David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 23, 2008
Bulletin #39 – Monterey Bay, California pelagic trip
Hello friends,
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
The last frontier for birders is the open ocean. There are many seabirds that inhabit the oceans of the world. These birds rarely come ashore except to breed usually on remote islands. Thus, they are relatively inaccessible to birders unless you go out on a boat. Most birders have never seen any of these birds.
This is tough birding, as you are out for 6-8 hours or more. There is no returning early for seasickness.
Photography on a boat rolling up and down on the waves is especially tricky. Thank heaven for the image stabilization lenses available now. The camera has to be hand held – no tripods, and they probably would be useless anyway.
Anyway, I went on a pelagic trip with Shearwater Journeys
(http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/index.shtml) out of Monterey CA on May 11th. It was very rough with 4-6 foot seas and overcast for the morning. There were 25 birders on the trip and 3 or 4 got seasick very early and were miserable for most of the 8 hour trip. I took my seasick prevention medication as recommended, and was fine. This was my 3rd trip with Shearwater Journeys, but the first to do photography.
The largest seabirds are the albatrosses. These huge birds (6-9 foot wingspan) spend their lives on the open ocean except to nest and breed on remote islands of the world. Most of them nest in the southern hemisphere. The Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) was my first ever member of this family of 13 species. We actually saw about 150 of them which is a huge number. Apparently a dozen or two is more likely on a trip.
They nest on Midway Island in the northwest Hawaiian Islands chain and fly to the California coast to feed and then return home to feed the chick.
So here is an albatross sitting on the water behind the boat. Notice the hump that the wings make along the back. These birds have their nostrils in tubes along the bill as can be clearly seen.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493685
The adults have a white rump and the 1st year juveniles have a brown rump as can be seen in the next 2 photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493691 click ‘next’ once
Shearwaters and petrels are another family of seabirds. They are much smaller (12 -19”) than the albatrosses. We saw 2 members of this family. These birds are also ‘tubenoses’ as the albatross above.
The Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) I had seen previously and many were present on this trip. They are all dark sooty brown in color.
Most of these birds are seen gliding above the ocean, so the wing pattern, both top and underside are important to ID the birds.
Here are 2 photos showing the bird sitting on the water and top side of the wings. You can see the ‘tubenose’ in the first photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493727 click ‘next’ once
These birds have to ‘run’ along the surface of the water to get airborne. The next slide shows the bird doing just that and the underside of the wing.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493773
The other shearwater was the Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus). This was a lifer for me. They are brown on top and white underneath. I have a couple of photos of the soaring birds, but none sitting on the water. The second photo actually has some white on the wings. This is a molting plumage. These birds breed on islands off Chile.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493774 click ‘next’ once
The third family of seabirds that we encountered was the storm-petrels. We had a fly by of some Ashy Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma homochroa). Strom-petrels are small (6 – 9”) swallow-like birds come ashore at night only to breed. The birds were perhaps 50 yards away, but I pointed my camera in the direction and snapped some pictures. This was another lifer for me.
The bird has very long wings and a forked tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493781
There were several interesting gulls following the boat as well.
The first is a 2nd year Glaucous-winged Gull. He has gray wings and lighter primary feathers.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493786
There was also a single Sabine’s Gull. This is a gull of the arctic. In winter they are strictly pelagic in the Pacific Ocean. This was another lifer for me.
They have a distinctive wing pattern with black wing tips, white central patch and gray at the base of the wings. In breeding plumage, they also have dark gray heads. The bill is black with a yellow tip.
Here is the upperside of the wings to show the pattern.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493802
The next photo isn’t too clear, but it shows the dark head, bill, and underside wing pattern.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493805
There were several Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica) in breeding plumage and I obtained my first photo of a loon in flight. I think it is rare to see a loon flying, as they usually just dive and swim away to avoid danger.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493812
There were other birds seen, but I got better photos on shore, so they will appear in the future bulletins.
On the trip, we also saw lots of sea lions, several Sea Otters, and several Humpback Whales. The whales were breaching at times, but I never managed to get a photo of the whale jumping out of the water. By the time I got my camera around to the right direction, I just got photos of some huge splashes!
Here is an interesting photo of an adult Sea Otter with a large pup riding on its stomach. I had not seen this behavior before, despite seeing many otters over the last 25 years.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97493819
If this type of birding interests you, check out Shearwater Journeys web site. They have trip all year long, but most of the trips are in the fall and the cost is reasonable (about $150).
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/index.shtml
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bulletin #38 – Upper Texas Coast – misc. spring birds
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 19, 2008
Bulletin #38 – Upper Texas Coast – misc. spring birds
Hello friends,
The best bird of the spring migration wasn’t a migrant at all. This Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) was on the beach at Bolivar flats early on a Saturday morning 2 weeks ago. I saw him a long way down the beach, but I knew it was something special. I wasn’t sure what he was, but I knew to take a lot of photos as other experts would be able to ID the bird later. Jaegers are pelagic birds that chase other birds to steal their food. They usually come onshore only to nest in the arctic. Most observers see them from shore as a far off dark bird. On pelagic trips offshore, they may be seen at closer range, so it was most unusual to see it sitting on a busy beach!
This bird became an instant star as he was featured on the Texas Rare Bird Alert, along with being the Houston Audubon Society ‘bird of the week’ last week on their web site.
Jaegers have long central tail feathers and the Pomarine Jaeger has the feathers twisted at 90 degrees, so the end of the tail looks fatter than the more proximal portion.
Here are 2 photos showing him on the beach and flying away. The long tail feathers can be plainly seen in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/image/97355427 click ‘next’ once
The other unusual bird was from the end of March. The Ross’s Goose (Chen rossi) was a very difficult bird for me to find. He is usually found in fields with Snow Geese. I looked for him 3 times west of Houston (50 miles from home) as well as on a trip to Monterey CA in February. On that trip, he had been staked out by my guide there, but when I got there, no bird.
As luck would have it, someone found one associating with domestic geese and ducks in a subdivision 7 miles from my house. The location was posted on the Texbirds web site. I went there and he was as tame as could be, because the homeowners were feeding all the waterfowl.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355522
The Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea) is a little larger than the other blue migrant, the Indigo Bunting. He is also much less common to find. I finally got some good photos this year. The bird has a much bigger beak than the Indigo Bunting and the male Blue Grosbeak has 2 brown wing bars. Here he is in a mulberry tree.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355541
Another bird I was able to get better photos was the Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurious). The beautiful male is chocolate brown with black head and wings with 2 white wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355591
The first year male is yellowish with a black bib.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355632
I found this Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) eating a mulberry at High Island. Even though his name suggests they eat only insects, they will eat some fruit.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355693
Lastly is the resident Barn Owl (Tyto alba) at Smith Oaks on High Island.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355715
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,David McDonalddavidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
May 19, 2008
Bulletin #38 – Upper Texas Coast – misc. spring birds
Hello friends,
The best bird of the spring migration wasn’t a migrant at all. This Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) was on the beach at Bolivar flats early on a Saturday morning 2 weeks ago. I saw him a long way down the beach, but I knew it was something special. I wasn’t sure what he was, but I knew to take a lot of photos as other experts would be able to ID the bird later. Jaegers are pelagic birds that chase other birds to steal their food. They usually come onshore only to nest in the arctic. Most observers see them from shore as a far off dark bird. On pelagic trips offshore, they may be seen at closer range, so it was most unusual to see it sitting on a busy beach!
This bird became an instant star as he was featured on the Texas Rare Bird Alert, along with being the Houston Audubon Society ‘bird of the week’ last week on their web site.
Jaegers have long central tail feathers and the Pomarine Jaeger has the feathers twisted at 90 degrees, so the end of the tail looks fatter than the more proximal portion.
Here are 2 photos showing him on the beach and flying away. The long tail feathers can be plainly seen in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/image/97355427 click ‘next’ once
The other unusual bird was from the end of March. The Ross’s Goose (Chen rossi) was a very difficult bird for me to find. He is usually found in fields with Snow Geese. I looked for him 3 times west of Houston (50 miles from home) as well as on a trip to Monterey CA in February. On that trip, he had been staked out by my guide there, but when I got there, no bird.
As luck would have it, someone found one associating with domestic geese and ducks in a subdivision 7 miles from my house. The location was posted on the Texbirds web site. I went there and he was as tame as could be, because the homeowners were feeding all the waterfowl.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355522
The Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea) is a little larger than the other blue migrant, the Indigo Bunting. He is also much less common to find. I finally got some good photos this year. The bird has a much bigger beak than the Indigo Bunting and the male Blue Grosbeak has 2 brown wing bars. Here he is in a mulberry tree.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355541
Another bird I was able to get better photos was the Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurious). The beautiful male is chocolate brown with black head and wings with 2 white wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355591
The first year male is yellowish with a black bib.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355632
I found this Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) eating a mulberry at High Island. Even though his name suggests they eat only insects, they will eat some fruit.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355693
Lastly is the resident Barn Owl (Tyto alba) at Smith Oaks on High Island.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97355715
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,David McDonalddavidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bulletin #37 – Upper Texas Coast
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 9, 2008
Bulletin #37 – Upper Texas Coast
Hello friends,
Well spring migration has come to a close and what a great time it was! There were 2 fantastic days for birds, with lots of opportunity for photographs.
I made a list of the birds that I had not photographed yet, and tried to spend more time, seeking out these specific species. I was able to get most of the list checked off.
Among the warblers, I found all the common ones and even 2 rarer species – Blackpoll and Cerulean. I’m still lacking Cape May and Black-throated Blue – but I don’t recall that either of them was mentioned this year from Texas anywhere until 2 days ago and I didn’t have time to go.
The shorebirds were going to be a challenge, as I wasn’t sure of my ID skills in the field, so I took lots of pictures of different birds and then sorted them out at home. I missed only 2 – Baird’s Sandpiper and American Golden Plover. But, I did photograph Stilt, Semipalmated, Solitary, Pectoral and Upland Sandpipers, Wilson’s Snipe, Hudsonian Godwit and Wilson’s Phalarope.
So, I have a much reduced list for spring 2009!
The Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) was in Bulletin #35, but it was a head on view. Here is a better profile of the beautiful male and the second photo is a female. Her colors are duller.
http://www.pbase.com/image/96821636 click ‘next’ once
The Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) is yellow warbler with no white anywhere. The male shown here has reddish breast streaks. The female lacks the streaks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821643
The Blackburnian Warbler is my favorite among the warblers. There were several birds at High Island last weekend and I was able to get many pictures. The male has a black back, white wing bars and breast and beautiful bright orange face, throat and breast. The popular name is ‘fire-throat’ and when you see one of these birds in the sun, he positively shines.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821649
The Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is the last of the 3 phalaropes for me to photo. Phalaropes are unusual in the bird world, as the female is the brightly colored of the sexes. She courts the male, lays the eggs, and then he incubates them and raises the young. Here are 2 photos of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821652 click ‘next’ once
The Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) is an uncommon shorebird, but fortunately, it migrates through Texas in the spring on its way to the arctic. I have only seen them at a distance in the scope. But this year when I wanted to photograph them, I managed to get to within 25 yards. Godwits are large sandpipers with a slightly upturned bill. The Hudsonian Godwit male has a brick red belly. The female is brown and gray as in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821668 click ‘next’ once
The smallest sandpipers are popularly called ‘peeps’. There are 5 of them in North America – Least, Western, Semipalmated, White-rumped and Baird’s. They range in size from 6” to 7.5” and can be a daunting ID challenge to birders who aren’t expert. However, they can be sorted out.
The easiest to ID is the Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). At only 6” in length, it is the smallest sandpiper in the world. His distinguishing feature is yellow legs. He has a short bill. All other peeps in North America have black legs. He is generally found on mud flats.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821694
The Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers are generally found on beaches. They are similar in size and coloration except the Western is more reddish in breeding plumage.
The difference is the bill shape. The Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) has a shorter straight bill. Semipalmated means partially webbed feet. This feature can be seen on the front foot.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821701
The Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) has a longer bill that drops down at the tip. The reddish-brown on the face and head is brighter than on the Semipalmated above.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821718
The last 2 peeps – White-rumped and Baird’s both have very long wings that extend beyond the tail.
The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) feeds on mud flats and wades into deeper water. He has gray and rufous back, straight bill and a reddish area on the base of lower mandible. Both the white rump, seen when flying, and this reddish spot on the mandible are diagnostic for this species.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821762
I don’t have a photo of the last peep – Baird’s. But I hope that these close-up photos of the other 4 will help you to sort out these small sandpipers.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
May 9, 2008
Bulletin #37 – Upper Texas Coast
Hello friends,
Well spring migration has come to a close and what a great time it was! There were 2 fantastic days for birds, with lots of opportunity for photographs.
I made a list of the birds that I had not photographed yet, and tried to spend more time, seeking out these specific species. I was able to get most of the list checked off.
Among the warblers, I found all the common ones and even 2 rarer species – Blackpoll and Cerulean. I’m still lacking Cape May and Black-throated Blue – but I don’t recall that either of them was mentioned this year from Texas anywhere until 2 days ago and I didn’t have time to go.
The shorebirds were going to be a challenge, as I wasn’t sure of my ID skills in the field, so I took lots of pictures of different birds and then sorted them out at home. I missed only 2 – Baird’s Sandpiper and American Golden Plover. But, I did photograph Stilt, Semipalmated, Solitary, Pectoral and Upland Sandpipers, Wilson’s Snipe, Hudsonian Godwit and Wilson’s Phalarope.
So, I have a much reduced list for spring 2009!
The Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) was in Bulletin #35, but it was a head on view. Here is a better profile of the beautiful male and the second photo is a female. Her colors are duller.
http://www.pbase.com/image/96821636 click ‘next’ once
The Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) is yellow warbler with no white anywhere. The male shown here has reddish breast streaks. The female lacks the streaks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821643
The Blackburnian Warbler is my favorite among the warblers. There were several birds at High Island last weekend and I was able to get many pictures. The male has a black back, white wing bars and breast and beautiful bright orange face, throat and breast. The popular name is ‘fire-throat’ and when you see one of these birds in the sun, he positively shines.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821649
The Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is the last of the 3 phalaropes for me to photo. Phalaropes are unusual in the bird world, as the female is the brightly colored of the sexes. She courts the male, lays the eggs, and then he incubates them and raises the young. Here are 2 photos of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821652 click ‘next’ once
The Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) is an uncommon shorebird, but fortunately, it migrates through Texas in the spring on its way to the arctic. I have only seen them at a distance in the scope. But this year when I wanted to photograph them, I managed to get to within 25 yards. Godwits are large sandpipers with a slightly upturned bill. The Hudsonian Godwit male has a brick red belly. The female is brown and gray as in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821668 click ‘next’ once
The smallest sandpipers are popularly called ‘peeps’. There are 5 of them in North America – Least, Western, Semipalmated, White-rumped and Baird’s. They range in size from 6” to 7.5” and can be a daunting ID challenge to birders who aren’t expert. However, they can be sorted out.
The easiest to ID is the Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). At only 6” in length, it is the smallest sandpiper in the world. His distinguishing feature is yellow legs. He has a short bill. All other peeps in North America have black legs. He is generally found on mud flats.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821694
The Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers are generally found on beaches. They are similar in size and coloration except the Western is more reddish in breeding plumage.
The difference is the bill shape. The Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) has a shorter straight bill. Semipalmated means partially webbed feet. This feature can be seen on the front foot.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821701
The Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) has a longer bill that drops down at the tip. The reddish-brown on the face and head is brighter than on the Semipalmated above.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821718
The last 2 peeps – White-rumped and Baird’s both have very long wings that extend beyond the tail.
The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) feeds on mud flats and wades into deeper water. He has gray and rufous back, straight bill and a reddish area on the base of lower mandible. Both the white rump, seen when flying, and this reddish spot on the mandible are diagnostic for this species.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96821762
I don’t have a photo of the last peep – Baird’s. But I hope that these close-up photos of the other 4 will help you to sort out these small sandpipers.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friday, May 2, 2008
Bulletin #36 - Upper Texas coast warblers & sandpipers
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 2, 2008
Bulletin #36 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers & sandpipers
Hello friends,
Here are a few more warblers from various locations this spring so far.
There are several ground dwelling warblers, in addition to the Swainson’s Warbler that was shown in Bulletin #34. They are all brownish to blend in with the leaf litter and muddy areas where they feed. All 3 are in the genus Seiurus.
The first is the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla). He has a striped head with a central orange stripe. The breast has streaking. It is named for the round oven like nest that it builds on the ground. The sexes are similar. The second photo shows the orange stripe better.
http://www.pbase.com/image/96258590 click ‘next’ once
The next two are very similar and for many people very confusing. The Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla) is distinguished by a long white stripe above the eye that extends to the neck. The eye stripe is wider and longer than the stripe on the Northern Waterthrush. Also, it has a longer bill, pinkish legs, and buffy flank patch which is perhaps the most important ID differentiation. Also, generally it has a white breast and clear, unstreaked throat.
So here is a Louisiana Waterthrush.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258639
The Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) (NOWA) normally has a thinner buffy eye stripe that doesn’t extend as far down the neck. Also, it is usually buffy to yellowish on the breast. The legs are generally dark, but may be pink.
The first photo is a pale breasted NOWA with pink legs. The second photo is a rather yellowish bird and lastly is another bird caught with wings up and tail flared as he was ready to fly off. The latter two have darker legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258600 click ‘next’ twice
The next warbler is an uncommon migrant through the upper Texas coast. The Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) is similar to the Black-and-white Warbler, but it has a solid black cap and white face. The first photo is the Blackpoll and the second is a Black-and-white for comparison. The Blackpoll Warbler has bubblegum pink legs that confirm the ID.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442189 click ‘next’ once
The next warbler is the pretty Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea). He has black face, back and wings with 2 white wing bars. There is also a rufous cap and rufous throat and breast stripes. This is a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258570
The last warbler is the Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia). This is known as the black and white and yellow warbler. The male has a gray cap, yellow underparts with black streaks and black upperparts with white wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258574
Shorebirds also winter on and migrate through the upper Texas coast. Here are a several migrants that I photographed in Galveston in April. Sandpipers are moderately easy to ID in breeding plumage in the spring, but can be difficult in non-breeding plumage the rest of the year. Fortunately, these are all breeding plumaged birds.
First is the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). This bird has a white eye ring, yellow legs, dark spotted wings, and streaked breast. It is the only North American sandpiper to nest in trees, making use of abandoned nests of other birds. Interestingly, the white eye ring is the eyelids and when the eyes are closed, the eye ring disappears as shown in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442383 click ‘next’ once
Next is the Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (STSA). This is a long yellowish legged sandpiper with slightly downcurved bill. It has a white stripe above the eye, and brownish cap and face. The breast is heavily streaked. The second photo has a bird scratching his neck. This shows his long legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258497 click ‘next’ once
It feeds like a dowitcher and often intermingles with flocks of them. The guide books state that they can be differentiated as the STSA has longer legs and shorter bill, so he has to bend over or ‘tilt up’ to a greater extent than dowitchers. Here are a couple of photos of a STSA tilting up so much that their head is completely underwater. The second photo, the bird was standing in chest deep water and when tilted up, is almost completely underwater! He looks more like a duck than a shorebird. As I watched a flock of about 10 of these birds, I saw them do this many times. I haven’t noticed any other sandpiper submerge his head so often as these STSAs did.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442734 click ‘next’ once
The last photo is another STSA that I caught just as he plunged his head down. Interestingly, there is an air column formed, before the water closes in
around him.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442769
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
May 2, 2008
Bulletin #36 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers & sandpipers
Hello friends,
Here are a few more warblers from various locations this spring so far.
There are several ground dwelling warblers, in addition to the Swainson’s Warbler that was shown in Bulletin #34. They are all brownish to blend in with the leaf litter and muddy areas where they feed. All 3 are in the genus Seiurus.
The first is the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla). He has a striped head with a central orange stripe. The breast has streaking. It is named for the round oven like nest that it builds on the ground. The sexes are similar. The second photo shows the orange stripe better.
http://www.pbase.com/image/96258590 click ‘next’ once
The next two are very similar and for many people very confusing. The Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla) is distinguished by a long white stripe above the eye that extends to the neck. The eye stripe is wider and longer than the stripe on the Northern Waterthrush. Also, it has a longer bill, pinkish legs, and buffy flank patch which is perhaps the most important ID differentiation. Also, generally it has a white breast and clear, unstreaked throat.
So here is a Louisiana Waterthrush.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258639
The Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) (NOWA) normally has a thinner buffy eye stripe that doesn’t extend as far down the neck. Also, it is usually buffy to yellowish on the breast. The legs are generally dark, but may be pink.
The first photo is a pale breasted NOWA with pink legs. The second photo is a rather yellowish bird and lastly is another bird caught with wings up and tail flared as he was ready to fly off. The latter two have darker legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258600 click ‘next’ twice
The next warbler is an uncommon migrant through the upper Texas coast. The Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) is similar to the Black-and-white Warbler, but it has a solid black cap and white face. The first photo is the Blackpoll and the second is a Black-and-white for comparison. The Blackpoll Warbler has bubblegum pink legs that confirm the ID.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442189 click ‘next’ once
The next warbler is the pretty Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea). He has black face, back and wings with 2 white wing bars. There is also a rufous cap and rufous throat and breast stripes. This is a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258570
The last warbler is the Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia). This is known as the black and white and yellow warbler. The male has a gray cap, yellow underparts with black streaks and black upperparts with white wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258574
Shorebirds also winter on and migrate through the upper Texas coast. Here are a several migrants that I photographed in Galveston in April. Sandpipers are moderately easy to ID in breeding plumage in the spring, but can be difficult in non-breeding plumage the rest of the year. Fortunately, these are all breeding plumaged birds.
First is the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). This bird has a white eye ring, yellow legs, dark spotted wings, and streaked breast. It is the only North American sandpiper to nest in trees, making use of abandoned nests of other birds. Interestingly, the white eye ring is the eyelids and when the eyes are closed, the eye ring disappears as shown in the second photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442383 click ‘next’ once
Next is the Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (STSA). This is a long yellowish legged sandpiper with slightly downcurved bill. It has a white stripe above the eye, and brownish cap and face. The breast is heavily streaked. The second photo has a bird scratching his neck. This shows his long legs.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96258497 click ‘next’ once
It feeds like a dowitcher and often intermingles with flocks of them. The guide books state that they can be differentiated as the STSA has longer legs and shorter bill, so he has to bend over or ‘tilt up’ to a greater extent than dowitchers. Here are a couple of photos of a STSA tilting up so much that their head is completely underwater. The second photo, the bird was standing in chest deep water and when tilted up, is almost completely underwater! He looks more like a duck than a shorebird. As I watched a flock of about 10 of these birds, I saw them do this many times. I haven’t noticed any other sandpiper submerge his head so often as these STSAs did.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442734 click ‘next’ once
The last photo is another STSA that I caught just as he plunged his head down. Interestingly, there is an air column formed, before the water closes in
around him.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96442769
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Bulletin #35 - UTC warblers, vireos
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
April 24, 2008
Bulletin #35 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers & vireos
Hello friends,
Thank you to all who emailed me their compliments on last weeks bulletin of the warblers. It is appreciated!
Here are a few more warblers from various locations this spring so far.
The Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrine) is a common warbler here in the spring and it nests locally and all across the southeast USA. It generally stays low to the ground in bushes.
The male is bright yellow with a contrasting black hood. The female is duller, but the hood is faint, but unmistakable. They also have white edges on the tail. Here are 2 photos of the male and 1 of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013190 click 'next' twice
The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)is a warbler of marshes. He also breeds locally. The male is the ‘masked bandit’ as I call him with his black face. The female is similar, but without the black mask. Here is a photo of the male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013212
Next is the Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea), one of only 2 blue warblers in the USA. The male is blue above with white breast with black streaks. The female is blue-green above with a bluish head. The underparts are white with mild streaking. This is a first year female, as her breast is washed in yellow. The 2 white wingbars help ID this species in any plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013233 click 'next' once
The last warbler is the Northern Parula (Parula americana). This warbler is gray, with 2 white wing bars, green back and yellow breast. There may be some stripe across the breast. In addition, it has a broken white eye-ring. This eye-ring separates the species form its cousin the Tropical Parula.
Here is the male with reddish and black breast bands.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013289
The female lacks the black breast band. I don’t have a photo of her, but I do have the 1st year female. She has clear yellow breast – no bands.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013292
Vireos are a separate family of small birds. Beginning birders often get the two confused. Vireos have thicker bills, and the upper bill is hooked at the end.
The most commonly seen vireo here is the White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus). It is a gray green bird with white breast, 2 wing bars and yellow ‘spectacles’. The yellow around the eye and white throat is diagnostic. The white iris is sometimes visible at close range.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013299
The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is the next most abundant vireo seen in migration. It has a grayish head and olive back – almost brown looking. It is often confused with the Tennessee Warbler. The red eye iris is seldom seen and this year I got the first photos to actually show the iris.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013302
The Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) is a beautiful vireo with blue-gray head, white spectacles, green back, wing bars and a yellowish breast. For those of you who can’t find this bird in your older filed guide, it used to be called the Solitary Vireo. Solitary Vireo was split into 3 species several years ago. The Blue-headed form is the one we have in the eastern USA. It is also rather common and in fact winters on the Upper Texas Coast. I see them in my yard occasionally over the winter.
The vireo hooked beak is easily seen in this photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013311
Lastly is the Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus). This is a relatively uncommon bird in migration compared to the 3 above. However, I managed to get one in the camera lens during the fall-out at LaFitte’s Cove on April 12th. This is a drab gray bird with a little yellow on the throat. But the most important distinguishing feature is the black spot in front of the eye.
Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013315 click 'next' once
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
April 24, 2008
Bulletin #35 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers & vireos
Hello friends,
Thank you to all who emailed me their compliments on last weeks bulletin of the warblers. It is appreciated!
Here are a few more warblers from various locations this spring so far.
The Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrine) is a common warbler here in the spring and it nests locally and all across the southeast USA. It generally stays low to the ground in bushes.
The male is bright yellow with a contrasting black hood. The female is duller, but the hood is faint, but unmistakable. They also have white edges on the tail. Here are 2 photos of the male and 1 of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013190 click 'next' twice
The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)is a warbler of marshes. He also breeds locally. The male is the ‘masked bandit’ as I call him with his black face. The female is similar, but without the black mask. Here is a photo of the male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013212
Next is the Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea), one of only 2 blue warblers in the USA. The male is blue above with white breast with black streaks. The female is blue-green above with a bluish head. The underparts are white with mild streaking. This is a first year female, as her breast is washed in yellow. The 2 white wingbars help ID this species in any plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013233 click 'next' once
The last warbler is the Northern Parula (Parula americana). This warbler is gray, with 2 white wing bars, green back and yellow breast. There may be some stripe across the breast. In addition, it has a broken white eye-ring. This eye-ring separates the species form its cousin the Tropical Parula.
Here is the male with reddish and black breast bands.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013289
The female lacks the black breast band. I don’t have a photo of her, but I do have the 1st year female. She has clear yellow breast – no bands.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013292
Vireos are a separate family of small birds. Beginning birders often get the two confused. Vireos have thicker bills, and the upper bill is hooked at the end.
The most commonly seen vireo here is the White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus). It is a gray green bird with white breast, 2 wing bars and yellow ‘spectacles’. The yellow around the eye and white throat is diagnostic. The white iris is sometimes visible at close range.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013299
The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is the next most abundant vireo seen in migration. It has a grayish head and olive back – almost brown looking. It is often confused with the Tennessee Warbler. The red eye iris is seldom seen and this year I got the first photos to actually show the iris.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013302
The Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) is a beautiful vireo with blue-gray head, white spectacles, green back, wing bars and a yellowish breast. For those of you who can’t find this bird in your older filed guide, it used to be called the Solitary Vireo. Solitary Vireo was split into 3 species several years ago. The Blue-headed form is the one we have in the eastern USA. It is also rather common and in fact winters on the Upper Texas Coast. I see them in my yard occasionally over the winter.
The vireo hooked beak is easily seen in this photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013311
Lastly is the Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus). This is a relatively uncommon bird in migration compared to the 3 above. However, I managed to get one in the camera lens during the fall-out at LaFitte’s Cove on April 12th. This is a drab gray bird with a little yellow on the throat. But the most important distinguishing feature is the black spot in front of the eye.
Here are a couple of photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/96013315 click 'next' once
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friday, April 18, 2008
Bulletin #34 - Houston warblers
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
April 18, 2008
Bulletin #34 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers
Hello friends,
There was another error in ID on Bulletin #33 last week. My guide Rick Fournier reviewed the photo of the hybrid gull that he had identified as a Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull in the field. He now realizes that it is a Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid like the second hybrid.
However upon further observation from your fine photograph, it suspiciously looks like another Western X Glaucous-winged. Light dusky smudging around the head and neck, bright orange bill with a steep gonyale angle and the dorsal portion doesn't seem light enough for Glaucous-winged. The eye does having some brown flicking but this too is common among Western Gulls.
Let's face it, it's not an exact science!
Rick
Spring is migration time through the upper Texas coast and we can have an abundance of birds of different species. But with a cold front accompanied by a north wind and/or rain, the birding can be spectacular. This phenomenon is called a ‘fall-out’ as the birds literally fall out of the sky as soon as they reach the coast after a 600 mile flight across the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. If you are fortunate to be here during a fall-out, there are birds everywhere.
We had a mild fall-out last weekend and great birding was reported from a number of locations. One group of birders in a 3-day period – Friday to Sunday found 192 species. This represents about 30% of all the birds in North America!
I was lucky to be in one of the places in Galveston (LaFitte’s Cove Sanctuary). There were large numbers of warblers (16 species reported in Saturday and Sunday) and large numbers of several of the species.
Of all the bird families, warblers are probably the most difficult to photograph as they move constantly, are small and eat only insects, so they can’t be attracted to bird feeders.
But with a fall-out, there are so many around, that you can have a number of different birds of the same species and finally achieve a photograph or two. This was the case last Saturday, when I was able to get my best photos ever of a number of species as well as 2 new warbler species.
So here are some of the warblers from the weekends fall-out.
First is the ‘bird of the weekend’. This is the Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothylpis swainsonii). This is probably the most difficult warbler for most birders to locate. It is a ground dwelling skulker and brown in color. I have seen it about a dozen times, but not in the last decade and nowhere but at High Island. On Sunday April 13th, I was looking in the underbrush for movement indicating a bird and heard some leaves rustling. Finally I saw the bird about 12 feet away and got some photos. He was so tame, I was able to get some other people also to see him. Normally, if you are fortunate enough to find one, he is 25-40 yards away. I never expected to get a photo without a guide and tape on his breeding grounds.
He is IDed by the rusty cap, and white eye-stripe. He also has a long bill for a warbler and flesh-colored legs. As you can see, he is drab for a warbler, but he is perfectly hidden on the forest floor among the leaves.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95765858 click ‘next’ once
The Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) was a new species for me to photograph. He is a bright yellow bird with bluish wings with 2 white wing bars. He also has a black stripe through his eye. The adults are similar coloration. There were 20+ birds of this species and I was able to get good photos of several different birds. Here are a couple of photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95765887 click ‘next’ once
The Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica) is a common bird in the southeast USA, but for some reason it seems to always elude me. I have seen it only 4-5 times. However, there was a single bird on Saturday that I found and he was a bare branch 25’ above me, but I was able to get the camera on him for some photos. This was also a new species for me to photograph.
He is black and white, with a bright yellow throat. The sexes are similar. He is very distinctive and easy to ID if you find one.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766000 click ‘next’ once
The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is my wife’s favorite. She birds with me occasionally and has seen this canary-like bird. I found a single bird on Saturday and he was at eye level, so I obtained my best photos ever of him. He is bright yellow with grayish wings. He somewhat resembles the Blue-winged Warbler above, but lacks the wing bars and black line through the eye. The sexes are similar coloration, but the male is a brighter yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766037 click ‘next’ once
The Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) is a common bird. There were 20+ individuals on Saturday. The bird has a yellow face, green back, and black on throat and chest. This is a male bird. The female has a white chin. I don’t have a photo of her yet.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766050 click ‘next’ once
The Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) is a drab bird with olive back, gray head and whitish breast. There were multiple birds present, but I got only 1 good photo. The sexes are similar in color.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766122
Lastly is a common bird that is basic colored, but is one of my favorite warblers. The Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) has the unique feeding habit of climbing up and down the trunk and large branches of trees to pick insects from the bark. This is similar to the way nuthatches feed.
They have a striped head. The male in the first photo has a black cheek patch. The female in the second photo has white cheeks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766145 click ‘next’ once
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
April 18, 2008
Bulletin #34 – Upper Texas Coast – warblers
Hello friends,
There was another error in ID on Bulletin #33 last week. My guide Rick Fournier reviewed the photo of the hybrid gull that he had identified as a Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull in the field. He now realizes that it is a Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid like the second hybrid.
However upon further observation from your fine photograph, it suspiciously looks like another Western X Glaucous-winged. Light dusky smudging around the head and neck, bright orange bill with a steep gonyale angle and the dorsal portion doesn't seem light enough for Glaucous-winged. The eye does having some brown flicking but this too is common among Western Gulls.
Let's face it, it's not an exact science!
Rick
Spring is migration time through the upper Texas coast and we can have an abundance of birds of different species. But with a cold front accompanied by a north wind and/or rain, the birding can be spectacular. This phenomenon is called a ‘fall-out’ as the birds literally fall out of the sky as soon as they reach the coast after a 600 mile flight across the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. If you are fortunate to be here during a fall-out, there are birds everywhere.
We had a mild fall-out last weekend and great birding was reported from a number of locations. One group of birders in a 3-day period – Friday to Sunday found 192 species. This represents about 30% of all the birds in North America!
I was lucky to be in one of the places in Galveston (LaFitte’s Cove Sanctuary). There were large numbers of warblers (16 species reported in Saturday and Sunday) and large numbers of several of the species.
Of all the bird families, warblers are probably the most difficult to photograph as they move constantly, are small and eat only insects, so they can’t be attracted to bird feeders.
But with a fall-out, there are so many around, that you can have a number of different birds of the same species and finally achieve a photograph or two. This was the case last Saturday, when I was able to get my best photos ever of a number of species as well as 2 new warbler species.
So here are some of the warblers from the weekends fall-out.
First is the ‘bird of the weekend’. This is the Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothylpis swainsonii). This is probably the most difficult warbler for most birders to locate. It is a ground dwelling skulker and brown in color. I have seen it about a dozen times, but not in the last decade and nowhere but at High Island. On Sunday April 13th, I was looking in the underbrush for movement indicating a bird and heard some leaves rustling. Finally I saw the bird about 12 feet away and got some photos. He was so tame, I was able to get some other people also to see him. Normally, if you are fortunate enough to find one, he is 25-40 yards away. I never expected to get a photo without a guide and tape on his breeding grounds.
He is IDed by the rusty cap, and white eye-stripe. He also has a long bill for a warbler and flesh-colored legs. As you can see, he is drab for a warbler, but he is perfectly hidden on the forest floor among the leaves.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95765858 click ‘next’ once
The Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) was a new species for me to photograph. He is a bright yellow bird with bluish wings with 2 white wing bars. He also has a black stripe through his eye. The adults are similar coloration. There were 20+ birds of this species and I was able to get good photos of several different birds. Here are a couple of photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95765887 click ‘next’ once
The Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica) is a common bird in the southeast USA, but for some reason it seems to always elude me. I have seen it only 4-5 times. However, there was a single bird on Saturday that I found and he was a bare branch 25’ above me, but I was able to get the camera on him for some photos. This was also a new species for me to photograph.
He is black and white, with a bright yellow throat. The sexes are similar. He is very distinctive and easy to ID if you find one.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766000 click ‘next’ once
The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is my wife’s favorite. She birds with me occasionally and has seen this canary-like bird. I found a single bird on Saturday and he was at eye level, so I obtained my best photos ever of him. He is bright yellow with grayish wings. He somewhat resembles the Blue-winged Warbler above, but lacks the wing bars and black line through the eye. The sexes are similar coloration, but the male is a brighter yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766037 click ‘next’ once
The Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) is a common bird. There were 20+ individuals on Saturday. The bird has a yellow face, green back, and black on throat and chest. This is a male bird. The female has a white chin. I don’t have a photo of her yet.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766050 click ‘next’ once
The Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) is a drab bird with olive back, gray head and whitish breast. There were multiple birds present, but I got only 1 good photo. The sexes are similar in color.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766122
Lastly is a common bird that is basic colored, but is one of my favorite warblers. The Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) has the unique feeding habit of climbing up and down the trunk and large branches of trees to pick insects from the bark. This is similar to the way nuthatches feed.
They have a striped head. The male in the first photo has a black cheek patch. The female in the second photo has white cheeks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/95766145 click ‘next’ once
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bulletin #33 - Monterey CA gulls and Monarch Butterfly hibernation
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
April 8, 2008
Bulletin #33 – Monterey California #5 – gulls and Monarch Butterfly
Hello friends,
Gulls were a major target for me on this trip as the Austin Texas Audubon society was putting on a gull identification workshop and they needed some additional photos.
My guide, Rick Fournier, is an expert on all birds. He pointed out the confusing species to me as well as helped with other gulls pictures I took after my day with him.
The Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is a large 26” pale mantled gull of the Pacific coast from Seattle to Alaska. They winter all down the coast to Baja California. I managed to get only a single photo of a bird from a rather long distance, but the pale mantle and primary wing tips being the same or lighter color are the things to look for.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354424
In Bulletin #32, I showed the photos of a hybrid Hermit x Townsend’s warbler. Well, gulls also hybridize extensively, especially the large gulls. In Sibley’s field guide, the gull section starts with 4 hybrids. The Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull and Glaucous-winged x Western Gull, he states are relatively common.
Fortunately my guide, Rick Fournier, was able to identify these confusing birds for me. These hybrids just add to the confusion for birders trying to sort out the complex plumage variations of gulls.
Here is a Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid. The difference between this bird and the pure Glaucous-winged Gull above is subtle, but pertains to color of primary wing-tips being darker in the hybrid. I certainly would not know the difference in the field, but can see it in the photos.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354426
The other hybrid is Glaucous-winged x Western Gull. I was actually able to get several detailed photos of a bird on Carmel River beach. In this bird, the wingtips are darker still and it also some black spots show on the wings indication the Western Gull parentage. Byron Stone of Austin pointed out the detailed differences of this bird and I’ll put his emailed analysis after the 4 photos.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354433 click ‘next’ 3 times
Hi David,
This bird is also a hybrid. It is a Glaucous-winged X Western Gull hybrid, which I believe is sometimes called an "Olympic Gull" because they are so common on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, making up half or more of Glaucous-winged-type gulls there.
Note on the spread-wing shot the dark trailing edge of the underwing. This in NOT a pure Glaucous-wing character. Note also how the dorsal surface of the wingtips are as dark as the rest of the upperwing. In pure GW Gull, the wingtips should be paler than the rest of the upperwing. Also notice several dark spots throughout the dorsal wing surface, evidence of Western Gull lineage.
Note also how large the bill is, with a very pronounced gonydeal angle. This also suggests Western Gull influence.
Finally, note how the head and nape of this gull has a lot of dark smudges. I believe that pure Western Gull winter adults tend to have an immaculate white head.
Very interesting bird, and one which we rarely have a chance to study here in Texas.
Byron Stone
With all these hybrids, it sometimes makes the definition of what is a separate species confusing. One definition of a ‘species’ is a distinct population that cannot interbreed without causing sterile offspring such as a horse mating with a donkey to produce a mule. Mules are sterile. These hybrid gulls can breed and produce offspring, so are these really separate species? I leave that to the experts. The rest of us just keep our lists.
For a change of pace, I will show you a couple of photos of Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus). As most of you know, the Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to Mexico in the winter. I’m sure you have all seen pictures of thousands of butterflies on trees in the mountains there.
However, what is not so well known is that the Monarchs west of the Rockies just migrate to the California coast in select locations from Marin County south. On the Monterey peninsula, there are 2 spots in the town of Pacific Grove, that are readily accessible to view this spectacular gathering of butterflies. In fact, Pacific Grove advertises itself as ‘Butterfly Town USA’
When we went there in February, it was a warm sunny day and the butterflies were starting to open their wings and flutter about.
The first photo shows several large clumps of butterflies on Spanish Moss hanging in a tree.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354735
The second is a cropped version of the above.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354753
Scientists are able to track the migration of these wonderful insects by attaching paper tags with adhesive to their wings.
Here is a close-up showing a butterfly with a red tag in the center of the picture.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354755
If you go back to the first 2 photos and look closely, you can see white tags on several of the butterflies.
This remarkable gathering of butterflies is truly one of the wonders of nature. If you ever are in the Monterey area in the winter months, I encourage a visit Pacific Grove to see the ‘butterfly trees’.
For more information on the Monarch Butterflies in Monterey County, California, please visit the web site of the Ventana Wilderness Society.
http://www.ventanaws.org/conservation/monarchs.htm
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
April 8, 2008
Bulletin #33 – Monterey California #5 – gulls and Monarch Butterfly
Hello friends,
Gulls were a major target for me on this trip as the Austin Texas Audubon society was putting on a gull identification workshop and they needed some additional photos.
My guide, Rick Fournier, is an expert on all birds. He pointed out the confusing species to me as well as helped with other gulls pictures I took after my day with him.
The Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is a large 26” pale mantled gull of the Pacific coast from Seattle to Alaska. They winter all down the coast to Baja California. I managed to get only a single photo of a bird from a rather long distance, but the pale mantle and primary wing tips being the same or lighter color are the things to look for.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354424
In Bulletin #32, I showed the photos of a hybrid Hermit x Townsend’s warbler. Well, gulls also hybridize extensively, especially the large gulls. In Sibley’s field guide, the gull section starts with 4 hybrids. The Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull and Glaucous-winged x Western Gull, he states are relatively common.
Fortunately my guide, Rick Fournier, was able to identify these confusing birds for me. These hybrids just add to the confusion for birders trying to sort out the complex plumage variations of gulls.
Here is a Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid. The difference between this bird and the pure Glaucous-winged Gull above is subtle, but pertains to color of primary wing-tips being darker in the hybrid. I certainly would not know the difference in the field, but can see it in the photos.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354426
The other hybrid is Glaucous-winged x Western Gull. I was actually able to get several detailed photos of a bird on Carmel River beach. In this bird, the wingtips are darker still and it also some black spots show on the wings indication the Western Gull parentage. Byron Stone of Austin pointed out the detailed differences of this bird and I’ll put his emailed analysis after the 4 photos.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354433 click ‘next’ 3 times
Hi David,
This bird is also a hybrid. It is a Glaucous-winged X Western Gull hybrid, which I believe is sometimes called an "Olympic Gull" because they are so common on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, making up half or more of Glaucous-winged-type gulls there.
Note on the spread-wing shot the dark trailing edge of the underwing. This in NOT a pure Glaucous-wing character. Note also how the dorsal surface of the wingtips are as dark as the rest of the upperwing. In pure GW Gull, the wingtips should be paler than the rest of the upperwing. Also notice several dark spots throughout the dorsal wing surface, evidence of Western Gull lineage.
Note also how large the bill is, with a very pronounced gonydeal angle. This also suggests Western Gull influence.
Finally, note how the head and nape of this gull has a lot of dark smudges. I believe that pure Western Gull winter adults tend to have an immaculate white head.
Very interesting bird, and one which we rarely have a chance to study here in Texas.
Byron Stone
With all these hybrids, it sometimes makes the definition of what is a separate species confusing. One definition of a ‘species’ is a distinct population that cannot interbreed without causing sterile offspring such as a horse mating with a donkey to produce a mule. Mules are sterile. These hybrid gulls can breed and produce offspring, so are these really separate species? I leave that to the experts. The rest of us just keep our lists.
For a change of pace, I will show you a couple of photos of Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus). As most of you know, the Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to Mexico in the winter. I’m sure you have all seen pictures of thousands of butterflies on trees in the mountains there.
However, what is not so well known is that the Monarchs west of the Rockies just migrate to the California coast in select locations from Marin County south. On the Monterey peninsula, there are 2 spots in the town of Pacific Grove, that are readily accessible to view this spectacular gathering of butterflies. In fact, Pacific Grove advertises itself as ‘Butterfly Town USA’
When we went there in February, it was a warm sunny day and the butterflies were starting to open their wings and flutter about.
The first photo shows several large clumps of butterflies on Spanish Moss hanging in a tree.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354735
The second is a cropped version of the above.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354753
Scientists are able to track the migration of these wonderful insects by attaching paper tags with adhesive to their wings.
Here is a close-up showing a butterfly with a red tag in the center of the picture.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95354755
If you go back to the first 2 photos and look closely, you can see white tags on several of the butterflies.
This remarkable gathering of butterflies is truly one of the wonders of nature. If you ever are in the Monterey area in the winter months, I encourage a visit Pacific Grove to see the ‘butterfly trees’.
For more information on the Monarch Butterflies in Monterey County, California, please visit the web site of the Ventana Wilderness Society.
http://www.ventanaws.org/conservation/monarchs.htm
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
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