Ash-throated Flycatcher, Tucson Mountain Park, March 29, 2022. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 1250. We visited Tucson Mountain Park on January 6th, and I posted to this blog on the 21st. January has now given way to late March and the coming of spring to the Sonoran desert. For reference, below is a map of Tucson Mountain Park, a Pima County Park of ~20,000 acres to the west of Gates Pass. The park property includes Old Tucson (currently closed because of covid) and the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. On January 6th we went birding with Jeff Babson as part of a Pima County program at the Ironwood Picnic area, shown by the three orange squares (representing the locations of photographs) at the bottom of the map. On Tuesday March 29th we returned for another tour with Jeff, this time in the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic area, at the top left of the map, right next to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Both maps from Adobe Lightroom Classic CC. For the photo geeks: If your camera has a GPS chip (geolocator) you can stamp each image with the location, as well as the date and time. LR Classic CC has a mapping function that takes this information and maps where you took each photo. Note that the Canon R6 does not have a GPS chip (nor does the R5) but I have added a Canon accessory that fits on the hot shoe and does the same thing. The map below is an enlargement of the Juan Santa Cruz area, showing more the detail of our route on the 29th. The photograph below was captured by my wife, DJ, as we were driving into the park, coming down from Gates Pass. We see a forest of Saguaro cactus on acres of rolling desert, surrounded by mountains. We are fortunate that this is a county park. I captured the image below as we started our walk. The forecast was for rain all day long, with thunder storms. However, we got lucky and stayed dry while central Tucson got drenched! Our first sighting of the morning was a Turkey Vulture, recently returned from wintering in Mexico, looking for something dead, but not too rotten, for breakfast. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 1600. Next, our first big songbird sighting for the day was a . . . Ash-throated FlycatcherCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 1600. Ash-throated Flycatchers are songbirds (Order: Passeriformes) in the family Tyrannidae, also knows as Tyrant Flycatchers. All About Birds lists 32 species in the U.S. For their list and photographs click here: All About Birds: Tyrant Flycatchers. For more on the challenges of identifying members of this family, see Kenn Kaufman's book Field Guide to Advanced Birding, chapters 25 and 26, or for a short introduction, this web page Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tyrant Flycatchers. Ash-throated Flycatchers winter in coastal Mexico and Central America, breeding north into western Texas, SE Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and California. Year round populations live in Mexico and western Arizona. See the range map below from the Cornell website, All About Birds. This bird has likely arrived recently from Mexico either heading north, or here for breeding. They are desert dwellers, liking dry scrub and open woodlands from sea level up to about 9,000 feet. They will live near oak, juniper, pinyon pine, Joshua tree, yucca, palo verde, mesquite, acacia and ironwood. They nest in existing cavities in standing dead trees, or those created in prior seasons by woodpeckers. (Ref: All About Birds). Ash-throated Flycatchers eat spiders and insects of a wide range, including wasps and bees. They can also eat small fruits from cardon, saguaro and mistletoe. On the 29th we spotted this bird at some distance, moving very fast in the understory and foraging on the ground for insects. Ash-throated Flycatchers will also perch out in the open to find and catch insects on the fly. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 1250. Ash-throated Flycatchers are slender with a long tail, a peaked crown, and an ashy gray face with a whitish throat. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 5000. The 2 images below are not the sharpest, but show typical markings on the wings and tail. The primary feathers have cinnamon edges and the tail shows a cinnamon stripe that does not reach the tip of the tail. Males and females look similar. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 2000. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 8000. Black-throated SparrowCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 1000. Black-throated Sparrows are desert dwellers living year round in SE Arizona, as well as portions of California, Texas and much of Mexico. They prefer semiopen areas with evenly spaced shrubs and trees. They breed to our north into Nevada and Utah, nesting in shrubs often on the north or east side to maximize morning sun and afternoon shade. They eat insects and seeds. Like the flycatcher, this sparrow was busy foraging for food in the low understory. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 4000. Cactus Wren: Spring NestingCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 2500. Cactus Wrens are ubiquitous throughout the deserts of SE Arizona, and on this day we were surrounded by them on our walk along the road. It is March, and definitely nesting time. In the image below, we see two birds, possibly a breeding pain near one of the nests. Males and females look alike. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 2500. The female selects the nest site and begins building, with the male joining her to help out. The nests are built of coarse grass and plant fibers and lined with feathers. They have tunnel shaped entrances with very small openings to discourage predators. The nest below is between two Saguaro arms. (Ref: All About Birds). Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. We spotted this second nest, below, within a Cholla. In the second frame, one of the birds appears to be working on nest construction. In the third frame the bird's face is just barely apparent looking out at the camera. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 3200. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 2500. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 3200. Ravens: 2 Species in the Same Neighborhood . . .On April 4th we returned to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for their raptor free flight demonstration, which led off with 2 Chihuahuan Ravens. I could not resist taking some of those images and adding them to the Common Raven we saw on March 29th. Common RavenCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 6400. Common Ravens are, believe it or not, songbirds, in the order Passeriformes, family Corvidae. There are 16 species in this family in North America, including Ravens, Crows, Jays and Magpies. They are well known for their advanced problem solving skills and the ability to use tools to get at food. Other members of this family we see in SE Arizona include Steller's Jays, Mexican Jays, and seen here, the ravens. For more on taxonomy see All About birds, Browse by Taxonomy. Common Ravens live year round throughout Alaska, most of Canada and the western U.S., down into Mexico and portions of Central America. They will eat almost anything, including carrion. Their menu preferences provided by the Cornell website is too good to pass up. "Common Ravens will eat almost anything they can get hold of. They eat carrion; small animals from the size of mice and baby tortoises up to adult Rock Pigeons and nestling Great Blue Herons; eggs; grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions, and other arthropods; fish; wolf and sled-dog dung; grains, buds, and berries; pet food; and many types of human food including unattended picnic items and garbage." Common Ravens live in nearly any habitat. They do well around human populations, including farms and rural settlements. In more urban areas they may be replaced by American Crows. (Note that crows live nationwide in the U.S., but north of SE Arizona. ) They nest on cliffs, trees, power line towers, telephone poles, billboards, and bridges. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec., ISO 6400. This Common Raven was spotted on a snag not far from the road, and between us and the desert museum. They are large birds, described as massive on the Cornell website, with a thick neck, shaggy throat feathers, and a sharp beak. Chihuahuan Raven: Raptor Free Flight April 4, 2022Canon R6, RF 100-500 at 100mm, 1/4000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 500. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has 2 Chihuahuan Ravens in residence, both birds rescued and unable to be return to the wild. Chihuahuan Ravens are smaller than Common Ravens, with longer nasal bristles and white bases to the body feathers. These characteristics may be difficult to distinguish in the field, unless both species are side by side. 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. So, most of the ravens we see in and around Tucson are Common Ravens, with the Chihuahuan population more commonly seen out on the desert. In the image above, one of the ravens lands on a handler's glove, looking for some food. Below, the bird in profile. This bird has a radio tracking device in case he strays too far away, evident as the fine black line coming off of his back. Canon R6, RF 100-500 at 254mm, 1/4000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1600. Canon R6, RF 100-500 at 100mm, 1/4000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1250. In the images above and below we can see the primary and secondary feathers of the wings, the shape of the tail, and the length of the bill as the bird lands on the handler's glove. Canon R6, RF 100-500 at 254mm, 1/4000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1250. Canon R6, RF 100-500 at 254mm, 1/4000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1250. That's it for Tucson Mountain Park! More coming soon.
Happy Trails!
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Sora, San Pedro River, February 19, 2022. In late February we went back to the San Pedro River, and the San Pedro House, east of Sierra Vista, and not far from Tony and Julie Battiste's Bed, Breakfast, and Birds in Hereford. On the 19th we joined Julie Michael's Audubon morning tour which started at the historic house. We walked south through the adjacent fields on a portion of the San Pedro Trail, then east through a bosque to the San Pedro River and several adjacent ponds. Most of the birds were waaaay faaar awaaay, and not great subjects for photography. However, there were some up close and more amenable to capture, and here they are! Below is a map of the area and the two spots featured in this post, the San Pedro House and then Madera Canyon. Interstate 19 is to the far left of this map, with Green Valley in the upper left corner, and Madera Canyon just southeast. The San Pedro River shown on the far right of this map runs south to north, beginning in Mexico. The San Pedro House is just east of Sierra Vista, on the river. The orange dots are the location of images in this post. Map from LR Classic CC. San Pedro RiverThe San Pedro River facing south, winter 2022. There was not such water running on this day. This part of the river is good for flycatchers, more-so in the spring and summer. Note that the San Pedro is a vital river in Arizona, flowing north from Mexico into the U.S., creating a riparian corridor that is essential for the healthy ecology of the region and the lives of many species. One of the ponds adjacent to the river where we saw the Sora, below. SoraCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1000 sec, ISO 2000 The Sora is a rail in the order Gruiformes, along with other rails, Cranes, the trumpeters of South America, the finfoots and the Limpkin. Within that order, the Sora is in the family Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots). This family grouping is the one you will likely find in texts and field guides. (References: Kenn Kaufman, Lives of North American Birds, David Allen Sibley, The Sibley Guide to Birds, Roger Tory Peterson, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America). In these images we see the characteristic yellow bill and short cocked tail as our subject looks for food. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1000 sec, ISO 1600 The Sora is widespread and common across North America, wintering in SE Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and south into Mexico and South America. Distribution maps put their breeding north of Tucson from northern Arizona into Canada. Soras generally stay out of sight among the reeds, often calling with characteristic whistles and whinnies. Often heard, rarely seen. We were fortunate to catch this bird as he foraged for food, in and out of the reeds. Great Horned OwlCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1250 The Great Horned Owl is a year round resident of SE Arizona. They sleep during the day and hunt at night. The males and females look alike, except that the females often have brood patches on the chest/abdomen. We spotted this owl high in one of the trees near the river, and I caught it from two angles. In the image below there is a faint line down the chest indicating a possible brood patch, making this a female. For more on their nesting habits including brood patches, see my post from summer of 2020, The Owl and the Hummingbird . . . Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1000 sec, ISO 1600 Western Screech Owl: Where's Waldo?Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1250 Just south of the San Pedro House there is a tall tree with a resident Western Screech Owl. Can you see him in the photo above? Yup, lower right corner of the heart shaped opening in the tree, better detail in the photograph below. The Western Screech Owl is very well camouflaged; ideally dressed for hiding in this tree. Like the Great Horned Owl, the Western Screech hunts at night and sleeps during the day. They like their residence near the San Pedro House because of the ample supply of mice and small ground mammals which in turn are attracted by the feeder fare that gets scattered on the ground during the course of the day. The color and texture of the feathers really blends in with the tree bark. In the image below the owl is just barely opening his eyes. The Western Screech Owl lives in the west all the way from southern Alaska into central Mexico. It is similar in appearance to the Whiskered Screech Owl, which lives in Mexico and and just into SE Arizona, where their territories overlap. They can be distinguished by size, with the Western being larger, and some differences in coloration of the bill and iris, as well as their calls. Madera CanyonOn the February 25th I ventured to Madera Canyon with a group from Audubon led by Mary Ellen Flynn. We parked at the Proctor Road Parking Lot and walked up to the Santa Rita Lodge. As with the San Pedro River, our winter birds were very intermittent and far away, but here is a sample of what we saw. Hepatic TanagerCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec, ISO 10,000 The Hepatic Tanager is a songbird (Order: Passeriformes) in the Cardinalidae family, along with Cardinals, Pyrrhuloxia, Buntings, the Grosbeaks, and the Dickcissel. For more on the taxonomy, see the Cornell Lab website. Hepatic Tanagers live throughout the year in Mexico and Central America and all the way south to South America, and will breed in the SW United States in Arizona, New Mexico and portions of Texas. This male is likely "the first Tanager of spring" here in Arizona. Canon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/1000 sec, ISO 8000 The Hepatic Tanager shares its summer range in Arizona with the Summer Tanager. The two males look similar, except that the Hepatic Tanager has gray cheek patches (seen in these images) and a grayish back, whereas the Summer Tanager is entirely red, with the exception of dark markings on the wings. Bridled TitmouseCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec, ISO 3200 The Bridled Titmouse is in the same family as Chickadees (Chickadees and Titmice). Bridled Titmice (yes, the plural of Titmouse is Titmice!) live year round in northern Mexico, SE Arizona and western New Mexico. They are common in the lower canyons of the Arizona Mountains, moving in small flocks and chattering in the oaks as they search for insects. They are regulars in Madera Canyon. They will come to feeders, where they are good photographic subjects, but they are tougher to capture in the understory where they move quickly. These are small birds with a distinctive crest and face markings that are easier to illustrate with photographs than describe. Last image, below, in flight. Not sharp, but I could not resist; it is great to see birds in flight. Arizona WoodpeckerCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec, ISO 8000 The Arizona Woodpecker lives year round in pine-oak mountain woodlands of Mexico, with a northern range that just makes it into SE Arizona and western New Mexico. Males and females look similar except the male has a red patch on the back of the head, seen here. They are very well camouflaged, in these photos blending in nicely with the tree bark. Arizona Woodpeckers eat insects and forage off of bark or the ground. Here we see a typical position with feet spread out and the tail used as a support, for comfortable foraging up a tree trunk. They don't mind hanging upside down to go after food. Townsend's SolitaireCanon R6, RF 800mm f/11, 1/2000 sec, ISO 2500 The Townsend's Solitaire is a songbird (Order Passeriformes) in the family Turdidae, Thrushes and Allies, including Thrushes, Bluebirds, and Robins. Their range is the western half of North America, from central Mexico all the way up to Alaska, where they breed. They do live year round in Colorado and Utah and sections of northern New Mexico and Arizona, but are winter visitors here in SE Arizona. They are considered rare for Madera Canyon; this spotting was considered a find! The Townsend Solitaire has a long tail, a short bill, and a small rounded head. They are gray overall with a clear white eye-ring and buffy patches on the wings, a hint of which may be visible in the photograph above. Unlike other thrushes, they will perch upright atop trees and bushes to declare their territory. That all for now! Spring is here, and nesting is beginning. Stay tuned! Happy Trails! Male Pyrrhuloxia, Battiste Bed, Breakfast and Birds, Hereford, Arizona, February 15, 2022.
Tony has multiple feeders on the east side of his property along with a two seat photo blind, in addition to generous seating for non-photographers. The feeders have a natural appearance with a minimum of plastic and steel. He stocks the feeders at sunrise with seeds, nectar, and his own home made suet, which brings the birds in. Sitting in the blind you will notice the sun rising to your right, creating excellent lighting. During our two night stay, we found our most productive birding right in Tony's yard, as evidenced by the photos in this post. Below is a detail map of the location of Battiste Bed, Breakfast and Birds, (right at the square with "45" in the middle, from Adobe Lightroom). Fort Huachuca is off the map to the top and left, a 25 minute drive. Northern CardinalCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 sec, ISO 200. It is hard to find someone who does not like Northern Cardinals; after all, they are the state bird of 7 states in the U.S., and the name/mascot for multiple sports teams. They live year round throughout the east coast, west into the plains states, and southwest into Texas, and southern New Mexico and Arizona. The males derive their red color from carotenoids in their diet and don't molt into duller plumage during the year. After a snowfall, northerners commonly see a flash of red on white at their feeders. Northern Cardinals are songbirds (Order: Passiformes) in the Family Cardinalidae, along with 14 other species, including Pyrrhuloxia, Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Buntings. The male is red with black around the orange conical shaped bill. He sports a red crest. The birds we see here are enjoying Tony's special suet blend, and warming up in the sun. (It was in the 30's when I crawled into the blind). Below we see the female Northern Cardinal: same orange conical bill, grey to black around the bill, and the characteristic crest. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/9.0, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1600. Above and below, female Northern Cardinal enjoying breakfast. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 sec, ISO 640. PyrrhuloxiaCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1000. The Pyrrhuloxia is one of the 14 species in the Family Cardinalidae. They live year round in southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and into northern Mexico including the tip of Baja California. They have a distinctive crest, red and gray coloration, and a bill that is parrot-like with a curved culmen on the upper edge for cracking seeds. The image below is not the sharpest, but I love catching birds in flight when I can. The UFO to the lower right of the frame is part of a hummingbird feeder. For the photo geeks: note that the tail is still in focus as he flies into the distance, but nevertheless the viewers eye is drawn to the birds eye, which is not sharp, and makes this photo less an optimal. Oh, and the UFO. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1000. Two more shots of the male, below, sitting on a cactus, and in flight. In the image directly below, the grayish bill (in contrast to orange of the Cardinal) is evident along with the parrot like culmen. To my eye, these birds look a bit like small parrots. The inflight photo that follows is not sharp, but fun. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 5000. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 5000. The 5 images below show the female Pyrrhuloxia, same general characteristics as the male, but less red. To my eye, Pyrrhuloxia have a definite "cute factor" not shared by Cardinals. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 sec, ISO 640. Many thanks to Tony Battiste for his help with bird identification, especially the parrot-like bill in the Pyrrhuloxia. Yellow-rumped Warblers: Audubon's and Myrtle'sCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 2000.
The bird above at the lead and below is an Audubon's, with characteristic yellow "arm pits" , rump, and throat. The yellow on the rump is just barely visible. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 640. The Myrtle subspecies was visiting as well, seen in the images below as a group. The throat is white with a hint of yellow on the crest. Canon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1250. Mexican JayCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 640. The Mexican Jay is a song bird (Passiformes) in the Corvid family, one of 133 species in the family, along with jays, crows and ravens. Mexican Jays live communally in family groups of up to 25 individuals, and stay together throughout their lives. Their range is central mountainous Mexico up into SE Arizona and western New Mexico, and into very southern Texas. They are year round residents and regulars in birding hot spots such as Hereford and Madera Canyon. The Corvid family is known for its intelligence, including use of tools. For more on these remarkable birds, see the books by Jennifer Ackerman, The Genius of Birds (Penguin 2016) and The Bird Way (Penguin 2020), as well as the observations of the renowned scientist Bernd Heinrich, Mind of the Raven (HarperCollins 1999). These jays are quite tolerant of human activity, and will frequent feeders in groups. In the spring of 2018 we encountered a group foraging for nesting material in Madera Canyon. For more on that see Madera Canyon Early Spring 2018. Inca DoveCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1250.
Curve-billed ThrasherCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 sec, ISO 2000.
Northern MockingbirdCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1600.
The Northern Mockingbird continues to learn songs during its lifetime, and may end up with a repertoire of 200 songs. It lives throughout the continental U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. Diet consists of insects in the summer, with a switch to fruit in the fall and winter, explaining the bird's wide year round range. Gambel's QuailCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 800.
Cactus WrenCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f/7.1, 1/1800 sec, ISO 800. Let's finish with the Arizona State bird, the Cactus Wren.* The Cactus Wren is a desert dweller, living year-round in Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. The bird is well adapted to desert living, eating insects and fruit, and able to survive without drinking free-standing water. They are noisy, uttering a raw scratchy sound, as though they are trying to start on old Ford. They are visually stunning birds, and happy posing on the top of cacti in the sun, when they are not foraging for insects. *For readers interested in a full listing of all of the U.S. state birds, Wikipedia comes to the rescue: List of U.S. state birds. That's a wrap for Hereford and Battiste Bed, Breakfast and Birds! I have more in store from the San Pedro River and Madera Canyon, which I hope to get out in March. Happy Trails! Pied-billed Grebe. Canon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1000 sec, ISO 12800. Jan 18, 2022, 8:30 am. Sweetwater Wetlands is one of my favorite birding destinations in Tucson. It is just west of Interstate 10, between the Prince and Ruthrouff Exits. Built in 1996, the site holds reclaimed water from the adjacent treatment plant and allows recharge of the aquifer. It has become a valued nature preserve and outdoor classroom; it is rare to visit the wetlands and not see a host of wildlife. Let's start with the Green Heron. Tip for the photo geeks: I have included camera and setting information for each set of shots. Green HeronCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1000 sec, ISO 6400. Dec 22, 2022, 8:40 am.
The Green Heron lurks in or near reeds at the edge of the water looking for food. This bird was tough to spot between the reeds, but I did get the images below. He is staying very still and walking very carefully with his large feet, barely moving his body. In the image below he finds a new perch. Pied-billed GrebeCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1000 sec, ISO 8000. Jan 18, 2022, 8:30 am. Grebes are among my favorite birds. They are a worldwide family of diving water birds. The family, Podicipedidae, is the only family in the order Podicipediformes. So, one order, one family, 22 species internationally, with 7 of them in North America. To my eye, the Pied-billed Grebe looks like Ernie's rubber ducky, only it is not a duck, it is not made of rubber, and yes, is not yellow! Details, details! Grebes' feet are way back close to their tail, with lobed toes. They are excellent divers, and will often swim some distance under water before surfacing. However, the rear placement of the feet make walking on land very difficult, so they are generally seen only in the water. They are good fliers, breeding up as far north as Canada, and wintering as far south as southern Mexico, but generally don't fly short distances within their territory. This is a non-breeding adult resting between dives. Breeding adults have a distinct black vertical stripe on the bill. Pied-billed Grebes will eat what is available, consuming a large variety of crustaceans, fish, and in our region, frogs.
Yellow-rumped Warblers: Audubon and MyrtleAudubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler. Canon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/2000 sec, ISO 12800. Jan 4, 2022, 10 am. Yellow-rumped Warblers are one species of bird with two distinct subspecies: Audubon's with a yellow throat, gray head and breast, as seen above and in the three images below, and the Myrtle subspecies which follows those. The Audubon's subspecies lives in the mountain west, breeding to our north, and wintering in Mexico. They live year round in SE Arizona. The Myrtle subspecies is of the eastern U.S. and boreal forests of Canada. They overlap in the Rockies, with varying markings. Yellow-rumped Warblers are common visitors during the winter, in part because their digestive tract can handle both insects, their main diet, and fruit, a valuable alternative then the bug population declines in the winter. Note that other warblers, like the Red-faced Warbler and the Painted Redstart, summer with us but head south to Mexico in the winter because of their strictly insect diet. Canon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1250 sec, ISO 8000. Jan 4, 2022, 10 am. For the Audubon, we see the yellow throat, a broken white eye-ring, yellow under the wings (aka "arm pits") and a yellow rump. Because of the yellow rump, these birds are commonly referred to as "butter-butts." The Yellow-rumped Warbler, Myrtle, is shown in the 4 images that follow. We still see the yellow rump and arm pits, but with a white throat and pale breast and a white "eyebrow" . Both subspecies have a yellow spot on the head. Canon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1600 sec, ISO 2500. Jan 18, 2022, 9:12 am. When we visited Cape May, New Jersey, in October 2021 we saw many Myrtle's. The Myrtle's we see here could be a migrant that flew too far west on his way south, or an intermediate hybrid from the Canadian Rockies where the two subspecies ranges overlap. Reference: The Cornell Lab All About Birds. Red-naped SapsuckerCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/500 sec, ISO 2500, Jan 4, 2022, 10:16 am. Red-naped Sapsuckers are woodpeckers, one of the 14 species we see in Arizona. They drill really small holes in the tree bark of aspen, birch and willow to get at the sap with their tongues. They also eat insects from leaves and on the fly, as well as fruit. Many woodpecker names, like the sapsuckers, reflect their diet and behavior, such as the Acorn Woodpecker a year round resident on Mt Lemmon and prime consumer of local acorns. Red-naped Sapsuckers breed in the western Rocky Mountains and winter in southern Arizona, New Mexico and Canada. From The Cornell Lab website All About Birds: "Red-naped Sapsuckers are black and white overall with a red cap, nape, and throat. They have a long white bar on the folded wing. A black stripe through the eye is bordered by white stripes. The belly is mottled black and white, with a dingy or yellowish cast. Female Red-naped Sapsuckers have a white patch on the chin while males have entirely red chins. Juveniles have a brown cap and an overall brown wash on their belly and head." It is difficult to see the nape in these shots, although we get a hint of it in the image below. This definitely looks like a male. VerdinCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/500 sec, ISO 1600. Jan 12, 2022, 9:30 am. Verdin's are small songbirds of the Southwest, with a yellow head and rufous patch on the wing that is not always evident. They are regulars at Sweetwater Wetlands, where they build multiple nests, spherical ones for the family, and flat ones just to hang out, usually during the winter. For more details, and more photographs, see my Winter Review 2020. It is always fun to see a Verdin at SWW. A bit like running into an old friend! Song SparrowCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1000 sec, ISO 2500, Jan 18, 2022, 9:30 am. The Song Sparrow is one of our year round residents who favors a low understory with water nearby, making SWW an ideal location. They eat insects and other invertebrates in the summer, and seeds and fruit year round, giving them more flexibility for their range than birds with more limited diets. This bird was perched close to the end of one of the viewing platforms, at eye level, singing. After grabbing a few still shots, I converted to video to try and capture the song. There is some camera shake (sorry!) and background noise from Interstate 10, as well as another bird song which could be another Song Sparrow. However, with the help of the editing features in iMovie, this novice videographer was able to put together the following clip. Canon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), MP4 video, edited in iMovie. Harris's HawkCanon R6, RF 800 mm prime, f/11 (fixed), 1/1600 sec, ISO 1600. Jan 18, 2022, 9 am. Harris's Hawks do not migrate, they live year round in their territory, including SE Arizona and Texas, as well as areas of Mexico all the way to southern South America. They are among the most social of raptors, usually hunting in pairs or groups as large as 7. Harris's Hawks have a relative ease with humans, and are popular among falconers and for education programs. They fly regularly at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum Raptor Free flight program. This bird is often seen at SWW on a high branch, alone. This image shows the hawk's characteristic dark brown and chestnut red markings, with yellow legs and yellow markings on the face. Cooper's HawkCanon R6, RF 100-500 mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec, ISO 2500, Jan 12, 2022, 10:25 am. Cooper's Hawks are common throughout the United States, including Tucson. Here we see two Cooper's, above and below, likely a male and a female showing white feathers toward the tail, displayed during breeding. The sexes look alike, the only difference is that females are larger and heavier than males, a characteristic common in raptors. It is likely that females need the extra weight in order to carry eggs and still compete for food for themselves, and then gather food for the offspring once hatched. The Cooper's Hawk is in the order Accipitriformes along with ospreys, hawks, eagles, kites, and vultures. There are 4 families within this order, with the Cooper's being in the family Accipitridae. Within this family there are several genera, with the Cooper's being Accipiter cooperii. Another species in this genus is the Sharp-shinned Hawk, very similar in appearance. For more on the distinction between these two species, see my recent post Cape May Fall Migration, Part 2. Buteo is another genus in the family Accipitridae, and includes common hawks we see in SE Arizona, the Red-tailed, Zone-tailed, Swainson's, and Ferruginous, among others. So, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned are commonly referred to as Accipiters, and Red-tailed and Zone-tailed as Buteos, after their respective genera. In the field these two genera look and fly differently, with Accipters flapping and gliding, and Buteos commonly soaring. Both of these Cooper's Hawks were very close to the walking path and very tolerant of people. That's all for now. Spring is coming, and with it migration and nesting. Stay tuned!
Happy Trails! Hooded Merganser taking off, Agua Caliente Park, December 28, 2021 It is winter in SE Arizona. The days are shorter, the sun lower in the sky. Our summer avian residents have departed for warmer and buggier regions to our south, but our year round birds are still here, along with migrating flocks from the north. We will see ducks on the ponds and tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes at White Water Draw, southeast of Tombstone. Let's start our winter birding at Tucson Mountain Park, just west of Tucson and very close to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Next we will travel east through Tucson to the foot of the Rincon Mountains at Agua Caliente Park. Tucson Mountain Park: January 6, 2022Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation runs many programs including outdoor nature walks, many centered around birds. On the 6th we joined Jeff Babson at Tucson Mountain Park, map below. Tucson Mountain Park was established in April 1929. At 20,000 acres, the park is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a local government in the U.S. The park territory includes Old Tucson (toward the center of the map above and temporarily closed), and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (seen in the upper left corner of the map). We met up with Jeff and our birding group on Hal Gras Road, at the first ramada, seen in the lower middle of the map, and walked down the road, map detail shown below. Note that both maps come from Lightroom Classic CC. I have geolocation tags on all the photographs taken on the 6th. The map below shows the number of shots by location in the colored call-out squares. This whole region is spectacular. It was a beautiful morning, with the winter sun rising to the southeast. Curve-billed ThrasherMany of the birds we spotted were far, far away, out of camera range, but a few were up close against the rising sun. Here we see a Curve-billed Thrasher sitting in a cholla. In the image below he is taking off with a leap. Curve-billed Thrashers are about the size of a Robin, and reminiscent of a Mocking Bird, but a bit bulkier, with a decurved (curved down) bill. They are year round residents of most of Mexico and southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Their strong legs and long decurved bill provide good tools for hunting insects in the desert terrain. As we see here, they are right at home in a cholla cactus. (Reference: All About Birds). They build bulky nests of twigs 3-5 feet from the ground, often in cholla cactus. For more on nesting, see my post from 2017. Canyon TowheeThe Canyon Towhee is a large sparrow with a thick bill and a long tail. They are year round residents of Mexico and portions of southern Arizona, New Mexico and SW Texas. They spend their days on the ground and in small desert shrubs eating mostly seeds as well as berries and some insects. Their preference for seeds, and ability to eat insects, provides enough dietary variety to allow them to stay in one place throughout the year. For the photo geeks: Balancing exposure on the backlit cholla was tricky. In the new version of Adobe Lightroom Classic CC I have the option of asking LR to choose the subject, which it did pretty well. I then increased the exposure of the bird without blowing out the nice highlights on the cholla needles. Cactus WrenThe Cactus Wren, like the Canyon Towhee and Curve-billed Thrasher, is a year round resident of the deserts of SE California, southern Arizona and New Mexico as well as southern Texas and the low lying deserts of Mexico including Baja California. They eat mostly spiders and insects but also fruit. They get the majority of water from the food they eat, rarely drinking standing water, a real survival advantage for desert dwellers. Agua Caliente ParkAs a segue to Agua Caliente Park, I could not resist adding the image below of a Cactus Wren captured at Agua Caliente on January 19th, just to the east of the parking lot sitting on a cholla cactus. Agua Caliente Park is on the east side of town in the Tanque Verde Valley, just east of Soldier Trail off of Roger Road. For more on the park and its colorful history see my post from 2016 Agua Caliente Park . . . Note that the county continues to offer bird walks in 2022 but the schedule varies. See the county website for times and to sign up: Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation. Hooded MerganzerHooded Mergansers are small crested ducks that live throughout the U.S. and southern Canada, residing year round east of the Mississippi, and gracing our ponds during the winter. Each year we are lucky to have a few here in Tucson, and this year at least one male has been spotted at Agua Caliente. They have striking crests and markings seen in these images above and below. Hooded Mergansers dive in ponds for fish, crustaceans, amphibians, mollusks, insects and vegetation, catching their food in their thin serrated bills. They are cavity nesters, favoring tree cavities 10 to 50 feet off of the ground. The offspring leave the nest at one day, managing the fall to the ground, where mom walks them to the nearest body of water where swimming and diving begins right away. This breeding cycle favors climates with tall trees near water, consistent with their year round range east of the Mississippi, the Pacific northwest and Canada. They also nest in tree boxes, helpful in areas where tall trees have been lost. The photograph below is a female Hooded Merganser at Agua Caliente a year ago, January 26, 2021. The female has a gray/brown body with a cinnamon crest. PhainopeplaPhainopeplas are silky flycatchers and regulars at Agua Caliente. For more on these birds, checkout this post from 2016 Late Fall in Tucson, and this post on nesting in the spring: Fast Food for Phainopepla Hatchling . . The males are quite striking in the morning sun. They catch insects on the wing, favoring high perches, a real plus for birders and photographers alike. Gila WoodpeckerGila Woodpeckers are year round residents of the desert southwest, from southern Arizona south into mainland Mexico and Baja California. They eat insects, small vertebrates and berries. Above is a female looking for breakfast, below is a male sitting on top of a Saguaro. The males sport a red cap which we can see in the morning sun. Gila Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, and regulars in the Saguaros of the southwest. For more on this species in SE Arizona, see this page: Gila Woodpecker. Vermilion FlycatcherThe Vermilion Flycatcher is one of 37 species of Tyrant Flycatchers in the Family Tyrannidae, Order Passeriformes. They are regular residents of SE Arizona, with a range south into Mexico, Central and South America. They are beautiful birds, easy to spot and fun to watch as they feed. The male spends much of his time perched, looking for insects and running a route that often includes one or more perches. The male's bright color and hunting habits make him easy to photograph - although so much red in bright sun is a challenge in post-production processing. This male looks a bit fluffed up against the morning chill. Anyone with a down quilt knows that feathers are great for insulation. For more photographs of Vermilion Flycatchers, see this link Vermilion Flycatchers Mt Lemmon AZ Images. Gray FlycatcherThe Gray Flycatcher, like the Vermilion, is in the family Tyrannidae, but in a separate genus, Empidonax, also known as Empids. Members of this genus are very similar in appearance, and often difficult to distinguish one from the other. Their distinctive characteristics are generally range, habitat, and call, the latter varying by season. During winter and migration, when birds are more silent, it may be impossible to tell certain species apart. Another empid we see in SE Arizona is the Cordilleran Flycatcher, which is almost identical to the Pacific Slope Flycatcher, except for range and mating calls. For more on how to identify flycatchers, see Kenn Kaufman's definitive volume, Field Guide to Advanced Birding, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011, p 344. Gray Flycatchers are described on the Cornell site as "grayish above, whitish below, with a thin, pale eye-ring. Darker wings and tail with two grayish wingbars. The bill is mostly pinkish or yellowish below, usually with a blackish tip." The Gray Flycatcher can be distinguished by the downward flicking of the tail, in contrast to the upward flicking of their fellow empids. Gray Flycatchers eat mostly insects in the understory, hunting from a perch, taking insects from the air as well as from the ground. They may also eat small fruits during the winter months. As always, my thanks to Jeff Babson for his help in identification. Black PhoebeBlack Phoebes have sooty black bodies and crisp white bellies. Unlike the empids, this bird is not hard to identify. They live year round in the western Americas from northern California into southern South America. They eat insects and other arthropods from low perches, usually near water. They will run a route, repeatedly going from perch to perch harvesting their food. The photograph above was captured near the western pond. Photo tip: Quietly observe a Black Phoebe for a while, and you will likely see it move from perch to perch repeatedly. Set up in a location with a good view of one or more perches, and routes, maximizing the light and background. Set your shutter speed on the high side, above 1/1000 sec, and wait to catch this fun bird on his rounds. You will likely be close to a stream and may need bug repellant. The two images below were captured at White Water Draw in December of 2019. In the second image the bird is taking off, likely spotting an insect and hanging on tight until his wings get a bite of the air to then spring forward toward the prey. That's all for now. Stay tuned, more winter birding coming soon. It is a great time to be out and enjoy the desert! Happy Trails! This is the last part of the 4 part series on Cape May. We finish up our trip with a morning at Avalon Beach, on the eastern shore of New Jersey, just a short drive north of Cape May. A popular site for vacation homes with beautiful beaches, today we were looking for birds. The long boat for the lifeguards is at the ready but fortunately not in use. In the afternoon we take a tour boat to the Rips, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay. The currents and resulting shoals attract fish and the birds that eat them. Black-backed Gulls, Great and LesserGreat Black-backed Gull, salt marsh. We saw the Great Black-backed gull above on the salt marsh tour (Part 2), and here at Avalon we see them again, but at the shoreline. We get the help of our guide, Andy Jones, whose voice you can hear over the surf in the short video below. The Great Black-backs are standing at the water's edge picking at a small shark when a Lesser Black-backed Gull walks in front of the group. The Great Black-backed is the largest species of gull in the world. They have stout bodies, thick necks, broad wings, and a heavy slight bulbous bill. The Lesser Black-backed gull is smaller, with a grayish back as noted by Andy in the video, with legs closer to yellow, in contrast to the Great Black-back's pink legs. (Reference: The Cornell Lab All About Birds) In the images below we see the Great Black-backed Gull picking at the shark. The image below is a Lesser Black-backed in flight. The yellow legs are evident. Forester's Tern ReduxIn Part 2 we saw this tern on the salt marsh boat tour (picture above), and I promised another round of terns at Avalon Beach, images below, in flight over the surf. Another Bald Eagle, Juvenile this time . . .We saw a mature Bald Eagle steal a fish from an Osprey at the Hawk Watch in Part 1. Here we spot a juvenile in the air over the beach. Juveniles have mottled brown wings and tail. It will take up to 5 years for a juvenile to reach adult plumage, and the birds may not begin to mate until 6 years of age. Bald Eagles live between 15 and 30 years, with the oldest recorded at 38 years. (Ref: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). What is a trip to "the Rips"?The Rips are the area of shoals off off of the southern tip of Cape May where the water of the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Rips is an area of shoals where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay, not far from the ferry line, as shown above. The mixing of currents creates the shoals, basically large sandbars. The shoals in turn create large waves or swells. Fish will concentrate in this area, making it a good place for fishermen, be they two legged in fiberglass boats, or two winged with feathers. And of course, if there are birds, there are birders! The water can be treacherous, especially in the fall. We were on a solid steel vessel with a skilled skipper. Nevertheless, it was a rough ride at times. Below, a view of the southern tip of Cape May, with a view of the convention center, and the line of hotels, including ours, on the beach. The Cape May Lighthouse, not far from the Hawk Watch Platform. Great CormorantWe have seen the Double-crested Cormorant, perched in Post 2 and in flight in Post 3. Here we see another species, the Great Cormorant, perched on navigational hardware adjacent to the channel. The Great Cormorant is larger than the Double-crested Cormorant, and sports a white throat and yellow chin. The Double-crested Cormorant has a dark throat and orange chin. The Great Cormorant above is likely a juvenile, with mottled breast. The bird below looks darker, and is likely older. Double-crested Cormorants, in flightDouble-crested Cormorants will travel in large flocks, seen here over the beach at Avalon on the morning of the 17th. And, they like to fly next to boats . . . .The trip to the Rips was great, but the number of photo-ops was limited due to the distances involved (the birds were really far away) combined with the movement of the boat. Imagine holding your camera and a 500 mm zoom lens steady while balancing on a bongo-board! However, there was a great opportunity to "fly" in tandem with a Double-crested Cormorant who was following the boat. Above and below we see the bird working hard to get into the air, my guess is trying match the boat speed which was less than full flight speed. This bird was hopping on the water for quite some time and distance. We get good views of the wing and feathers as well as the use of the feet and tail. In the images that follow, our companion is airborne . . . . Below he decides to hit the water again. Perhaps he has seen some fish, and wants to come back down. Feet and tail come down, then the tail flairs to increase drag and decrease speed. Tail drags above, with landing below. We have reached the end of the day. time to head back to port. The sun is setting to the west, and we are followed by a congregation of shorebirds looking for food. Well, that's a wrap for Cape May! A birding hotspot almost any time of year. I hope you have enjoyed these posts. Best wishes for 2022! More to come in January: winter birding in SE Arizona! Happy Trails! Brown-headed Nuthatch, Henlopen State Part, October 16, 2021. In the last 2 posts we have been in Cape May, New Jersey; this post covers our one day excursion to Lewes (pronounced lew-es) Delaware, to explore Cape Henlopen State Park and Fort Miles. In the photo below, shot with my trusty iPhone, a sharp eye can see that we are lined up for the ferry at 6:40 am, after a breakfast stop at Wawa. The sun was rising as we made the crossing to Lewes. The map below comes from Lightroom, and shows the location for most of the images I captured in this 4 part series on Cape May. Cape Henlopen is almost due south of Cape May, with Delaware Bay to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The ferry has a lot of room at 7 am, pick any deck chair you want! I was struck by the early morning cloud formation above. It Looks a bit like the pelicans in flight we will see on our way back. Double-crested Cormorant in flightBirds like to follow boats underway likely looking for food. If you have a camera with a long lens, riding a ferry is a great chance to capture birds in flight. They often move at about the same speed as the ferry, depending on the species. Shooting from an upper deck will likely put you eye to eye with your subject. And, as always, light is so important, and the sun at 8 am on this Saturday was cooperating. In Part 2 of this series, we saw Double-crested Cormorants perched on pilings in the salt marsh. In flight they retain the slight curvature to the neck, which we see here. Cape Henlopen State ParkWe landed at the Lewes Ferry Terminal, and drove into the park at the north side. The park runs north to south along the beach from the northern tip of the cape to Gordon's Pond to the south seen at the bottom right of the map above. The northern part of the park has walking paths with great trees and understory and the Fort Miles Historical Area. On busy weekends watch out for bicyclists and skateboarders. Brown-headed NuthatchBrown-headed Nuthatches live year round in the SE U.S. from eastern Texas south to Florida and as far north as Cape Henlopen. This bird was tough to spot and photograph, hopping in the understory, managing to always keep leaves and branches between himself and my lens. Here are two of my best shots. Brown-headed Nuthatches favor pine forests, present at Cape Henlopen. Note that many of these trees are invasive Japanese Black Pines planted by the Army in WW II to camouflage the military installation. There is an active program to remove them and allow native plant species to recover, restoring the ecosystem to its prior self. In the interim this nuthatch is enjoying the insects that live on the trees. For more on the nuthatches we see in Arizona (Pygmy, White-breasted and Red-breasted), see this post from The Meadow Trail on the top of Mt Lemmon, September 25, 2021. In the image below we see one of the many walkways in the northern end of the park, with a view between the trees across the beach and toward the Atlantic. The trees shown here are likely the invasive Japanese Black Pine, slated for removal. Golden-crowned KingletGolden-crowned Kinglets breed throughout southern Canada and winter in the U.S., with some year round presence in the western states. The range map puts them in Arizona, but mostly north of Tucson and SE Arizona. They favor the upper reaches of firs and spruces making them hard to spot. They eat mainly insects present under conifer bark and in the tips and tufts of the needles. Gordon's PondAt the southern end of the park is Gordon's Pond, with excellent pathways and viewing platforms. From the platform, shown below, we got a good look at the pond and the beach to the east. If you look across the pond to the beach, you will see two cement watch towers facing the Atlantic, close up below. These towers were built at the beginning of WW II, from 1939 to 1942 to spot Nazi warships, especially U-boats off the U.S coast. A series of towers could phone in data on enemy positions to the massive gun emplacements along the coast, including Ft. Miles, and help direct shells to their targets. Designed to last 20 years, the towers are still standing, and some are being restored. Below is a photograph of the graphic the park has displayed on the trail. For more on the towers, and historic preservation projects, see this link. Juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flightWe saw a Peregrine Falcon with prey in Part 2. Here we see a juvenile Peregrine in flight. Note the long wings with long pointed primary feathers and long tail. Peregrines average 25-34 mph in traveling flight, up to 69 mph in direct pursuit of prey. They can dive from a height of over 1/2 mile, reaching maximal speeds of 200 mph. The television program NOVA produced a recent episode on how Peregrines, once endangered by DDT, now thrive in Chicago, where they dive from skyscrapers for prey. Ferry back to Cape MayWe headed back to Cape May late in the day, as the sun was setting, and as a storm was rolling in from the west. Again, we found birds accompanying us back to New Jersey. Brown Pelican in flightBrown Pelicans are another species almost eliminated by DDT. They have made an excellent comeback, now living in coastal areas from the Pacific Northwest down to South America in the west, and New England down to the Caribbean in the east. They cruise in squadrons above the surf, plunge-diving from high up, with a slight leftward twist to the neck to protect their esophagus and trachea which lay to the right. They use the force of impact to stun fish before scooping them up in their pouch. This bird cruised next to us for some time, likely looking for a handout. This is likely a non-breeding adult. A juvenile would have a grayer bill. And, an approaching storm . . . .We expected rain to come in on Saturday night, and right on time, a front from the west began to move east as we left Delaware. The panoramic view above shows the storm to the right, and below we can see the bottom of storm cells to the west and north. We beat the storm to the harbor, the rain arriving just as we landed at Cape May That's all for now. Stay tuned for Part 4, a trip to Avalon Beach, just north of Cape May, and a rock'n roll boat trip to the Rips! Happy Trails! Norther Flicker, yellow-shafted, over Higbee Beach during the sunrise bird count, October 15, 2021. For Part 2, we are still in Cape May, New Jersey, this time catching the sunrise bird count at Higbee Beach, where there is a two story viewing platform and a raised berm between the beach and the inland understory. After a midday visit to the annual Audubon Festival, we tour the salt marsh in the afternoon. [Full disclosure: We really toured the salt march on Thursday the 14th, and the morning watch on the 15th, but I have applied some "literary license" to keep a sunrise to sunset theme, and get the high points of the trip into 4 posts.] Sunrise at Higbee Beach
Sharp-shinned HawkThe rising sun caught this Sharp-shinned Hawk cruising overhead at 7:13 am. For those of us from SE Arizona, the "Sharpie" is an unusual sighting, we see more Cooper's on the prowl. However, at Cape May, Sharp-shinned Hawks are very common. The images above and below show some key characteristics of the Sharp-shinned that distinguish it from the Cooper's. The Sharp-shinned has a squared off tail, clearly evident here, where the tail of the Cooper's is rounded. Second, the Sharp-shinned will often fly with the leading edge of the wing at or in front of the head, a characteristic not seen during flight of the Cooper's Hawk. This trip confirmed what every wildlife photographer knows, that the best images are captured in early morning or late afternoon light. The time window is narrow. It does not take long for the sun to get high in the sky. In addition, as every birder knows, activity is higher is the morning. In our case, night time migrants are scrambling for land as the sun rises, and looking for breakfast. Yellow-billed CuckooThis Yellow-billed Cuckoo was sitting on as branch waaaay in the distance in the understory, but I was able to catch a few good images. Here is the best. Yellow-billed Cuckoo's are members of the family Cuculidae, the sole family in the order Cuculiformes. Among the cuckoo species, residents of SE Arizona are most familiar with the Roadrunner. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo breeds in the eastern U.S. and parts of Mexico and winters in South America. My guess is that this bird is migrating south. They have long slender tails with bold white spots, seen here, and are commonly perched in deciduous woodlands looking for caterpillars. We were lucky to spot this bird perched in the morning light at 8:15 am. Common Yellow-throatThe Common Yellowthroat is one of our most abundant warblers, breeding throughout the U.S., living year round in the southeast U.S., and breeding in Mexico and Central America. Cape May is right at the edge of their year round territory, so this bird could be migrating, or a local catching all the fuss of the Audubon Festival and getting some breakfast to boot! Northern Flicker, Yellow-shaftedNorthern Flickers are large woodpeckers who spend most of their time on the ground eating ants and beetles. In the west we see the red-shafted subspecies, and in the east, the yellow shafted as shown in the portrait above. It is hard to catch them in flight, but at 8:30 am I caught the bird below in flight, showing his feathers. You will see flashes of yellow, the color of the feather shaft, and a white rump. The red nape is characteristic of the male. In this series of images we see a good example of intermittent flight an energy saving strategy. Small to medium sized birds will employ flap-bounding, consisting of active flapping to gain altitude followed by brief "bounds" when the wings are flexed against the body. Mathematical models suggest that flap-bounding offers savings in energy expenditure during fast flight at maximum range speed or faster. The wings when flexed will maintain some lift. Flap-bounding becomes less efficient as the bird's body mass increases, hence we see it more commonly in small to medium sized birds. The alternative strategy is Flap-gliding which is more efficient at slow to intermediate speeds. (Reference: Lovett and Fitzpatrick, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology, Third Edition, 2016, pp. 161-162). This bird was in a hurry to get somewhere, and calling at the same time. The yellow feather shafts and white rump are quite evident in this series. The bird in the images that follow are likely a different Northern Flicker flying toward me, in the direction of the Delaware Bay, employing the Flap-bound strategy. The "bound" looks like he is riding a boogie board in the air! For the photo geeks: October 14, 2021, 8:45 am. Canon R5 with RF 100-500 lens at 500 mm., f/7.1, 1/2000 second (faster would have been better), ISO 1000, shot at + 1 1/3 stops to the right (1 1/3 EV) to compensate for the bright milky sky. OspreyIn the first post of this series, we saw an Osprey do battle with a Bald Eagle over a fish. The eagle got the fish, no big surprise. Here we see another Osprey carrying a fish in typical head first position, likely a preference to reduce drag in flight. Ospreys are widespread throughout North America, breeding in the Pacific Northwest, sections of Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana as well as sections of the east coast. Cape May is one of their prime breeding spots. They winter in the southern U.S. coastal areas, as well as coastal Mexico and Central America. They are unique among North American raptors for their diet of live fish and the ability to dive into the water as far as 3 feet deep to catch them. Swamp SparrowSwamp Sparrows breed in central and eastern Canada and winter in the U.S. south of the Middle Atlantic states and east of the Mississippi River. They have a year round presence in New Jersey, so our bird here could be a migrant or a local. They live in bogs, swamps, marshes, and wet brushy meadows, making Cape May an ideal habitat. Note: most of the images above were captured from the top of the two story observation tower, which puts puts observers at the height of the upper understory, and provides a good view of the sky and horizon. Audubon FestivalOur week in Cape May coincided with New Jersey Audubon's Cape May Fall Festival, October 14th-17th. This year the festival was back in person after a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic. We attended a talk on sparrow identification, and perused the exhibits, with the various vendors being back in force. Next year the festival will be October 13-16, 2022. More information will be available in summer of 2022. . |
AuthorHenry Johnson, photographer and author of this site. For more detail, see About
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