Birding

[51notout]

Just over two weeks ago I saw a Kirtland’s Warbler (unconfirmed). It was in a place known as part of a migratory path and I was able to identify its key characteristics (broken eye ring, coloration, etc) but I won’t add to my life list since I was alone and nobody else reported a sighting for that day on ebird.

It’s rare enough that I might never see one again. Birding is tough [emoji57]

Edited to add: now I’m retired I’ll likely go chase one down in Michigan [emoji3]

 

[harllee]

Just over two weeks ago I saw a Kirtland’s Warbler (unconfirmed). It was in a place known as part of a migratory path and I was able to identify its key characteristics (broken eye ring, coloration, etc) but I won’t add to my life list since I was alone and nobody else reported a sighting for that day on ebird.

It’s rare enough that I might never see one again. Birding is tough [emoji57]

Edited to add: now I’m retired I’ll likely go chase one down in Michigan [emoji3]

Kirtlands Warbler--wow. A bird I have never seen. Birding is tough!

 

[audreyh1]

Just over two weeks ago I saw a Kirtland’s Warbler (unconfirmed). It was in a place known as part of a migratory path and I was able to identify its key characteristics (broken eye ring, coloration, etc) but I won’t add to my life list since I was alone and nobody else reported a sighting for that day on ebird.

It’s rare enough that I might never see one again. Birding is tough [emoji57]

Edited to add: now I’m retired I’ll likely go chase one down in Michigan [emoji3]

Yay!

We used professional guides to help with very difficult species. We went on a bunch of birding trips the first two years of retirement.

 

[audreyh1]

One of my most memorable birds was the blue bird I saw when at Hawk Mountain off of Route 78 in eastern Pa, looking for hawks in the late 90's or early 2000's. It was like a blue neon sign it was so bright. Just sitting on a branch.

There are three species of bluebird in the US. The Mountain bluebird (Western US) is the most intensely blue.

Around here in addition to the Eastern Bluebird, we have a indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks, so we get lots of blue neon signs!

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Not sure if this would count as "birding" but this season we had a cardinal's nest that needed "help." Long story short, Mama didn't do a great job building her nest and the babies kept falling out.

The last time two of them were laying on the ground barely moving...it was late and raining, and the nest was pretty much blown out, so we brought them into the garage until I could put together a new nest in the AM.

Next morning, the third baby was now on the ground also barely moving. Mama and Papa were sitting on a nearby tree and watched me put the remnants of the old nest into my new and improved one and put all three babies back in. Not two minutes later, Mama was back in the nest and all was well in the world.

About 2 days later, all three babies became fledglings and were out of the nest. I have seen them hanging out with Papa while he still feeds them.

Here are a few pics: The bush the nest was in and the proximity to the pool, the babies in my fancy nest, and one of them in a nearby tree after fledgling.

 

[harllee]

Great job Ex FlyBoy!! You saved those baby cardinals lives

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Great job Ex FlyBoy!! You saved those baby cardinals lives

Thanks! I was very happy to have Google to help me learn what to do. 30 years ago, I am not sure what I would have done!

 

[audreyh1]

Well that’s cool.

Baby birds fall out of nests all the time, and parents are usually able to feed them on the ground if necessary until they are able to fly.

 

[cbo111]

We had these mockingbird kids outside our bedroom window. We first saw the empty nest, then eggs. Fourteen days after the eggs hatched, they flew away.

 

[BigMoneyJim]

I guess I'm just dipping my toes into back yard birding. I've had blue jays for many years, and just looking outside occasionally I recognize some frequent visitors.

So I put out a bird bath and started Googling.

I was right about the blue jays; my "pigeons" are white wing doves. My "insect bird" is a willow flycatcher (I think). And a pair of American robins are also nearby all the time.

I've yet to identify another semi-regular species that I call "grass birds". I thought they were black with orange beaks and tend to show up after rains to pick through the grass. Lately I'm seeing brown birds with orange beaks enjoying the bird bath, so I'm not sure this is the same species, or if they're just quite similar.

Every great now and then a cardinal will show up, and one did a day or two ago.

Not sure where this leads, but so far it's limited to my yard. I tried grabbing a camera, but my Canon M50 with the "kit" zoom lens doesn't zoom nearly enough to make a bird 20 feet away be a significant part of the frame.

I'm starting to maybe recognize some of the calls, meaning alarm vs "feed me mommy/daddy".

 

[audreyh1]

That’s how many people get started - by identifying their back yard birds.

We knew we were seriously hooked when we spent one of our Hawaii vacations running all over the island birdwatching instead of snorkeling every day.

Birding goes naturally with hiking and countryside sightseeing. For many, it’s just a great way to get out and enjoy nature.

 

[John Galt III]

Could the 3 shades of grey bird be a catbird? A pretty grey bird that has a darker patch on the top of the head and mews like a cat (but can sing other songs too). The catbird often sites on the top of a bush or fence post --hence the phrase "sitting in the catbird's seat."

Catbird it is! I heard the meowing sound, and they do hop from post to post a lot.

 

[grasshopper]

Our town is currently hosting a Eared Quetzal. First one found in the US was in the Cave Creek Canyon.


Photo courtesy of resident Steve Wolfe

 

[MissMolly]

Our town is currently hosting a Eared Quetzal. First one found in the US was in the Cave Creek Canyon.
View attachment 35274

Photo courtesy of resident Steve Wolfe

So pretty!

 

[harllee]

Our town is currently hosting a Eared Quetzal. First one found in the US was in the Cave Creek Canyon.
View attachment 35274

Photo courtesy of resident Steve Wolfe

wow! What a great bird, thanks for posting

 

[audreyh1]

Our town is currently hosting a Eared Quetzal. First one found in the US was in the Cave Creek Canyon.
View attachment 35274

Photo courtesy of resident Steve Wolfe

Wow!!! Nice visitor!

I saw an Elegant Trogon in that Cave Creek area years ago.

 

[audreyh1]

Catbird it is! I heard the meowing sound, and they do hop from post to post a lot.

The rusty colored butt under the tail is also a good ID characteristic.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Well that’s cool.

Baby birds fall out of nests all the time, and parents are usually able to feed them on the ground if necessary until they are able to fly.

It wasn't so much the parents not feeding them, but other critters eating them. Plus, the couple nights of cool rain would have probably done 'em in.

Edit: While it is true that you should leave fledgling birds alone, if they are indeed nestlings (as was my case), then they almost always should be rescued. In my extensive research, I didn't read ANYWHERE that you should leave nestlings on the ground. Here is some good reading for those that might come across a baby bird that might seem out of place. https://www.audubon.org/news/when-you-should-and-should-not-rescue-baby-birds

 

[Free To Canoe]

We have probably the largest population of Pileateds in the country at Congaree National Park.

My favorite bird apps: Song Sleuth, Merlin Bird ID, Audubon, eBird.

Redbug,

Thanks for the tip. I hope to get down to your area this winter. Have you ever been to the Frances Beidler Forest? I really enjoy that place.
Which app do you like best?

Mark

 

[cbo111]

Here is a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that shows up in our community around the same time the past couple years. We only see the one and it hangs out for about a month, then gone. We also have a couple Black-crowned Night-Herons that come around and have a litter of babies in the trees behind our house.

 

[audreyh1]

We enjoyed watching a yellow-crowned night-heron at an RV park in Central TX. It was very proficient at catching crawfish and gobbling them down whole.

 

[Rianne]

This happened yesterday at AEF-NEFL eagles nest. Our eaglets have fledged and there are guests at the nest.

 

[John Galt III]

Saw 2 new birds. One was black, red, and a speckly white, with a (red?) peak on the head. The other was dull yellow and an off-black color. Both eastern Pa.

 

[harllee]

Saw 2 new birds. One was black, red, and a speckly white, with a (red?) peak on the head. The other was dull yellow and an off-black color. Both eastern Pa.

How large were these birds? Bigger or small than a robin? Did you see them on the ground or in a tree? Did you hear their songs or calls?

 

[Chuckanut]

I saw a humming bird feeding off of some flowers near my rear deck. They are truly amazing animals.