Canon R6, RF 100-500 + RF 1.4x Extender, 700mm, f/10, 1/800 sec, ISO 2000, +1EV. Birds are born to do 4 things: Eat, don't get eaten, make more birds, and molt! Getting lunch before being lunch is a daily challenge whereas breeding successfully is a yearly activity, usually in the spring. Molting usually occurs each year after breeding is over, and for some species there is a second molt for breeding plumage. When it comes to nesting, each species is a bit different. The species can build a nest in a tree or bush (American Robins), or on a house or platform (Cordilleran Flycatchers) , or on the ground (Red-faced Warblers). The one other mode that is fairly common is nesting in a cavity, perhaps a tree or cactus (Gila), maybe on a cliff (swallows), or in a nest box provided by you and I (Western Bluebird). So, let's take a look at cavity nesters in our area. I am going to start with the Gila Woodpecker, one of our regulars in the Sonoran desert. On May 6th I had the privilege and pleasure of leading a field trip for the 2023 NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association) Summit, which met here in Tucson at the Westin La Paloma. The morning of the 6th, 8 photographers from all over the U.S., including Tucson, met at Agua Caliente County Park on East Roger Road at 6:30 am, to greet the rising sun and all the critters who were waking up to start the day right with food and water. As we walked the northwest portions of the park we found a male Gila Woodpecker diving into Saguaro flowers and getting his face fully covered with pollen. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 454mm, f/10, 1/6400 sec, ISO 3200, +2/3 EV. Richard Cachor Taylor lists 12 species of woodpecker in his field guide Birds of Southeastern Arizona: Lewis', Acorn, Ladder-backed, Gilded Flicker, "Red shafted" Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Arizona, 4 Sapsuckers (Yellow-Bellied, Red-naped, Red-breasted, and Williamson's) and the Gila Woodpecker!
Gila's eat a large variety of insects, as well as berries, and cactus fruit. They will frequent hummingbird feeders. In the image below a male is diving for the nectar in the saguaro flower. Gila will feed their nestlings a mix of fruit and pollen (20%) and insects (80%). The male is distinguished from the female by sporting a red cap. Below, our Gila comes ups for air with about half his head dusted with pollen. Not far from the blooming saguaro we discovered a male Gila at the edge of a saguaro hole with his mouth full of insects. This could have been the same male diving for goodies at the saguaro flowers. Note that flowers are just beginning to bud at the top of the saguaro he is nesting in. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 508mm, f/10, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, 0EV. Over the next few minutes we saw a pair of Gila, male and female, flying back and forth to the nest to provide food for the hatchlings inside. Below the male emerges from the nest, checking out the local airspace to be sure it is clear before diving into flight. Remember, "eat but don't get eaten!" Truly, words to live by. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 700mm, f/10, 1/4000 sec, ISO 1000, 0EV. Below he dives into the air. Diving down is an energy efficient way to become airborne, especially from a high perch. This image shows his head, back, wing and tail markings well. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 700mm, f/10, 1/4000 sec, ISO 1000, 0EV. After a few minutes he came back with more food for the family, and lands in a characteristic stall. The structure of the tail is evident here, with a mixture of feathers for flight and for supporting himself against vertical surfaces, a woodpecker characteristic. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 420mm, f/10, 1/6400 sec, ISO 2000, 1/3EV. While the male held onto the edge of the hole, his mate emerged from the nest and took flight, as seen below. The male subsequently crawled into the nest to deliver his goodies. Note that the female does not bear the red cap of the male. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x Extender, 420mm, f/10, 1/6400 sec, ISO 2000, 1/3EV. Gila Woodpeckers will commonly lay 3 to 5 eggs per clutch, with 1 or 2 broods a year. The eggs incubate from 13 to 14 days, and nestlings fledge at about 4 weeks of age. (Reference: All About Birds, and Birds of the World). Although most Gila Woodpeckers nest in Saguaro Cactus, they will nest in cottonwoods, willows, oaks and paloverde. Below we see a male peeking out of a cavity in a eucalyptus tree in front of the ranch house at Agua Caliente Park. Gila Woodpeckers will often reuse nests in subsequent years. Canon R6, RF 100-500 + RF 1.4x Extender, 700mm, f/10, 1/800 sec, ISO 2000, +1EV. That's it for Gila Woodpeckers as they fulfill their annual duty to "make more birds!"
More soon on another cavity nester, the Hairy Woodpecker, feeding the brood on the top of Mt Lemmon! Happy Trails!
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No stage coaches on April 21st, but we did find a beautiful Cottonwood tree in a rancher's front yard, with a small pecan grove beside it. The woodpecker had been reported to be moving back and forth between the trees. . . A Red-headed Woodpecker in Arizona?Canon R6, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x extender at 700mm. 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 2500, +1 EV. Post-production processing in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Topaz DeNoise AI. Yes, we found him, with the help of another avid birder (also with a long lens!). The image above is one of my better ones, with the male perched high in the cottonwood. Below he is nestled a bit lower in the leaves. Red-headed Woodpeckers have crimson heads and snow-white bodies, with half-white and half black wings. They are stunning in flight. For food they gather acorns and beech nuts, which they often hide for later use like Acorn Woodpeckers do. The Red-headed is adept at catching insects in the air. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x extender at 700mm. 1/400 sec., f/10, ISO 320, +2/3 EV. Older range maps on the All About Birds website show the Red-headed Woodpecker wintering in the southeast U.S. and breeding in the northern mid-west, east of the Rockies. However, current eBird maps show expansion of the population further west, with sightings in Arizona and California. Below is a current eBird map of the U.S. You can see a sprinkling of violet dots west of the Rockies. The detailed eBird map below shows the sightings just south of San Simon where we were on the 21st. Red-headed Woodpeckers have been sighted there since January. It is unclear if this bird or birds have gone astray, or are staying in the area to nest. April is still in the migration time block, so they may be wintering in Arizona and are late to leave for the north. We'll see! Maybe they like eating pecans! (Reference: eBird) Swainson's HawkCanon R6, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x extender at 700mm. 1/1600 sec., f/10, ISO 2000, +1 EV. The Swainson's Hawk is in the Order Accipitriformes with all the diurnal raptors, and in the Family Accipitridae with other hawks, eagles and kites. Within this family there is the genus Buteo, which contains soaring species including the Swainson's Hawk, as well as the Gray, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged, Short-tailed, Zone-tailed, Rough-legged, Ferruginous, and Red-tailed Hawks. The Buteo's are known for their large, broad wings and the ability to soar on thermals. Swainson's Hawks are long-distance migrants, breeding in western North America from Mexico to Alaska, and migrating each fall in huge numbers 6,000 miles south through Mexico and Central America all the way down to Argentina where they winter. Swainson's Hawks are considered classics of the open country of the Great Plains and West, soaring on thermals or perched on fence posts. During breeding they feed their young the "three r's" of the buteo diet: rodents, rabbits, and reptiles. However, out of breeding season they eat insects, especially grasshoppers and dragonflies. We spotted this Swainson's sitting high in the Cottonwood Tree, then taking off, appearing to catch insects in mid-air. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x extender at 700mm. 1/5000 sec., f/10, ISO 3200, +1 2/3 EV. All of these images were captured over the adjacent fields. Swainson's Hawks come in two morphs, light and dark. The birds we caught are light morph. They have dark necks, white throats, white bodies and portions of the ventral wings, with a dark trailing edge. These markings are evident in the different views that follow. Swainson's are larger than Cooper's Hawks and smaller than Ferruginous Hawks. In the image above the tail is gathered together for efficient flight, and below fanned out for lift and maneuverability at slower speed. There were at least 2 Swainson's Hawks close to us on Friday afternoon. Note that the sexes look alike except for weight, the female being heavier. However, I can say with certainty that the pair below have just mated, with the female being on the right. Back in the Cottonwood we spotted the large nest shown below, which I suspect is theirs. The female is likely carrying eggs, and now is the right time to fertilize them. Clutch size is 1-5 eggs with an incubation period of 34-35 days. Just below the nest is a Bullock's Oriole. Although Swainson's Hawks do eat birds during breeding season, this oriole seems to feel safe right under the nest. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x extender at 700mm. 1/8000 sec., f/10, ISO 16,000, +1 EV. For contrast and completeness I have included in the frame below an image of a dark morph Swainson's Hawk from the raptor free flight show at the High Desert Museum in Bend Oregon July 1, 2016. Same species as the light morph but darker coloration of the body and underwings. Canon EOS 7D Mk II with EF 24-105mm at 90mm, 1/2000 sec., f/4.0, ISO 1250. We missed the stagecoach (by 163 years) but got to see some neat birds. I thank them for letting us into their lives this sunny day in April! That's all for now! More from Portal soon.
Happy trails! Bath time for a male Wilson's Warbler, February 18, 2023, Sweetwater Wetlands. Sweetwater Wetlands is one of Tucson's birding hotspots. Last fall, following a scheduled controlled burn of the wetlands last the ponds were dry but are now back up to their pre-burn levels. And, spring has arrived. The trees are in leaf, and birds are actively pairing up and building nests. Let's "see what shaking" at the wetlands! Wilson's SnipeCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 661 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 sec., ISO 32,000, +1EV. Wilson's Snipe is a medium-sized pudgy shorebird in the Order Charadriiformes, Family Scolopacidae, Sandpipers and Allies. There are 34 members in this family in North America including Sandpipers, Godwit's, Turnstones, the Dunlin, and the close look-alike, the American Woodcock. Many shorebirds live well away from the shore, including the Wilson's Snipe, which breeds across the northern U.S. and Canada and winters in the southern U.S., Mexico, Central and South America. If you were taken in by a "snipe hunt" at summer camp, be assured that they really do exist! Wilson's Snipes, like American Woodcocks, are tough to spot due to their coloration that blends right into the habitat. The bird shown here has been hanging out at the wetlands this winter just west of the restrooms close to the entrance. Wilson's Snipes feed mainly on insect larvae, as well as mature insects and snails, crustaceans, and worms. They have a long flexible bill that allows them to probe for food in wet soil and swallow small prey without having to pull their bills out of the mud. In the image above we can see the markings on the head. Below our subject takes a rest from his/her morning breakfast. We can see how well the bird's markings and coloration works as camouflage. The flanks of the bird in the image below almost looks like eyes of a larger animal, a useful ruse to discourage predators. For the photo geeks: This location at the wetlands is a tough spot for photos. Most of the activity is in the morning when the sun is low and to the left of the frame. The area is heavily shaded, making it great cover for the birds, but not ideal for photography. I shot these frames at 1/2000 sec to capture motion in the bathing birds, which gave me ISO's in the 30,000 range. And, contrast was limited. Post production processing with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Topaz DeNoise AI, which really saves photos like these. For those readers who follow this blog, you may recall the American Woodcock I caught on camera in NW Ohio last spring, NW Ohio Spring Migration 2022, Part 4: Not all birds migrate! I am including a photo from that post here to show the striking similarity to the Wilson's Snipe. American Woodcock, Oak Openings, Toledo, Ohio, May 2022. Wilson's WarblerCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 700 mm, f/10.0, 1/2000 sec., ISO 25,600, +2/3EV. In almost the same spot as the Wilson's Snipe I spotted this Wilson's Warbler taking his morning bath. Wilson's Warblers winter in Mexico and Central America and breed in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, with Arizona being in their migration territory. The statistics from eBird tend to back this up. The bird we see here is likely working his way north, and has stopped for food and a bath. The males have a very distinctive black cap on a yellow body, clearly seen here. Below, he gets ready to take the plunge! This looks like fun, I hope the birds enjoy it! Bathing and preening are a very important ritual for all birds. In the absence of water, certain breeds, such as the Gambel's Quail, will take "dirt baths" to help absorb dirt, oil, and parasites, which can then be removed with preening. Below, our Wilson's Warbler begins to look more like Ernie's Rubber Duckie, with a black cap of course! Two "Wilson's" bathing in the same pond? That raises the question . . . . Who was Wilson?
With the help of subscribers he published the nine-volume American Ornithology (1808-1814). Wilson's illustrations of birds in poses were an inspiration for James Audubon and other illustrators and naturalists. Orange-crowned WarblerCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 508 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 sec., ISO 2000, +2/3 EV. Next in line for a bath was an Orange-crowned Warbler, shown here in drier circumstances hunting for insects under the leaves on February 24th. Orange-crowned Warblers are yellow-olive overall with a faint eye-line, a pointy bill and in adults, a faint orangish crown patch that is usually concealed and difficult to see. They winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico, breeding in Canada and regions of the western U.S. , including Arizona. They forage for insects in the understory, often under leaves, which we see here. In the photo above, an Orange-crowned Warbler opens his right wing, likely an attempt to "startle" insects to get them to move, making them easy prey. This behavior is used as a standard in the Painted Redstart, who "startles" its prey regularly. Below, on February 20th an Orange Crowned Warbler was bathing in the same spot as the Wilson's Warbler shown earlier. As noted above, the orange crown is very hard to see in the wild, unless the bird is agitated or upset, or perhaps taking a bath! Below we have three shots following his bath showing the raised crown with a definite orange color. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 420 mm, f/9.0, 1/5000 sec., ISO 40,000, +2/3 EV. For the photo geeks: This was shot in very low light, with high shutter speed to catch the motion of bathing, with resulting ISO of 40,000! The R6 will go as high as 102,000. Topaz DeNoise AI saved these images! Ruby-crowned KingletCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 420 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 sec., ISO 8000, +1 1/3 EV. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a small songbird in the Family Regulidae, Kinglets, along with the Golden-crowned Kinglet. They winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico and breed in the northwest U.S. and throughout Canada and Alaska. This kinglet is plain grey with a white eyeing and white wing bar, yellow on the flight feathers and a ruby-red crown that is seen only intermittently. We get a hint of the crown in the images above and below. Rudy-crowned Kinglets move very fast in the understory looking for insects on branches and leaves. They are fun to watch, but tough to photograph. They forage as though they had too much coffee! In the image below, our subject looks up for insects under the leaves. I find that Ruby-crowned Kinglets have a certain cute factor! Rudy-crowned Kinglets have clutches of up to 12 eggs in one nest, and can live as long as 8 years. (Ref: All About Birds) Nesting VerdinsCanon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400 mm II at 400 mm, f/5.6 ISO 400, +1/3 EV. Verdins are small songbirds that live year round in the southwest U.S. including Texas, as well as a major part of adjoining Mexico. They favor desert scrub or chaparral with thorny trees and are prodigious nest builders. They are the only North American member of the Old World family Remizidae. They enjoy a wide diet consisting of insects, spiders, fruit, nectar, and some plants. The image above was captured at Sweetwater Wetlands in February of 2020. Verdins are often feeding on insects on the cattails that are common near the ponds. Below we see construction of a nest on the east side of the wetlands on March 13th. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm with 1.4x Ext. at 420 mm, f/13, 1/2000 sec., ISO 4000, +1 EV. Verdins are prolific year round nest builders, with pairs building as many as 12 nests a year. For breeding the nest is round with an entrance at the bottom or side. The male does much of the outer shell, the female does most of the lining. In addition to their breeding nest, they will build multiple roosting nests often in close proximity to each other. Juveniles have been recorded building their own nests in as little as 90 days after fledging. (Ref: Birds of the World). The nest shown above the below was at the eastern end of the wetlands, partially obscured by branches, accounting for some the loss of image quality. Note that males and females are similar in appearance and work together on the nest. In the image below one of the pair is hefting a sizable twig for the shell, perhaps the male. The images above and below are from August of 2016 at Agua Caliente Park. I include them here to show nest building behavior as well as the side entrance into the ball shaped nest. The image below is from Sweetwater Wetlands in October of 2019, and is likely a roosting nest built during the winter. Verdins are nest collectors. Since they do not migrate, this may be one way to define their territory. That's all for now! Stay tuned for more spring activity.
Happy Trails! American Avocets in breeding plumage. Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/400 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +1 EV. The American Southwest is experiencing protracted drought and difficult decisions about water use, now and into the future. However, we do get rain! We enjoy a summer monsoon season with (we hope) frequent afternoon thunder storms, as well as winter storms that come into Arizona from California and occasionally from Mexico. The storms that have recently drenched California and the Sierra Nevada have made their way inland, and provided much needed rain to the desert valleys, and lots of snow in the Catalinas. On February 21st the Camera Club Tucson's Trek Special Interest Group (Trek SIG) traveled to the Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, in the city of Gilbert, just east of Phoenix. A forecast of rainy weather did not deter the 6 hearty souls, myself included, who got up before sunrise to arrive at the preserve at 8 am. We had about an hour of drizzly overcast, and were able to visit with the local birds on and off of the ponds as they got breakfast. Fortunately we had almost no wind. Here are 4 species that characterized the morning. Let's start with the Neotropic Cormorant. Neotropic CormorantCanon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/400 sec., f/6.3, ISO 1600, +1 EV. The preserve has 7 ponds and a small lake, in addition to a library on the grounds, picnic ramadas and rest rooms. The ponds are part of an extensive water reclamation process for all the waste water from Gilbert, and provide a wonderful riparian environment for local and migrating birds, especially water birds, be they waders, dabblers or divers. Neotropic Cormorants are water birds in the Order Suliformes, Family Phalacrocoracidae, along with other cormorants. They are non-migratory, living from the southern U.S. further south into Mexico and all of South America. Based on my quick survey of range maps, including All About Birds and eBird, the species seems to be moving its range further north over time. The bird above was perched and resting shortly before 9 am on one of the eastern ponds. In the image below, the same bird has turned facing the camera with two compatriots to the right in the photo. Cormorants are divers and excellent underwater swimmers eating mostly fish and shrimp, as well as frogs and insect larvae. Their swimming is enabled by feathers that can get wet, losing their natural buoyancy. Floating in the water the birds sit low, at times looking like submarines, partially submerged with the head and neck being the periscope. When not in the water they are often seen drying their wings in the wind. Wet cormorants are too heavy to fly, and need to dry out before they take to the air. The paler breasts seen on these birds may indicate that they are juveniles. Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/400 sec., f/6.3, ISO 1600, +1 EV. Black-necked StiltCanon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 6400, +1 2/3 EV. Black-necked Stilts are fun birds to watch, in the water or in the air. They are wading birds in the same family as Avocets. They like shallow wetlands, eating aquatic invertebrates, small crustaceans, amphibians, snails, and tiny fish. Their range extends over North American along rivers and riparian areas. Note that their range as reported in eBird is much more extensive than the range shown in All About Birds. This bird could be wintering in Arizona, or may be breeding here as well. If you look closely in the photo above you can see rain drops beading on the bird's back. Unlike the cormorant, the stilt's feathers are quite water resistant, the result of natural oils the bird produces and structural properties of the feathers. Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 4000, +1 2/3 EV. In the image below a Black-necked Stilt is sharing the buffet with an American Coot. Coots are plump water birds in the same family as Rails and Gallinules. Coots are common on waterways throughout North America and seem to get along well with other water birds, regardless of species. Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 4000, +1 2/3 EV. Black-crowned Night-HeronCanon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/400 sec., f/7.1, ISO 4000, +0 EV. Black-crowned Night-Herons are regulars at the preserve, and always seem to be hiding in the dense brush adjacent to the water. Like Mr. Wilson on the 90's sitcom Home Improvement, this bird makes it hard to see his whole face! Above, a heron is peaking out between the branches. Below we get a good view of the bird, but dang if a few twigs don't cover the face! Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2500 sec., f/9, ISO 40,000, +2/3 EV. Black-crowned Night-Herons are most active at night and at dusk foraging in the wetlands. They are social birds, breeding in colonies of stick nests usually built over water. These birds are likely breeding at the preserve. Black-crowned Night-Herons are the most widespread heron in the world. American AvocetCanon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/400 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +1 EV. American Avocets are long-legged waders in the same family as Black-necked Stilts. They are black and white/grey during the winter, but in breeding season sport the rusty head and neck we see here. They forage for aquatic invertebrates by swishing their slender upturned bill side to side in the water, as we see below. These birds are likely in migration; they typically nest on islands or dikes, placing the nest on the ground with little or no surrounding vegetation. These images were captured shortly after 9 am. It is clearly raining, a trend that continued . . . . . Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1600, +1 2/3 EV. By about 10 am the drizzles had turned to rain. Our cameras were under our coats or stuffed in plastic bags. We decided that it was too wet for photos, and the birds seemed to agree. Their morning breakfast had turned into a nap, with the ducks tucked up in balls and floating on the ponds, and everyone else hunkered down in the understory. We left for a coffee spot nearby to warm up before the ride home. An aside: In late December my wife and I took delivery of a new Subaru Solterra, Subaru's first EV manufactured along with Toyota. After the early morning drive to Gilbert, the car needed a juice boost, so we headed to a Super Walmart in the San Tan Village where I found an Electrify America Level III charger. A friend and I grabbed lunch while the car charged, and we got home! A great car for birding SE Arizona, but you do need to know where the chargers are! More on EVs and birding in coming posts! That's all for now! Our winter weather in SE Arizona continues as of this post. Rain in the valley, snow in the mountains, with more expected March 1st.
More soon. Happy Trails! Canon R6, EF 24-105mm at 73mm, 1/640 sec., f/11, ISO 200, -1/3 EV, panoramic.
The photograph at the top of the post was captured on December 13, 2022 the morning after a winter storm system came through bringing much needed rain. I was standing just north of the visitor center on the trail east of the tram road, facing the Rincon mountains. If you look carefully you can see snow on the top of Mica Mountain. Sabino Canyon is a great place for birds in the winter, due in large part to the ready access to water and the presence of food, including Mistletoe berries growing on Mesquite Trees. Many birds eat fruit during the winter and depend on berries. Although Mistletoe is considered a parasitic plant, in the wild it grows abundantly and provides much needed food for birds. The image below is looking south toward the visitor center. The dense understory provides insects and berries for our avian friends, including the Western Bluebird. Canon R6, EF 24-105mm at 24mm, 1/640 sec., f/11, ISO 160, -1 EV. Western BluebirdsCanon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/11, ISO 800, +2/3 EV. On December 14, 2022, a small block of Western Bluebirds, males and females, were working the understory across the desert floor looking for food. In the photograph above, a male takes a break and sits in the sun, likely looking for both food and predators. He wants to get lunch before he is lunch . . . . Below another male on another day, December 6, 2022, shortly after 2 pm south and west of Sabino Canyon, close to the Rillito River. He was one of a small flock, working the understory for food. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Extender at 480mm, 1/800 sec., f/10, ISO 5000, +1 EV. The Western Bluebird is in the Order Passiformes (songbirds) in the Family Turdidae, Thrushes and Allies. Other species in this family include: Thrushes (Varied, Veery, Gray-cheeked, Bicknell's, Swainson's, Wood, and Hermit), Townsend's Solitaire, and the American Robin. (Ref: All About Birds, Bird Guide). Males are blue above with a rusty throat and chest. The amount of blue in the bird will depend on the light. Females are grayish above with bluish wings and tail, and a subdued orange-brown breast (Ref: All About Birds). Below, a male on the left, and a female on the right, also December 6, 2022 near the Rillito. The birds this day were busily gathering berries and insects from trees and bushes in the low understory. I feel fortunate to have captured this shot with the male and female together, holding still! In the image below, a female Western Bluebird grabs a Mistletoe berry from a Mesquite tree in Sabino Canyon, just north of the visitor center, December 14, 2022. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +2/3 EV. Below, possibly the same female is perched for a photoshoot. The blue coloration on the wings and tail is evident, with the gray back. In the series below a female is scarfing down berries, December 6, 2022, just south of the Rillito. Birds have tongues, but no teeth. Food is either broken up or torn by action of the bill, or swallowed whole, as in this case. Not all birds can digest fruit. Being able to do so is a big advantage, especially in winter when insects are scarcer, and helps the species extend its range. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Extender at 700mm, 1/800 sec., f/10, ISO 12,800, +1 2/3 EV. Gulp! Down it goes! Breeding season in Summerhaven, 2022 . . . . .The images I captured in December reminded me of shots I captured last June which I never had a chance to process or post (chalk it up to sloth!). For years local residents in Summerhaven have put out nest boxes for the Western Bluebirds. Western Bluebirds are cavity nesters, and if they cannot find a natural cavity, for example an unused Acorn Woodpecker hole, they won't breed at all. So, nest boxes increase the options and helps to keep the generations coming. This is very important in an era when global climate change is impinging on habitat with loss of both food and nesting spots. Below, a mama Western Bluebird is likely drying off after a bath in Sabino Creek (at its origin!) and taking a short rest from her domestic duties. June 19, 2022, Loma Linda Extension Road. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec., f/8, ISO 5000, +1/3 EV. Below likely the same female is at work flying in with lunch for the kids. Big bugs, yum! In the second shot we can see blue on the wings and tail. Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec., f/8, ISO 2500, +1/3 EV. Below, she has delivered lunch and keeps her eye out for predators. Note that Common Ravens and Steller's Jays are aggressive predators on Mt. Lemmon during breeding season, raiding nests for eggs or young hatchlings. In the image above, the female reaches into the nest and then below comes out with a fecal sac. In some species, including the Western Bluebird, the hatchlings will enclose fecal contents, including residual food and urates (urine), in a clear membrane creating a sac which the parents can grab and dispose of in a distant location. This keeps the nest clean and free of odors that might attract predators. Below, mom takes off with the sac. Sometimes an adult will eat the sac rather than dispose of it; when the hatchlings are very young their digestive tracts are not very efficient leaving significant nutrients behind, making the sac a valuable source of food for the parent. Below, a male sits at the nest, just to show the world that dad's are involved too! Sometime other adult pairs or immatures will serve as helpers at a nest. Western Bluebirds will have 2-8 eggs per clutch, and up to three broods per season. Back to Sabino Canyon . . . .Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4 Ext., at 454mm, 1/640 sec., f/10, ISO 2500, 0 EV. Late in the afternoon of December 14th I was walking back to the visitor center just to the east of the tram road when I spotted two In closing . . .No post on Sabino Canyon would be complete without at least one image of running water. Below is an iPhone 13 photo captured on December 14th at the creek as it runs south from the Bear Canyon tram road. Fall color is in evidence on the banks. Apple iPhone 13 Pro. 5.7 mm, f/1.5, 1/8700 sec., ISO 50. Sabino Canyon is great anytime of year, but the winters are exceptional, so if you have not gone there recently there is still time! That's all for now! More coming soon, stay tuned! Happy Trails! January 29, 2023: Special thanks to Jeff Babson for his help in verifying the species for some of the images. A lighting strike at Agua Caliente Park at Soldier Trail and Roger Road in September started a wildfire that burned most of the palm trees adjacent to the stream that feeds the eastern lake. Fortunately Rural Metro was able to get the fire out and prevent further spread to the rest of the park. No structures were lost. The County did clean-up and repair in October and November. The park reopened the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 28th. We were there bright and early to celebrate and say Hi! to the birds! The images above and below (iPhone 13) show the area that burned, now fenced off until the rest of the repair and restoration can be completed. Most of the trees look viable, although charred. The tops are now green! There must be food up there, because the Gila Woodpeckers are active in the very top branches. A few charred palm leaves don't discourage the Gila WoodpeckersCanon R6 RF 100-500mm with 1.4 Extender, 700 mm, 1/2000, f/10, ISO 3200, +0 EV. Images above and below, Gila Woodpeckers perched among the charred branches, with new green growth above. In the image above, a male Gila Woodpecker on a slightly toasted branch. Below detail of the new growth at the top of a tree that is otherwise charred. Hopefully most of the remaining trees will survive. The ponds are intact, and full of birds:The rest of the park looks untouched. The eastern pond adjacent to the ranch house looks great, and was home to a number of birds this morning. |
For reference, I am showing a mature male Vermilion to the right, in early morning light in the fall of 2016 at Agua Caliente State Park. They are bright red, with a dark bill and eye markings, and dark wings. |
This is an immature male just coming into adult plumage with red coming into the breast and head. Many immature birds will look like mature females initially, and this bird on this day looks like a gemish of mom and dad. Soon he will be a bright red male, but right now he is at that awkward stage. Please don't laugh, he might hear you!
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Harrier
They feed on small mammals and birds, and have a distinctive hunting behavior, cruising low over fields with their head angled down at 90 degrees. Unlike other hawks they depend on auditory as well as visual cues to find prey, and have facial discs similar to owls. They have the ability to hover over their prey before diving for the kill. So, when the British developed a fighter jet in the 1960's that could fly and hover, they named it the Harrier.
This bird is on the hunt cruising over the fields to the north and east of the lake. It was a windy day, and he was riding on the wind looking for prey below.
Red-tailed Hawk
This bird was soaring above the fields on both sides of Interstate 19. I think the reddish tail can be seen in the last two frames.
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon, roughly the size of a Mourning Dove, but with larger heads. They commonly perch on high branches or telephone wires, grabbing insects in the air or mice and voles from the ground. They frequent open areas with short ground vegetation and sparse trees, including meadows, grasslands, parks and farm fields, as well as more urban locales.
Here we see a Kestrel soaring on the wind, likely taking advantage of a windy day. In general birds will look for food in the most efficient manner. Most hawks and vultures will wait for rising thermals before taking to the air, moving south during the winter to take advantage of warmer winds.
Merlin
Merlins are described as fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. They live in northern South America, and throughout Central America, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, wintering to the south and west and breeding in northern Canada and Alaska. This bird is a winter resident.
They are not much bigger than an American Kestrel, they are heavier, and known for rapid wingbeats and dark coloration. Like all raptors, the female is larger and heavier than the male.
Of note: Medieval European noblewomen, including Catherine the Great and Mary Queen of Scots, used Merlins for sport to hunt Skylarks. (Ref: All About Birds).
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpipers eat mostly small invertebrates such as midges, mayflies, flies (particularly their aquatic larvae), grasshoppers, beetles, worms, snails, and small crustaceans. Spotted Sandpipers are active foragers—in addition to probing into sand or mud with their bills like most sandpipers, they also lunge at moving prey, pick insects off plants, or snap at airborne prey.
To show that Spotted Sandpipers do in fact have spots in breeding season, I have included an image from Pipe Creek on Lake Erie from May of 2022, below, a breeding adult with spots!
Redhead
It is a great time to visit Historic Canoa Ranch!
Happy Trails!
On Halloween I arrived when the museum opened, and was greeted by a volunteer just outside the gate with a Burrowing Owl.
Next stop, the entrance to the museum. I have an annual pass (highly recommended for Tucson residents), members gate to the right. The museum is well staffed with knowledgeable volunteers.
Note for the photo geeks: This was shot with a Canon R6 with a RF 100-500mm zoom lens at 186 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.0, ISO 1600, +2/3 EV. I cannot tell how close I was to the bird from the camera data, but I do know that the RF 100-500 will focus as close as 90 cm, just under three feet, and I was probably at the limit. This is very close for a zoom lens. So, if you are in the market for a zoom lens for birding, check the minimal focus distance. There is a real advantage to being able to focus up close.
Chihuahuan Raven
Chihuahuan Ravens live in the southern central U.S. and Mexico, including Texas, New Mexico and portions of Arizona. They prefer hot, dry, open country with grasslands, generally away from urban populations. Most of the ravens we see in and around urban Tucson are Common Ravens, with the Chihuahuan population more likely seen out in the surrounding rural desert.
Cat Canyon is another spot to view the Raptor Free Flight, especially if you are not up for the trek down the Desert Loop Trail.
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owls are covered in soft feathers that keep them warm in winter and help them fly very quietly in pursuit of prey. Since they hunt at night, and neither soar nor migrate, their feathers are designed specifically for soundless flight over short distances with good lift and maneuvering capability. Keep your eyes open; you will not hear them coming!
Great Horned Owls live among us in Tucson. For more on two backyard visitors, an owl and a hummer from August 2020, see my post: The Owl and the Hummingbird. On that day this female Great Horned Owl was either too sleepy to eat, or hummingbirds are not on her diet. Maybe she is trying to cut back! They both survived the encounter. |
Crested Caracara
Images below, the bird in flight on October 31, 2022.
Harris Hawk
Below is another member of the family; note the metal band on the right leg.
Below, one of the hawks goes after food left on the branch, with his/her wings lifted.
Below, two birds landing together going after food.
And, in closing: Not-a-raptor, Nor flying, a Lilac-crowned Parrot (!!!??)
Happy Trails.
More posts coming soon.
This post looks at the Northern Cardinals, male and female, in Portal, Arizona during their annual molt. Also, we will see adults feeding recent fledglings. We will then finish up with one of the cardinal's cousins, the Pyrrhuloxia, also (you guessed it) molting.
So, to get you ready for Halloween, let's start with the Northern Cardinal looking very different!
A Reminder: This is what the male Northern Cardinal looks like in the other 11 months of the year . . . ..
The image above was taken at Bob Rodrigues' feeders in Portal, AZ, May 2018, The image below was captured at Tony Battiste's Bed Breakfast and Birds in February of this year. Note that cardinals only molt once a year after breeding and the males keep their bright red plumage all year long, making them a favorite at winter feeders in the snowy northern climes. The male is red with black on the face surrounding an orange bill with fairly straight culmen (the inner part of the bill).
But in August, after breeding, the molting begins . . . .
All images captured at Dave Jasper's feeders. Cardinals like peanut butter!
Other birds, including many warblers, molt twice a year, going into breeding plumage sometime in the late winter, and then back into non-breeding plumage in the fall. The molts need to occur at a time when there is adequate food and not during migration. Some birds, such as raptors, need to fly in order to eat. Molting for them has to occur over a long time period, one feather at at time, so that they can continue to hunt. To the right is a Red-tailed Hawk, light morph, showing feather by feather replacement. Note tail feathers coming in at the midline first. Still flying, still eating! | Red-tailed Hawk, Wilcox Lake, May 2018. For more on the sequence of the molt and wing anatomy see The Meadow Trail, . . Summer 2021 wrap-up.The Meadow Trail, Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, Summer 2021 wrap-up |
The Juveniles, not long out of the nest, also molt . .
For more about plumage and molting, see Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds of the World. Note, this is a subscription website. Another helpful reference for the biology of feathers and molting is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology.
And, a Female Cardinal in normal plumage for reference . . .
And, then in August, "What happened to my crest!"'
A Female Deals with Molting and a Hungry Kiddo . . .
Below are images of a female cardinal bringing food to a begging juvenile.
And also in the Cardinal Family, a Pyrrhuloxia. Let's start with an Adult Male in Full Plumage in Hereford, February 15, 2022.
And, in August, in the middle of a molt . . . OMG!!!
And for completeness, an adult female in normal plumage.
More coming soon.
Happy Trails!
September: The Acorn Woodpecker and the Steller's Jay Getting Ready for Winter . . . . . .
9/15/2022
Late summer is a time when fledglings join the ranks of adults, many birds are molting creating comic confusion, and nuts are stored for the winter (literally!). So let's start with the Acorn Woodpecker going after food.
Acorn Woodpeckers eat, well . . . , Acorns! (and some other stuff!)
So, it is not clear whether the adult male arriving with the acorns in in fact the father, or a distant relative from his colony. For more on Acorn Woodpeckers on Mt. Lemmon see this post: October 2019 on Mt Lemmon.
These images were captured in Cave Creek Canyon in Portal in late August. The riparian oak woodlands near the creek are perfect for this species.
Above, a male arrives with two acorns, caps still attached, much to the pleasure of a hungry juvenile.
Note that Acorn Woodpeckers eat other nuts as well as insects and other arthropods.
Now, let's go to Mt. Lemmon. . . .
This sequence reminds me of a Vaudeville act. The markings on the Acorn Woodpecker make all their antics more entertaining.
Now Enter the Steller's Jay . . . . .
Steller's Jays love peanuts, as we will see shortly, but in spite of their reputation for smarts*, on this day this bird seemed reluctant to try to get peanuts from the feeder. Although the Acorn pulled lots of peanuts from the feeder, the jay did not even sit on it. Jays may be cautious of new settings, especially related to food, a trait found in Common Ravens, one of their cousins.
For more on Common Ravens see The Mind of the Raven, Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-birds, by Bernd Heinrich. Caution: this is not a short read! I would start with the Afterword (p. 353) to get oriented and then look especially at Chapters 18-20 (Raven's Fears, Raven and Wolves in Yellowstone, and From Wolf-Birds to Human-Birds).
Below a Steller's Jay grabs a peanut from a small stash on a rock.
*see The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman, Penguin books 2016.
Most of the peanuts were hauled away intact for caching, but below we see a male or female (they look alike) cracking open a peanut shell and extracting the peanut.
Note that birds have tongues, but no teeth. Food that needs to be broken up or crushed needs to be done by the bill. Some birds have specialized bills, for example the Pyrrhuloxia has an angle to the bill (the culmen) creating a great nutcracker. For more on their specialized bills and comparison to the Northern Cardinal, see Patagonia, Arizona, February 2018.
In this case, it appears that the jay is increasing his food gathering efficiency by holding a shelled peanut in his throat, and a whole peanut in his bill. Similar behavior has been seen in Common Ravens, see Mind of the Raven, Chapter 25.
Stay tuned for more from Portal, AZ, in August, including hummingbirds and the tragicomedy of Northern Cardinals molting.
Happy Trails!
Author
Henry Johnson, photographer and author of this site. For more detail, see About
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