Bulletin #125 – Monterey CA pelagic trip

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
October 24, 2010

Offshore seabirds are the plainest group of birds to be found. Mostly  they are black, white and gray in various combinations. However, despite their plainness, they captivate birders because of their rarity or difficulty in reaching the places where they hang out. Usually, you have to go out on a boat to see them and I did that while in Monterey. Fortunately, we had a sunny day with a calm ocean.

 
The largest seabirds are the albatrosses. The only one I have seen is a Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes). On a pelagic last year, I had photos of both a juvenile and an adult. Here is the adult. Notice that it just has a white ring at the base of the bill. 



On this trip, I saw a bird with extensive white on the face and head. I looked at the reference books and it appears to be an 'aged' bird. As albatrosses can live 40-50 years, I guess they turn gray like us humans or our old dogs who develop gray or white faces. 

Several alcids were encountered including this Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) in non-breeding plumage. Notice that the horn at the base of the bill has almost disappeared. For a comparison with a breeding plumaged bird with a large horn, look at this photo from Alaska in June. 

Here is a Tufted Puffin (Fratercula arctica) also in non-breeding plumage. This is the first of this species I ever saw in California, despite the fact that they  breed off San Francisco. 

For a beginning pelagic birder like myself, it is impressive to see the guides catch a glimpse of a faraway bird and be able to ID it almost instantly. However, when you can get some photos and study them, the differences in plumage begin to fall into place.

There are 2 shearwaters off California that have white underparts. One is the Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus). Notice on the underwing, the white is smudgy and there is a lot of brown on the edges. This bird breeds of Chile and New Zealand.  

Compare that photo to this Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri). The underwing is almost totally white, with just a rim of brown. Also, the demarcation of white and brown is sharp. 

Additionally, the Buller's Shearwater has a white patterned upper wing surface. This bird breeds of New Zealand. It was a life bird for me.  

The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is also a member of the shearwater family. This 18" stocky bird occurs in both the north Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 2 color variants are recognized, a dark phase that is gray overall and a light phase that is white bodied with gray wings. We saw both birds on the trip. The dark phase is shown here. Notice the tube nostril on the beak and the yellow tip to the beak. This was my first time to see a dark bird. 

Here is a light phase bird.  

The 18" Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) also comes in 2 phases. The light phase has a white head and underparts with a dark collar. In non-breeding plumage shown here, the tail feathers are short. Also, it has 4-6 white primary feather shafts seen on the upper wing. 

This was my first encounter with a dark phase bird. 

The last 2 birds are Storm-Petrels. These small oceanic birds only come ashore to nest. In the fall, they gather in huge flocks (5,000-10,000) offshore Monterey CA.

The first of these is the 8" Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa). I had seen this bird previously on an overcast day and it appeared black. However, in the sun it was browner and the pale areas on the wings were well seen. 

The Black Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma melanita) is the largest (9") in North America. It has long wings and tail and is darker then the bird above. One way the experts ID these birds is by their wingbeats. The wingbeats of the Black Storm-Petrel is similar to that of a Common Nighthawk. This was a life bird for me. 

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

email: davidkmcd@comcast.net

photos copyright  2010 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #124 – Monterey CA birds

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
October 10, 2010

Bulletin #124 – Monterey CA birds

I have already photographed most of the birds in the Monterey CA area on previous trips, but this time I was looking for a specific bird that I had missed earlier and also missed in Alaska in June.

With the help of guide Rick Fournier (web site), I was finally able to find and get a picture of a Surfbird (Aphriza virgata). I have only seen 1 of these birds previously. This 10" shorebird nests on the tundra in Alaska, but winters all along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico. It is found on rocky shores. It is a plump shorebird with yellow legs, a short bill with an orange lower mandible. It is uniformly gray on the back and breast with some spotting on the flanks. Here is a winter plumage adult.

The juvenile has most of the wing feathers edged in white. Also you can see the white rump and tail with a black terminal band. This is very distinctive when the bird flies. 

Another shorebird, that uses rocky coasts, is the Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala). This sandpiper is just slightly smaller at 9.25". This bird is a winter adult. 

This one is a juvenile. He has some brownish color on his wings and more white on the face.   

These birds were all feeding together. In the group as well was this Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). This 17" brownish sandpiper has a long downcurved, bicolored bill. The head is striped on top. This was my closest approach to this bird. He was only about 15 feet away. 

On the beach at Carmel River mouth, there is usually a large flock of gulls. There are 4 species in this flock - Western, California, Ring-billed and Heerman's. It was interesting to me that the gulls seemed to group together by species.

When a person would walk toward the group, there was a massive lift off.

I was able to get a few photos of gulls on the wing. Here is an adult non-breeding California Gull (Larus californicus) It is IDed by the gray-green legs and black and red spots on the yellow bill.

Here is a first winter California Gull.  

Here is a juvenile Western Gull (Laru occidentalis). Look at the intricate feather pattern with all the feathers edged in white. He is IDed by size, pink legs and all dark bill. 

This California Gull has a large oil spot on his belly. This was taken at the same beach, not in the Gulf of Mexico where we had the big BP oil well blow-out this summer. In fact, if you look closely at the gulls in flight above, you can see this bird in the left side of the photo. 

I found a new butterfly outside a restaurant in Big Sur. This is a California Sister (Adelpha californica). 

Lastly, just for fun, I am showing some cars. At the Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, where we had lunch one day, the parking lot had several Ford Cobra autos. They all had Texas license plates and stickers saying that they were in the Texas Cobra Club.

The Ford AC Cobra was a 2 seater race car built in the mid-late 60's. The genuine cars are worth over $1million now, so they have built replica kit cars of this model. The man in the photo restores cars, and told me that they were all probably kit cars. There were 7 of them in the parking lot. I photographed them all from various positions that I could. So, if classic cars interests you, click on the link and scroll through.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
email: davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2010 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #123 – Carmel CA Lagoon Preserve - rails etc

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas 
October 2, 2010

Bulletin #123 – Carmel CA Lagoon Preserve - rails etc

One of my favorite places to bird on the central California coast is the Carmel River Mouth and Lagoon Nature Preserve. This area has a nice freshwater lagoon and marsh as well as a great beach on the ocean. I have birded here often and was here again in September.

What makes it special for me is the ability to see 2 rail species in the marsh. Rails have a special fascination to birders. Like owls, they are very difficult to find and see well. The Black and Yellow Rails are 2 of the most difficult birds in North America to see.

I have seen Soras and Virginia Rails here on previous trips and photographed them, but this time I wanted to spend some time and really get a good look at them and their behavior.
The best time to look for them is at dawn and dusk. They usually aren't out in the open during the day as there are many people on the beach with children, dogs and lots of noise. For photography, late afternoon is best as you have the sun at your back. When the water is low in the lagoon, as is usually the case, there are several patches of sand exposed at the edge of the marsh and the rails walk out of the reeds into the open.

If you have heard the expression 'thin as a rail', it pertains to these birds, who are so thin, that they walk between the reds in a marsh with ease.
Over the course of several trips to the lagoon, I saw 6-7 Soras and probably 3 Virginia Rails with 2 visible once.

This Sora (Porzana carolina) crossed to the beach where I was standing and walked to within about 15 feet from me. Soras are IDed by the brown body and short yellow bill. He is a non-breeding adult plumaged bird by the small amount of black on his face. They are about 9" long.

As you may know rails do occasionally swim. I have only once seen this with a Clapper Rail last December in Texas. Well on this trip, I saw a Sora swimming on 5 occasions, so it isn't a rare event by any means. Here is the same Sora swimming back to the marsh.

Here is another in the late afternoon sun. 

And for you artists, who like to paint birds with reflections, here is a Sora and his double. 

The Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) is less common there and this was my first time to see them repeatedly in the open. I was even able to take about 90 seconds of video of him walking along the sand. It is IDed by the brown body, long red bill and size of 9.5". This one was in perfect afternoon light. 

When something would startle the rails, they would immediately run into the reeds and disappear. Well something upset this one and he extended his wings. I didn't know I had even gotten this photo until reviewing them later. 

I watched their feeding habits while taking their pictures. The short billed Soras just dabbed at the water's surface or the sand. The longer billed Virginia Rail probed deeply and even submersed his head like a dowitcher or Stilt Sandpiper.

Again, I was able to get a photo with a nice reflection of this rail. 

 Many other expected marsh birds were there as well. Here is a juvenile Kildeer (Charadrius vociferus). It is a juvenile by the beige edging of the brown feathers.  

Here is a Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). He has a long beak that is slightly upturned. The upturned beak distinguishes him from the Lesser Yellowlegs. 

The usual warbler to be found in marshes is the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). This warbler is olive backed with a bright yellow throat and breast. There are no wing bars. The male has a beautiful black facial mask. I call him the Lone Ranger. One of these males was repeatedly out on the sand foraging. 

As this lagoon holds the only fresh water for miles, many other birds come here to drink and bathe. Here is a juvenile American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis). Notice the dark brown wings rather than the jet black of an adult bird. According to the National Geographic field guide, they only have this plumage until October or November. I don't recall seeing a juvie before. When they arrive in the Houston area in December, the wings are black. 

 All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

email: davidkmcd@comcast.net

photos copyright 2010 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.



Bulletin #122 – North American Owls - The Houston Arboretum Show

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas

September 15, 2010



Bulletin #122 – North American Owls - The Houston Arboretum Show



As many of you know, owls are one of my favorite subjects to photograph. The Houston Arboretum currently has a show of 10 of my owl photographs. Thank you to Bill Eley and the Arboretum staff for this honor.

The reason owls became a favorite subject is their eyes. Due to their flat faces, their eyes look human. As the owls are primarily nocturnal, it is hard to appreciate this. However, I have been lucky to find most of these owls in the daytime which makes for easier photography and better photos. Compare owls to other birds. Here is a photo of an eagle straight on. He almost looks sinister compared to the 'wise old owl'.



This photo of a Burrowing Owl that I took March 31, 2007 at Fort Travis Park on Bolivar (across from Galveston) illustrated this feature. When I got home and saw the photo, I was astounded. The owl has 'Mona Lisa' eyes that follow you around the room. I still consider this to be my best ever photo.

I have photographed most of the owls in North America since then, and I try to have them looking directly at the camera to get the same effect. Of course it doesn't always happen.

The next 2 photos were taken in Patagonia, Arizona in late October 2008. My guide who helped me find these birds was Matt Brown. He has been the most enthusiastic guide to take me out after dark to look for owls. Here are 2 of the 4 owl species I have photographed with him. The first is the Western Screech-Owl.

The second is the endangered Spotted Owl. Again in this photo, I was able to have the owl looking directly at the camera, but the dark eyes of this owl aren't so dramatic as the Burrowing Owl above. 

In January 2009, I was on vacation in Sarasota Florida. My wife and I went to the Sarasota Botanical Gardens to see their orchid display. After touring the green houses, we walked outside into the gardens. This Eastern Screech-Owl was roosting in a palm leaf right outside the door. He was at eye level to make an ideal picture. I went back to the car for my camera and took this photo. Again, I was able to have him looking right at the camera.  

A month later in a trip to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, I went to the San Miguelito Ranch, as that is the easiest location to find the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. They nest in bird houses in the back yard of the ranch house! 

As luck would have it, the owner Leticia Tijerina was also able to show me a sleeping Barn Owl in her horse barn. 

And the third owl at the ranch was a Great Horned Owl on it nest. This completed a trifecta of owls in the single location!

In  Feb 2010, I went to Duluth Minnesota to photograph winter birds. My guide there was Sparky Stensaas. We found 2 of the owl species that I was searching for. Here is a juvenile Snowy Owl. He also was looking directly at the camera in this picture.  

The other owl was a Northern Hawk Owl. We saw at least 5 of these birds. They always sat on the tops of trees in the daylight, so they were quite easy to find.  

One of the owls missed in Minnesota in February, was found in Alaska last June. This Great Gray Owl was found on her nest. This is North America's largest owl. 

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.


Happy birding and photography,


David McDonald
email: davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2010 David McDonald


To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #121 – misc summer and fall birds

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
September 6, 2010



Bulletin #121 – misc summer and fall birds

There were only a few birds that I photographed over the summer, as it was just too hot to be out in the field.


However, 2 birds were particularly noteworthy. The first was a Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata). This species is strictly pelagic, occurring over open tropical oceans. They nest on offshore islands in the Gulf of Mexico, and rarely are seen on shore. However, this bird was found among a large breeding colony of Black Skimmers at Rockport Beach, Texas. He was found in early June, but I didn't have a chance to go to Rockport prior to my Alaska trip.



After I got home from Alaska, a hurricane went through that area and he disappeared for a few weeks. Finally, he was relocated and I went to photograph him on July 24th. Subsequently, a pair was found, so maybe they will begin breeding there with the skimmers. That would be a great treat for birders to be able to see this bird in a readily accessible place. It was not a life bird, as I had seen it once before on a pelagic trip in 1993.



This is an attractive black and white tern with white forehead. This pose in grass with some blue wildflowers is an added bonus for a pelagic species.

The other bird was a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus). My wife and I had gone to Galveston the next day July 25th. As we were driving along the Galveston seawall to watch the ocean, I noticed a large bird swimming just at the base of the seawall. I thought at first it was a pelican, but later realized the bill was wrong, so I pulled over and got out. It was obviously a gannet or booby, but I didn't have binoculars, camera or bird book with me. It climbed out of the water onto the boulders at the base of the seawall and just lay there. It was obviously sick or injured. We went home, and I got my camera and went back to Galveston. He was in the same place and fortunately it was still light enough to take some photos. I climbed down onto the rocks at the base of the seawall and was able to walk right up to him.


It is a second year bird as the head and neck are white, mottled with brown. There was some concern that he might be oiled from the massive BP well explosion, but there is just a smudge of staining on the breast in the first photo. Texas Parks and Wildlife were called and rescued him the next day. I hope he is able to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This is only the second Northern Gannet I have seen, and the first in Texas. At 37" in length, this is a huge bird.

Molting birds that are missing feathers can give some unusual appearances. I'm sure that we have all seen some birds with no tail feathers, or just a couple. However, the cardinals in my yard molted all their head feathers simultaneously and thus were crestless. I'm sure this happens every year, but I had not noticed it before. His beak appears to be huge!

Fall migration is underway. I have about a half dozen hummingbirds in my yard now and they will continue until early October. So if inclined and you live along the Texas coast, get your hummingbird feeders up and keep them filled and cleaned. You can have the pleasure of these aerial jewels in your yard.


I went to LaFitte's Cove in Galveston to check for songbird migrants the last couple of weekends. Fall migration gives us the opportunity to see other plumages (juveniles) that we don't find in the spring. Also some birds are already in their winter or basic plumage.



Sibley list 3 plumages for the Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis). This warbler seems to be more common here in fall migration. I saw 3 of them on Saturday - all 3 plumages! This is known as the necklace warbler. It is gray above with some black around the face. There is a distinctive white eye ring. The underparts are bright yellow and there is a necklace of black streaks on the breast.



Here is a male from the spring, as I didn't get a photo of the male Saturday.Notice the black on the face and how dark the necklace streaks are.

The adult female has a little black on the face. The streaks are more gray then black.

The juvenile or 1st year female has no black on the face and just a hint of streaks.

This bird got into the drip and bathed. She was soaked and disheveled. Sometimes making an ID of a wet bird like this can be a challenge, as the breast streaks cannot be seen. However, the plain gray upper and yellow below with the large eye ring should still enable one to make the correct ID. She has some serious preening to do!

The other juvenile warbler was a male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). The adult male is distinctive black and orange.

The adult female is gray and yellow.

The bird guides list the juvenile male as similar to the female. This is true, but the yellow at the shoulder is more orange than yellow as shown in this bird yesterday.

By the next spring, the male is starting to show some black feathers on his head, neck and breast, as seen in this bird during spring migration this year. At the end of the 1st summer, the males molt into their adult plumage.

The juvenile male Am. Redstart above also enjoyed a bath in the 90 degree temperature.

The other bird of note this weekend was an Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi). This medium sized (7.5") flycatcher is IDed by the dark streaked 'vest' that he seems to be wearing. His song is distinctive as well and is quoted as "Quick three beers". This is listed as an uncommon bird on the upper Texas coast in spring and fall. As best as I can remember, this is only the second one I have seen here in 20 years of birding.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
email: davidkmcd@comcast.net
photos copyright 2010 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.