David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
August 16, 2008
Bulletin #49 – Rio Grande Valley (RGV), TX birds
Hello friends,
I again hired a guide, Darrell Vollert, of Chappell Hill Texas. He also guides in the ‘valley’
Darrell’s website is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/
This was my second birding trip to the ‘valley’ since I started doing photography. I had missed a number of birds on the trip last October and there was also a pelagic trip from South Padre Island that was part of the trip.
Several bird species, which are native to Mexico, just cross over into the USA in the RGV or Arizona. So in order to see these birds, one must travel to those locations.
Here is a Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus). It is a distinctive dark brown color with rufous shoulder patches. It occurs from Texas to Arizona.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629748
The next bird is the Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons). This is a central Texas bird. The gold patches on the head are the ID mark. This is the female. She has no red on the top of her head.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629750
The next 2 birds were found bathing in the pond at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge north of Brownsville TX. The Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) is the most colorful of the jays in the USA with yellow, green and blue. However, here he is rather disheveled with his wet feathers.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629752
This male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) also enjoyed a bath on the hot dry day. He is IDed with the red eye.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629753
I also found 3 species of sparrow to photograph. The Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus) is a south Texas specialty bird. As its name implies, it has olive colored feathers on the wings.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629755
The Botteri’s Sparrow (Aimophila botterii) is a widely distributed Mexican species that just extends its range into extreme SE Texas and also into SE Arizona. I had missed it last fall, as it had migrated south when I visited the valley. It is a non-descript brown bird best IDed by voice and my guide was able to find it. It tends to be a skulker in the grass, but we managed to tape this bird up and he landed on a barb wire fence and sat there for his portrait.
Here are 2 photos of this bird. It was a lifer for me.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100629945 click ‘next’ once
The last sparrow is the Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata). It is one of the more attractive sparrows with its striped face and black throat patch. I had photographed this bird before, but if another opportunity presents itself, I will take new photos in case I can get a better photo.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100648320
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Bulletin #48 - Houston summer birds #2
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
August 1, 2008
Bulletin #48 – Houston TX area summer birds #2
Hello friends,
I hired a guide, Darrell Vollert, of Chappell Hill Texas. This town is about 1 hour west of Houston. I went specifically to find some of the migrants that I had missed in the spring. Some of the birds nest in that area.
Darrell’s website is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/
We found most of the target birds including Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons). This bird somewhat resembles the White-eyed Vireo except for the yellow throat.
http://www.pbase.com/image/97977487 click ‘next’ once
The next was the Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). They nest in the area and we were able to tape in a bird, who finally perched up and allowed some photos. I had photographed this bird on the ground during migration, but the light was horrible. This is one of the more difficult warblers to locate. It is brownish with white eye stripe, bright brown cap and long bill.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97977405 click ‘next’ once
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) was readily located on some power lines in the middle of town. The dark tail with lateral white margins is the ID mark to separate this bird from other similar kingbirds.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97977549
The one bird we saw, but were unable to photograph was the Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis). Luckily for me, several weeks later Ed and Bernice Jackson, who live just northeast of Houston, reported a nest of the birds on Texbirds. They were kind enough to show me the birds and nest with chick. Kites are graceful hawks of the tropical regions. The Mississippi Kite is a fairly common bird, but I had seen it only 3 times before. Here is the adult perched, and the nest with a chick.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99715731 click ‘next’ once
Ed also offered to take me in his boat on the Trinity River to find the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). We made the trip a week later and found several of these graceful birds soaring over the river. This bird is unmistakable. Thanks a million Ed and Bernice for showing me those birds.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100068246
The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) is the smallest and most secretive of the herons in USA. It is confined to the southeast and perhaps the best place to see it is at Anahuac NWR just east of Houston. To photograph them is a struggle. Jay Mangum and I went to Anahuac on July 4th and we both managed to get some respectable photos of this bird. The way we finally did it, was to just sit in the car for 15-20 minutes and wait for the bird to come out of the weeds to feed. The birds are brown with vertical stripes on the breast and dark top of head and back. The male has black on the head and the female has dark brown. Here are the male and female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695475 click ‘next’ once
Bolivar Flats along the coast on July 4th had a large flock of Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens). This heron is strictly confined to salt water and marsh areas. As it was just after breeding season, they still had the bushy neck feathers and plumes extending beyond the tail. Here is a close-up of this bird and a second photo of him scratching his head.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695469 click ‘next’ once
This bird also exists in an all white plumage variant and I saw my first ever white Reddish Egret in the same flock of birds. This bird photo is now posted on the Houston Audubon Society web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695471
There were some nice shorebirds on Bolivar flats as well. Here is a Long-billed Curlew with his wings raised to show the brown underwing color.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695447
The Willet is a dull gray shorebird with exceptionally marked wings in flight. This is the best photo I have taken of this bird in flight. It also made the Huston Audubon web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99696246
Here is a Barn Swallow and nest with 3 babies. There are 2 more photos of the babies in nest, so to see them click ‘next’ twice.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695544
Lastly is a neat looking dragonfly, the Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina). I assume it is named for the orange and black wings. I had seen pictures of it in books, so when I found one at Brazoria NWR, I knew exactly what it was. This is a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100981408
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
August 1, 2008
Bulletin #48 – Houston TX area summer birds #2
Hello friends,
I hired a guide, Darrell Vollert, of Chappell Hill Texas. This town is about 1 hour west of Houston. I went specifically to find some of the migrants that I had missed in the spring. Some of the birds nest in that area.
Darrell’s website is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/
We found most of the target birds including Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons). This bird somewhat resembles the White-eyed Vireo except for the yellow throat.
http://www.pbase.com/image/97977487 click ‘next’ once
The next was the Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). They nest in the area and we were able to tape in a bird, who finally perched up and allowed some photos. I had photographed this bird on the ground during migration, but the light was horrible. This is one of the more difficult warblers to locate. It is brownish with white eye stripe, bright brown cap and long bill.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97977405 click ‘next’ once
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) was readily located on some power lines in the middle of town. The dark tail with lateral white margins is the ID mark to separate this bird from other similar kingbirds.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/97977549
The one bird we saw, but were unable to photograph was the Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis). Luckily for me, several weeks later Ed and Bernice Jackson, who live just northeast of Houston, reported a nest of the birds on Texbirds. They were kind enough to show me the birds and nest with chick. Kites are graceful hawks of the tropical regions. The Mississippi Kite is a fairly common bird, but I had seen it only 3 times before. Here is the adult perched, and the nest with a chick.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99715731 click ‘next’ once
Ed also offered to take me in his boat on the Trinity River to find the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). We made the trip a week later and found several of these graceful birds soaring over the river. This bird is unmistakable. Thanks a million Ed and Bernice for showing me those birds.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100068246
The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) is the smallest and most secretive of the herons in USA. It is confined to the southeast and perhaps the best place to see it is at Anahuac NWR just east of Houston. To photograph them is a struggle. Jay Mangum and I went to Anahuac on July 4th and we both managed to get some respectable photos of this bird. The way we finally did it, was to just sit in the car for 15-20 minutes and wait for the bird to come out of the weeds to feed. The birds are brown with vertical stripes on the breast and dark top of head and back. The male has black on the head and the female has dark brown. Here are the male and female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695475 click ‘next’ once
Bolivar Flats along the coast on July 4th had a large flock of Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens). This heron is strictly confined to salt water and marsh areas. As it was just after breeding season, they still had the bushy neck feathers and plumes extending beyond the tail. Here is a close-up of this bird and a second photo of him scratching his head.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695469 click ‘next’ once
This bird also exists in an all white plumage variant and I saw my first ever white Reddish Egret in the same flock of birds. This bird photo is now posted on the Houston Audubon Society web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695471
There were some nice shorebirds on Bolivar flats as well. Here is a Long-billed Curlew with his wings raised to show the brown underwing color.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695447
The Willet is a dull gray shorebird with exceptionally marked wings in flight. This is the best photo I have taken of this bird in flight. It also made the Huston Audubon web site.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99696246
Here is a Barn Swallow and nest with 3 babies. There are 2 more photos of the babies in nest, so to see them click ‘next’ twice.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99695544
Lastly is a neat looking dragonfly, the Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina). I assume it is named for the orange and black wings. I had seen pictures of it in books, so when I found one at Brazoria NWR, I knew exactly what it was. This is a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100981408
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Bulletin #47 – Houston TX summer birds #1
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
July 27, 2008
Bulletin #47 – Houston TX area summer birds #1
Hello friends,
The summers here are very hot. The birding is not as exciting as spring or fall migration. However, with young birds, nesting etc, it can still be rewarding to head out to the field. This summer, I tried to photograph some birds that I missed in migration as well as some permanent residents that I had been unable to find on previous excursions.
Rails tend to be secretive birds that hide out in marshes etc. In Texas, we have the resident Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) in the salt marshes. On a trip I found this bird walking out into the wide open mud flat and he proceeded to bathe in a puddle, completely oblivious to me and several other birders watching him from 50 feet away. The second photo shows him having a great time bathing.
http://www.pbase.com/image/100783868 click ‘next’ once
Related to the Clapper Rail is the beautiful Purple Gallinule (Porphyria martinica). One weekend I found the downy chick with parents at Brazoria NWR. The baby is black and nowhere in any field guide is it illustrated. The following weekend at Anahuac, I found the juveniles. They are tan colored with bluish wash on the wings. So here the chick, a second photo with a chick between the legs of the parent and then the a pair of juveniles.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783896 click ‘next’ twice
This next bird is an endangered woodpecker. No it isn’t the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (I wish – that would be a $1 million photo!). It is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis). This bird is resident in pine forests of the southeastern USA. It is IDed by the ladder back striping and white cheek. The male has a small red feather above the ear area that is never seen in the wild.
This has been one of the more difficult birds for me to find. There is a sanctuary for them north of Houston about 1.5 hours drive from my house. I went twice in the 90’s and didn’t see the birds. Last year in Florida I drove to a refuge for them and missed them again. So finally on my 4th trip and expending probably more than 24 hours total time, I found the bird (a lifer) and managed some photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783900 click ‘next’ once
Their nest is easy to find as they drill holes around the opening so sap runs down the tree. This is supposed to prevent snakes from attacking the young in the nest cavity. Here is a photo of a nest.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783903
There are 3 species of these ladder-backed picoides woodpeckers in the USA. All occur in the southern states. From east to west, they are the Red-cockaded (Florida to east Texas), Ladder-backed (Texas to Arizona) and Nuttall’s (California). Interestingly, the face has more black and less white as we progress for east to west. Here are the 3 birds from east to west. (Red-cockaded, Ladder-backed and Nuttall’s)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783900
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/105948175
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98261532
Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) are the smallest species of terns in the world. They nest along the Texas coast by just scraping a small depression in the sand on the beach. Well of course, the beaches on the upper Texas coast are heavily used by humans as Houston with a population of 5 million is only 30 miles form the coast. Several areas are set aside for them, but some birds insist on nesting on heavily trafficked areas, so ropes are put up to keep people and vehicles away from the eggs.
Here is a parent bird bringing a fish back for a baby and the second is a nest with 2 eggs just laid on the beach.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783904 click ‘next’ once
I also got photos of 2 other juvenile terns. The Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) is a large (20”) bird. The adult has a bright orange beak, but the juvenile has a yellow beak and interesting black spotted plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783907
The juvenile Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) is smaller (13”) and he has brownish spots for the first couple of months of life.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783911
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
July 27, 2008
Bulletin #47 – Houston TX area summer birds #1
Hello friends,
The summers here are very hot. The birding is not as exciting as spring or fall migration. However, with young birds, nesting etc, it can still be rewarding to head out to the field. This summer, I tried to photograph some birds that I missed in migration as well as some permanent residents that I had been unable to find on previous excursions.
Rails tend to be secretive birds that hide out in marshes etc. In Texas, we have the resident Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) in the salt marshes. On a trip I found this bird walking out into the wide open mud flat and he proceeded to bathe in a puddle, completely oblivious to me and several other birders watching him from 50 feet away. The second photo shows him having a great time bathing.
http://www.pbase.com/image/100783868 click ‘next’ once
Related to the Clapper Rail is the beautiful Purple Gallinule (Porphyria martinica). One weekend I found the downy chick with parents at Brazoria NWR. The baby is black and nowhere in any field guide is it illustrated. The following weekend at Anahuac, I found the juveniles. They are tan colored with bluish wash on the wings. So here the chick, a second photo with a chick between the legs of the parent and then the a pair of juveniles.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783896 click ‘next’ twice
This next bird is an endangered woodpecker. No it isn’t the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (I wish – that would be a $1 million photo!). It is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis). This bird is resident in pine forests of the southeastern USA. It is IDed by the ladder back striping and white cheek. The male has a small red feather above the ear area that is never seen in the wild.
This has been one of the more difficult birds for me to find. There is a sanctuary for them north of Houston about 1.5 hours drive from my house. I went twice in the 90’s and didn’t see the birds. Last year in Florida I drove to a refuge for them and missed them again. So finally on my 4th trip and expending probably more than 24 hours total time, I found the bird (a lifer) and managed some photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783900 click ‘next’ once
Their nest is easy to find as they drill holes around the opening so sap runs down the tree. This is supposed to prevent snakes from attacking the young in the nest cavity. Here is a photo of a nest.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783903
There are 3 species of these ladder-backed picoides woodpeckers in the USA. All occur in the southern states. From east to west, they are the Red-cockaded (Florida to east Texas), Ladder-backed (Texas to Arizona) and Nuttall’s (California). Interestingly, the face has more black and less white as we progress for east to west. Here are the 3 birds from east to west. (Red-cockaded, Ladder-backed and Nuttall’s)
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783900
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/105948175
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98261532
Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) are the smallest species of terns in the world. They nest along the Texas coast by just scraping a small depression in the sand on the beach. Well of course, the beaches on the upper Texas coast are heavily used by humans as Houston with a population of 5 million is only 30 miles form the coast. Several areas are set aside for them, but some birds insist on nesting on heavily trafficked areas, so ropes are put up to keep people and vehicles away from the eggs.
Here is a parent bird bringing a fish back for a baby and the second is a nest with 2 eggs just laid on the beach.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783904 click ‘next’ once
I also got photos of 2 other juvenile terns. The Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) is a large (20”) bird. The adult has a bright orange beak, but the juvenile has a yellow beak and interesting black spotted plumage.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783907
The juvenile Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) is smaller (13”) and he has brownish spots for the first couple of months of life.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100783911
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Bulletin #46 – Sierra Mountains, CA #4
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
July 13, 2008
Bulletin #46 – Sierra Mountains, California #4
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
This is the beautiful Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus). He is a marsh dwelling bird like the Red-winged Blackbird of the east. However, the male is a stunningly beautiful bird, with his yellow hood and white wing patches. The female is duller with a slightly yellow head and brown rather than black body.
Here are 2 photos of the male and 1 of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/image/100085798 click ‘next’ twice
The only raptor that I was able to photograph was a cooperative Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni). This is a common hawk of the western USA. Like many haws, it has 2 color morphs, light and dark. This is the dark morph bird and is less common. He has very long wings and the primary wing tips usually project beyond the tail as seen in the first photo. A small projection is visible on the right ½ of the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085835 click ‘next’ once
There were several warblers seen as well. The Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) was a life bird for me. The male shown here has a yellow face with black throat, gray body and 2 wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085841 click ‘next’ once
I also got a much better photo of the MacGillivray’s Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei). The male in this photo is yellow with gray hood and black throat. The broken white eye-ring is the diagnostic field mark.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085859
The last is the Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla). He is yellow with gray head and complete eye-ring. The throat is yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085860
In the marsh where we found the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, there were 2 other interesting birds. The first was a family of American Coots (Fulica americana) with chicks. The chicks have red and yellow feathers on their head and red bill. This was a first for me to see these cute chicks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085861 click ‘next’ once
A Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) was busy making an unseen nest in the cattails. She made several trips carrying some nesting material. Then she suddenly flew out and landed on the top of a cattail and proceeded to take a mouthful of cottony material from the top of the cattail and went back to the nest area. I guess this was to line the nest.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085866 click ‘next’ once
After disappearing into the reeds with the nest material, she came back out and sat on a barbed wire fence in response to the tape. These are normally very secretive birds. She still had some of the white fibers on her feet, tail etc.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085871
We also found an American Dipper nest under a bridge. Normally they make their nest under an overhanging rock or ledge along a stream.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085873
Mammals are rarely seen as most are nocturnal and live underground. The squirrel family of rodents, are the most commonly seen. I always try to photograph mammals when we come across them.
This is the Lodgepole Chipmunk (Tamias speciosus), one of about 20 species of chipmunk in USA and Canada. It was a lifer for me.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085875
There was an interesting plant, the Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea). This plant lacks chlorophyll and thus is not green. It grows to 18” in height although the ones we saw in June were up to 12”.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085878
All the birds from the Sierras can be seen from the beginning at this link to the first one and just scroll through by clicking ‘next’.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99055957
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
July 13, 2008
Bulletin #46 – Sierra Mountains, California #4
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
This is the beautiful Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus). He is a marsh dwelling bird like the Red-winged Blackbird of the east. However, the male is a stunningly beautiful bird, with his yellow hood and white wing patches. The female is duller with a slightly yellow head and brown rather than black body.
Here are 2 photos of the male and 1 of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/image/100085798 click ‘next’ twice
The only raptor that I was able to photograph was a cooperative Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni). This is a common hawk of the western USA. Like many haws, it has 2 color morphs, light and dark. This is the dark morph bird and is less common. He has very long wings and the primary wing tips usually project beyond the tail as seen in the first photo. A small projection is visible on the right ½ of the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085835 click ‘next’ once
There were several warblers seen as well. The Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) was a life bird for me. The male shown here has a yellow face with black throat, gray body and 2 wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085841 click ‘next’ once
I also got a much better photo of the MacGillivray’s Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei). The male in this photo is yellow with gray hood and black throat. The broken white eye-ring is the diagnostic field mark.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085859
The last is the Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla). He is yellow with gray head and complete eye-ring. The throat is yellow.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085860
In the marsh where we found the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, there were 2 other interesting birds. The first was a family of American Coots (Fulica americana) with chicks. The chicks have red and yellow feathers on their head and red bill. This was a first for me to see these cute chicks.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085861 click ‘next’ once
A Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) was busy making an unseen nest in the cattails. She made several trips carrying some nesting material. Then she suddenly flew out and landed on the top of a cattail and proceeded to take a mouthful of cottony material from the top of the cattail and went back to the nest area. I guess this was to line the nest.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085866 click ‘next’ once
After disappearing into the reeds with the nest material, she came back out and sat on a barbed wire fence in response to the tape. These are normally very secretive birds. She still had some of the white fibers on her feet, tail etc.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085871
We also found an American Dipper nest under a bridge. Normally they make their nest under an overhanging rock or ledge along a stream.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085873
Mammals are rarely seen as most are nocturnal and live underground. The squirrel family of rodents, are the most commonly seen. I always try to photograph mammals when we come across them.
This is the Lodgepole Chipmunk (Tamias speciosus), one of about 20 species of chipmunk in USA and Canada. It was a lifer for me.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085875
There was an interesting plant, the Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea). This plant lacks chlorophyll and thus is not green. It grows to 18” in height although the ones we saw in June were up to 12”.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/100085878
All the birds from the Sierras can be seen from the beginning at this link to the first one and just scroll through by clicking ‘next’.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99055957
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Bulletin #45 – Sierra Mountains, CA #3
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
July 5, 2008
Bulletin #45 – Sierra Mountains, California #3
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
We found three members of the New World Sparrow family.
The first was one of the prettier ‘sparrows’, the Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus). This beautiful little bird has an olive green back and tail, gray breast, rusty cap on his head and pure white throat. There is never any difficulty in IDing this bird when seen. The sexes are the same color.
Here are 2 photos of the same bird.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99595819 click ‘next’ once
The second sparrow was the Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri). This is a plain brown sparrow of the arid southwest. The adult is clear breasted, but the juvenile has a streaked breast. This was a lifer for me.
Here are the adult and juvenile photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595823 click ‘next’ once
The third sparrow was the Fox Sparrow. It is a large sparrow, (7”) that has several subspecies that range in color from reddish like a fox to dark gray brown. This is the sooty race form the Pacific coast area of California.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595827
The Western Tanager is brightly colored like most members of that family. The male is yellow with a red head and 2 wing bars on black wings, the upper bar is yellow and the lower white. The female is mostly green with dark wings. Here are photos of a male and a second bird that had just ½ his head red. Sibley calls this a winter male, but the National Geographic guide book has the winter male without any red. My guide thinks it is a first year male. I couldn’t find any photo in a guide book labeled 1st year male, but as the time of year (June 15th), that makes more sense than a winter plumage bird!
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595829 click ‘next’ once
The Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is related to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the cardinal family. The male is unmistakable with the black head and wings with white patches, orange breast and belly, and a central yellow patch on the belly seen in the second photo. He has the typical large beak.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595831 click ‘next’ once
There was 1 thrasher in the Sierra Valley – Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus). This is the smallest ABA thrasher at 8.5” and the same size as the Gray Catbird. As its name implies, it lives in the arid sagebrush country.
It is brown with a streaked breast and yellow eye. The bill has a slight curve like most thrashers. This was another life bird for me.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595834
There were 2 members of the Corvidae family (crows, jays and magpies).
The first is the Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia). This bird was split from the similar magpie in Europe. These large birds are unmistakable.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595836
The other was the Common (Northern) Raven (Corvus corax). Ravens are like large crows and are of the same genus, but this bird has a wedge shaped tail. The pointed tail is visible in this photo of the raven in flight. They also have a massive bill.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595838
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonal
Friendswood Texas
July 5, 2008
Bulletin #45 – Sierra Mountains, California #3
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
We found three members of the New World Sparrow family.
The first was one of the prettier ‘sparrows’, the Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus). This beautiful little bird has an olive green back and tail, gray breast, rusty cap on his head and pure white throat. There is never any difficulty in IDing this bird when seen. The sexes are the same color.
Here are 2 photos of the same bird.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99595819 click ‘next’ once
The second sparrow was the Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri). This is a plain brown sparrow of the arid southwest. The adult is clear breasted, but the juvenile has a streaked breast. This was a lifer for me.
Here are the adult and juvenile photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595823 click ‘next’ once
The third sparrow was the Fox Sparrow. It is a large sparrow, (7”) that has several subspecies that range in color from reddish like a fox to dark gray brown. This is the sooty race form the Pacific coast area of California.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595827
The Western Tanager is brightly colored like most members of that family. The male is yellow with a red head and 2 wing bars on black wings, the upper bar is yellow and the lower white. The female is mostly green with dark wings. Here are photos of a male and a second bird that had just ½ his head red. Sibley calls this a winter male, but the National Geographic guide book has the winter male without any red. My guide thinks it is a first year male. I couldn’t find any photo in a guide book labeled 1st year male, but as the time of year (June 15th), that makes more sense than a winter plumage bird!
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595829 click ‘next’ once
The Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is related to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the cardinal family. The male is unmistakable with the black head and wings with white patches, orange breast and belly, and a central yellow patch on the belly seen in the second photo. He has the typical large beak.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595831 click ‘next’ once
There was 1 thrasher in the Sierra Valley – Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus). This is the smallest ABA thrasher at 8.5” and the same size as the Gray Catbird. As its name implies, it lives in the arid sagebrush country.
It is brown with a streaked breast and yellow eye. The bill has a slight curve like most thrashers. This was another life bird for me.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595834
There were 2 members of the Corvidae family (crows, jays and magpies).
The first is the Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia). This bird was split from the similar magpie in Europe. These large birds are unmistakable.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595836
The other was the Common (Northern) Raven (Corvus corax). Ravens are like large crows and are of the same genus, but this bird has a wedge shaped tail. The pointed tail is visible in this photo of the raven in flight. They also have a massive bill.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99595838
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonal
Friday, June 27, 2008
Bulletin #44 –Sierra Mountains, CA #
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
June 27, 2008
Bulletin #44 –Sierra Mountains, California #2
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
I photographed 5 species of Flycatchers. It was wonderful having a great guide as there were 3 species of empids. The empids are small (5-6”) flycatchers that are generally drab gray to green with an eye-ring and wing bars. Their best ID is the song. There are a total of 11 in the ABA area. Once Rick Fournier had IDed them by song, he pointed out some plumage, shape, wing length differences to me that helped me to learn these birds. The first 2 are found at Yuba pass, the third down in Sierra Valley.
The Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) is found high up in conifer trees. He has a slight crest on the back of head so he appears flat-headed. He also has long primary wing projections that extend most of the way down the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99325737
The Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) is found in the same habitat, but he prefers low trees and brush. His head is rounded and he appears long tailed as the wing projections don’t extend down the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325739
The last one, Gray Flaycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) lives in sagebrush and similar arid, brushy habitat. He is the largest empid at 6” and is just a dull gray bird. Here are 2 photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325740 click ‘next’ once
The other 2 flycatchers belong to the genus Contopus that includes the pewees.
The first is the Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) He is a little larger than the empids above at 6.25”, but differs in having no eye-ring, just the wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325743
The other is the Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi). He is a larger (7.5”) bird with a dark ‘gray vest’.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325745 click ‘next’ once
The next 3 birds are all finches.
The Evening Grosbeak (Coccithraustes vespertinus) has been a favorite bird of mine since childhood in Ottawa Canada. Huge flocks in winter would descend on our feeders and literally vacuum up massive quantities of sunflower seeds. They are large at 8”, and somewhat resemble a big American Goldfinch. The male is yellow, black and white with the large bill. The female is gray, black and white. Here are 2 photos of the male and a single photo of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325752 click ‘next’ twice
The Pine Siskin (Carduela pinus) is a small finch related to the goldfinches. It is mostly brown with a streaked breast, but the male has some yellowish wing patches. The female is similar without the yellow patch. Here are 2 photos of a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325760 click ‘next’ once
The last bird is the Cassin’s Finch (Carpodacus cassinii). This bird is closely related to House and Purple Finches. It has less color than a Purple Finch and the male has an unstreaked breast, unlike the House Finch. The top of the head is bright red and the rest is pinkish. This was a life bird for me.
Here are 2 photos of the male and the plain brown female. Notice she has a streaked breast unlike the male!
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325763 click ‘next’ twice
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
June 27, 2008
Bulletin #44 –Sierra Mountains, California #2
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA recently. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
I photographed 5 species of Flycatchers. It was wonderful having a great guide as there were 3 species of empids. The empids are small (5-6”) flycatchers that are generally drab gray to green with an eye-ring and wing bars. Their best ID is the song. There are a total of 11 in the ABA area. Once Rick Fournier had IDed them by song, he pointed out some plumage, shape, wing length differences to me that helped me to learn these birds. The first 2 are found at Yuba pass, the third down in Sierra Valley.
The Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) is found high up in conifer trees. He has a slight crest on the back of head so he appears flat-headed. He also has long primary wing projections that extend most of the way down the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99325737
The Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) is found in the same habitat, but he prefers low trees and brush. His head is rounded and he appears long tailed as the wing projections don’t extend down the tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325739
The last one, Gray Flaycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) lives in sagebrush and similar arid, brushy habitat. He is the largest empid at 6” and is just a dull gray bird. Here are 2 photos.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325740 click ‘next’ once
The other 2 flycatchers belong to the genus Contopus that includes the pewees.
The first is the Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) He is a little larger than the empids above at 6.25”, but differs in having no eye-ring, just the wing bars.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325743
The other is the Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi). He is a larger (7.5”) bird with a dark ‘gray vest’.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325745 click ‘next’ once
The next 3 birds are all finches.
The Evening Grosbeak (Coccithraustes vespertinus) has been a favorite bird of mine since childhood in Ottawa Canada. Huge flocks in winter would descend on our feeders and literally vacuum up massive quantities of sunflower seeds. They are large at 8”, and somewhat resemble a big American Goldfinch. The male is yellow, black and white with the large bill. The female is gray, black and white. Here are 2 photos of the male and a single photo of the female.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325752 click ‘next’ twice
The Pine Siskin (Carduela pinus) is a small finch related to the goldfinches. It is mostly brown with a streaked breast, but the male has some yellowish wing patches. The female is similar without the yellow patch. Here are 2 photos of a male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325760 click ‘next’ once
The last bird is the Cassin’s Finch (Carpodacus cassinii). This bird is closely related to House and Purple Finches. It has less color than a Purple Finch and the male has an unstreaked breast, unlike the House Finch. The top of the head is bright red and the rest is pinkish. This was a life bird for me.
Here are 2 photos of the male and the plain brown female. Notice she has a streaked breast unlike the male!
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99325763 click ‘next’ twice
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Bulletin #43 –Sierra Mountains, CA #1
David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
June 22, 2008
Bulletin #43 –Sierra Mountains, California #1
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA last weekend. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
There were 2 entirely different habitats we birded. The first was Sierra Valley – a dry valley with sage brush and some marsh at about 4500 feet elevation. This was along Hwy 89/49 at Sierraville, CA. The other was Yuba Pass, a 6700 foot pass on Hwy 49 (between Sierraville and Sierra City) with montane species and huge stands of Lodgepole Pines. The whole area was surrounded by mountains to about 8500 feet, some of which still had snow on the peaks. It was a beautiful place to visit as well as bird.
There were 5 species of woodpeckers.
The first is Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis). This is the only green-backed woodpecker in ABA area. It also has a red face, pink belly and gray collar. Here are a couple of photos. He tends to prefer burned over areas and perches prominently on a snag to flycatch. This was a life bird for me.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99055957 click ‘next’ once
The next is the White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus). This is also a uniquely colored bird and impossible not to ID correctly. It has a black body, white head and white wing patch. The male has a red occipital patch. It nests in dead tree trunks 10 – 15 feet off the ground as can be seen in the third photo. This was also a lifer for me.
So here are the male, female and a female in nest hole.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056066 click ‘next’ twice
The third woodpecker is the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus). This is similar to, but larger than, the common Downy Woodpecker. Here is the male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056103
The next is the Willaimson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus). The male is mostly black with white wing patch, rump and 2 stripes on face. His red patch is on the throat.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056113
The Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) has an entirely red head and breast – unmistakable. The sexes are similar coloration.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056122 click ‘next’ once
There were 2 species of thrush.
The first is the beautiful Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) The male is all blue and the female is grayish with blue on the wings and tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056145 click ‘next’ once
The other is Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi). This is a gray bird with black and buffy wing markings and white eye-ring. The sexes are similar. Here are 2 photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056168 click ‘next’ once
The last bird for this bulletin is the Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli). This is a typical looking chickadee – gray with black cap and throat. But he has a white stripe above the eye through the black cap.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056190
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
Friendswood Texas
June 22, 2008
Bulletin #43 –Sierra Mountains, California #1
Hello friends,
I did a birding/photography trip to the Sierras between Reno NV and Sacramento CA last weekend. Once more I used a guide to find the birds for me so that I could photograph them.
My guide here was, once again, Rick Fournier of Monterey Birding Adventures. This is another area of California where he leads tours. His web site is Monterey Birding Adventures.
www.montereybirdingadventures.com/adventures
There were 2 entirely different habitats we birded. The first was Sierra Valley – a dry valley with sage brush and some marsh at about 4500 feet elevation. This was along Hwy 89/49 at Sierraville, CA. The other was Yuba Pass, a 6700 foot pass on Hwy 49 (between Sierraville and Sierra City) with montane species and huge stands of Lodgepole Pines. The whole area was surrounded by mountains to about 8500 feet, some of which still had snow on the peaks. It was a beautiful place to visit as well as bird.
There were 5 species of woodpeckers.
The first is Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis). This is the only green-backed woodpecker in ABA area. It also has a red face, pink belly and gray collar. Here are a couple of photos. He tends to prefer burned over areas and perches prominently on a snag to flycatch. This was a life bird for me.
http://www.pbase.com/image/99055957 click ‘next’ once
The next is the White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus). This is also a uniquely colored bird and impossible not to ID correctly. It has a black body, white head and white wing patch. The male has a red occipital patch. It nests in dead tree trunks 10 – 15 feet off the ground as can be seen in the third photo. This was also a lifer for me.
So here are the male, female and a female in nest hole.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056066 click ‘next’ twice
The third woodpecker is the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus). This is similar to, but larger than, the common Downy Woodpecker. Here is the male.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056103
The next is the Willaimson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus). The male is mostly black with white wing patch, rump and 2 stripes on face. His red patch is on the throat.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056113
The Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) has an entirely red head and breast – unmistakable. The sexes are similar coloration.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056122 click ‘next’ once
There were 2 species of thrush.
The first is the beautiful Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) The male is all blue and the female is grayish with blue on the wings and tail.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056145 click ‘next’ once
The other is Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi). This is a gray bird with black and buffy wing markings and white eye-ring. The sexes are similar. Here are 2 photos of this bird.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056168 click ‘next’ once
The last bird for this bulletin is the Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli). This is a typical looking chickadee – gray with black cap and throat. But he has a white stripe above the eye through the black cap.
http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/99056190
All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald
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