but only 1 of the splits is ABA countable, even though both species of the split occur in Miami and the non-countable one is more numerous! Go figure! These are small parakeets only 8.75 inches long.
The countable species is the White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus). They have extensive white wing patches visible when flying, but perched, only an occasional bit of white is seen on the wing. It also has a large yellow wing patch. Look also at the face. There is a very pale blue patch between the eye and bill. These are the distinguishing marks from the other split partner. I was very confused seeing them in the wild, but with the photos, I can see clearly the differences that weren’t apparent through the binoculars. Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472863 click ‘next’ once
The other half and non-countable split is the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri). There is no white on the wings and the face is entirely green.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472869 click ‘next’ once
Parrots are larger than parakeets. The genus Amazona is a large group of neo-tropical parrots. The are heavy bodied and have square tails. There are several species in Miami of this genus.
The first is the Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis). This bird is native to northeastern Mexico and does occur in the Rio Grade valley of Texas naturally. But, most of these Texas birds are felt to be escaped pets. It also occurs in Miami and Los Angeles as escapes. It is an ABA countable species. Notice the red crown, blue nape of neck and square tail. He is 13 inches long.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472876
The other amazon is the Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica). This bird is native to South America and established in the Miami area. It is not an ABA countable species. The field marks are the yellow and blue on the head and the orange wing feathers (just visible in this photo.)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472880
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
August-2-2007
Bulletin #9 – South Florida – part 4 – Miami parrots
Hello friends,
I have had the opportunity to visit Florida twice in the first half of 2007.
My first visit was to Sanibel Island in February. Last month, I had a business trip to Miami for a weekend and managed to spend about 2 full days birding with a great guide Paul Bithorn (305.431.5908 or email pbithorn@plumbers519.com.).
The last group of exotic birds in Miami are the parakeets and parrots. These are all escaped or introduced birds. Miami and Los Angeles are home to more than a dozen mostly Neotropic birds in this family.
In Miami, they are very local in specific neighborhoods, and a good guide is essential to quickly navigate around the known areas. Paul Bithorn was superb and I had a great time seeing and photographing these birds. I have been to the tropics numerous times and the parrots are the hardest to see, but easy to hear with their squawking. Locating a mostly green bird in the rain forest is a challenge. In Miami, they were relatively easy to find in the scattered trees of a suburban area. We ended up with 7 species in 4 genera. There are numerous others for another visit to Miami, but these are the most commonly encountered.
The first is probably the most common parrot encountered in the USA. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a native of southern Brazil and Argentina. I have seen it in its home range. In the pet trade it is known as the Quaker Parrot. It builds large communal nests in trees or power transmission towers. According to Sibley, colonies can be found across the USA as far north as Oregon, Illinois and New York. We have them in numerous locations in the Houston area and I have actually had an occasional one fly over my house. It has been established long enough that it is an ABA countable species.
http://www.pbase.com/image/109472852
The next genus is the aratinga parakeets. As you know, parakeets are smaller parrots with long pointed tails. There are several species of these in Miami, but I was able to get photos of only 2 of them due to time restraints. They differ mostly with head, face and wing colorations. These parakeets are about 13.5 inches in length.
The first is the Mitred Parakeet (Aratinga mitrata). This was the most common aratinga that I saw on my visit. It is distinguished by red on face, red spots on head on neck and red socks. Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472855 click 'next' once
The other aratinga is the Scarlet-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga wagleri). It has a deeper red on the face but only occasional other red spots on head and neck. It also has extensive red on the wing bend and underwing as shown. Here are 2 photos of this bird. Notice how closely these 2 parakeets resemble each other. Without my guide for confirmation of the ID of them, I would have been very confused.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472859 click ‘next’ once
Neither of these 2 aratinga species are ABA countable birds, but both were lifers for me.
The other parakeet genus that I saw was brotogeris. Originally called Sulphur-winged Parakeet, this was an ABA countable species. However about a decade ago, it was split but only 1 of the splits is ABA countable, even though both species of the split occur in Miami and the non-countable one is more numerous! Go figure! These are small parakeets only 8.75 inches long.
The countable species is the White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus). They have extensive white wing patches visible when flying, but perched, only an occasional bit of white is seen on the wing. It also has a large yellow wing patch. Look also at the face. There is a very pale blue patch between the eye and bill. These are the distinguishing marks from the other split partner. I was very confused seeing them in the wild, but with the photos, I can see clearly the differences that weren’t apparent through the binoculars. Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472863 click ‘next’ once
The other half and non-countable split is the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri). There is no white on the wings and the face is entirely green.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472869 click ‘next’ once
Parrots are larger than parakeets. The genus Amazona is a large group of neo-tropical parrots. The are heavy bodied and have square tails. There are several species in Miami of this genus.
The first is the Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis). This bird is native to northeastern Mexico and does occur in the Rio Grade valley of Texas naturally. But, most of these Texas birds are felt to be escaped pets. It also occurs in Miami and Los Angeles as escapes. It is an ABA countable species. Notice the red crown, blue nape of neck and square tail. He is 13 inches long.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472876
The other amazon is the Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica). This bird is native to South America and established in the Miami area. It is not an ABA countable species. The field marks are the yellow and blue on the head and the orange wing feathers (just visible in this photo.)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/109472880
The Miami guide (Paul Bithorn) I used, was extremely knowledgeable, especially for the mangrove species and exotics. Many of the exotics occur in specific neighborhoods in the Miami area, and a casual birder would have a difficult time locating them. To contact Paul, call him at (305) 431-5908 or email him at pbithorn@plumbers519.com.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy Birding,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2007 David McDonald
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