Summer Bird ID Thread PART 2

[mjs1973]

I took a field trip to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy yesterday. The trip was lead by Mike McDowell, a local birder and wildlife photographer. I have been wanting to make a trip here for a long time, but never had a good excuse to make the hour long drive, until this weekend. The field trip started at
7:30am, so I decided to get up early, and check out the place before hand. I was up @ 4:00, and at the conservancy by 5:30. I spent many hours just walking around and checking things out. I took a few pics before the field trip started, and more after it had ended. It was more of a birding field trip, so I regretfully left my camera in the truck during the tour, as I didn't know how many people would be there, and I didn't want my tripod to get in the way of other peoples ability to see. Turns out the group was pretty small and very informal, so it wouldn't have been a problem. We saw over 30 speicies of birds which I didn't think was too bad for my first "official" birding trip. After I left the Conservancy for the day, I went to Barns and Noble and finally picked up a Sibley's guide!!!!

Here is a list of what we saw, and a few pics from the trip.

1. Great Blue Heron
2. Turkey Vulture
3. Mallard Ducks
4. Canada Goose
5. Red-tailed Hawk
6. American Kestrel
7. Sandhill Crane
8. Mournig Dove
9. Chimney Swift
10. Eastern Wood-Pewee
11. Willow Flycatcher

12. Eastern Kingbird


13. Blue Jay
14. Barn Swallow
15. Tree Swallow
16. Sedge Wren
17. House Wren

18. American Robin


19. Gray Catbird

20. Cedar Waxwings


21. Yellow Warbler


22. Common Yellowthroat

23. Song Sparrow


24. Clay-colored Sparrow
25. Northern Cardinal

26. Dickcissle


27. Indigo Bunting


28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Brown-headed Cowbird
30. Common Grackle
31. American Goldfinch
32. House Finch
33.House Sparrow

34. Orchard Oriole (I think... could be a Baltimore, can you verify from the bad photo? It wouldn't stop preening, so this is the best shot I have. Once it stopped, it flew to a spot I couldn't see.)


Not sure about this one either. My guess is a fledgling Comon Yellow Throat, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

[paulnj]

Welcome to BIRDING!!!! You will be hooked instantly, so watch out!

These images are quite nice!

That is a male northern oriole and the fledgling is a very tough call, but I will say CYT or Yellow warbler or a vireo, or a chat or a...... I can't ID that

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the ID help Paul. I originally had it down as a Baltimore, but then changed it... Should have stuck with my first instict. We watched a CYT in almost the exact same spot as where I shot that fledgling, so that's what I'm leaning towards. I was hoping the adult would come out again, but never did.

[paulnj]

Oh snap! Dickcissel too! That fledgling could be any number of birds from that angle Believe me, I have seen many a yellow/CYT fledge a nest.

[Knight]

Nice series Mjs 1973 ever think of taking a monopod ? Im starting to carry one with me at times when a tripod would be in the way , its the next best thing to a tripod .

[mjs1973]

Nice series Mjs 1973 ever think of taking a monopod ? Im starting to carry one with me at times when a tripod would be in the way , its the next best thing to a tripod .

Thanks Knight. Yes, I have thought about a monopod, but haven't purchased one yet. It would be a lot less combersome, that's for sure.

[mjs1973]

Oh snap! Dickcissel too! That fledgling could be any number of birds from that angle Believe me, I have seen many a yellow/CYT fledge a nest.

There quite a few Dickcissel's in this area and I forgot all about them when I made my original post. They said that this year is the most Dickcissel's that they have ever had in this conservansy. I think everyone that showed up for the field trip was hoping to see one. They weren't dissapointed. There was one singing right next to the parking lot, and several others on both sides of the trail.

[Loupey]

That's quite a long list of bird species that you encountered. Great images too - I especially like the one of the Song Sparrow.

Sounds like you'll be visiting there again in the near future!

[quetzal]

Cool pics, I really like the Indigo Bunting. There's one around my area that i'm trying hard to capture, so far not much luck though. Good job......

[paulnj]

Buntings are a bit tough. My suggestion is to watch and study it's behavior. It should have a few favorite perches to call from(they are still calling near me as of today). Also, as I'm sure you know, 7am is a great time to find them feeding

Good luck

[kkraczek]

How about this one Paul?

[paulnj]

Well , I am going to say carolina chickadee unless you shot this up near me Where did you shott this anyway?

[kkraczek]

Portland, OR

[paulnj]

Then it's a mountain chickadee, but I can't see the white stripe above the eye

[kkraczek]

Does this help? (Warning- majorly cropped image!) :blush2:

[paulnj]

Different species and different tree too. This one is a chestnut backed chickadee.

Notice that this one has brown in it's back and belly

[kkraczek]

Ah, different tree, yes, but the same bird- I swear! I watched it fly from one tree to the next. Just blame my crappy editing for the color difference. ;)

[kkraczek]

How about this one... some kind of sparrow?

[paulnj]

Female redwinged blackbird

[kkraczek]

Aha, I learned something new today. So only the males are black.

[paulnj]

That's a blackbird alright, but I can't see wing patches.

Yes the males of the RW blackbirds are black.

[Lava Lamp]

Had a male painting land five feet from me for a few seconds this week. Here's the picture I managed to take.

[paulnj]

Dude that's the biggest RED X I have ever seen.

This is a joke right?

[Lava Lamp]

Dude that's the biggest RED X I have ever seen.

This is a joke right?

Yep, (lame) joke. Delete as you see fit.

[julsoph]

Michael, I love your song sparrow shot...that's great!

Emily