Bird ID summer 06

[c.j.]

Roadrunner and Young

Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus

It's 'The Dude' feeding the adolescent. (Limper is already sitting on the next brood.) He gradually gets them used to coming near the house to mooch hamburger. Once they feed directly from me, it is his sign that they are to be driven from his territory. He is brutal in delivering the message.

They were in the shadows, so the photo doesn't 'pop', but, it is good for id!

[Loupey]

2 grab shots from earlier today for ya.

[paulnj]

that's a male eastern towhee and a male red-bellied woodpecker .

[Mike T]

Here's a few from today. Just went out to take a walk today, my last few times out I was after a few different birds today was just a take whatever I see day.
Mike

[paulnj]

OMG.... Where did you shoot that least sandpiper(atleast that's what it looks like)? That is a rediculously early migrant!

Those waxwings and grosbeak are sweet!

[mjs1973]

I was reading on a birding blog earlier this week that the fall migration (if you can call it fall in July!) has already started for some shore birds. I had no idea birds started heading south this early, but then again, I'm pretty new to all this bird stuff.

Here is a quote from Mike McDowell's blog:
It begins with shorebirds. It's already been a few weeks since the first Least Sandpipers left their nesting grounds in Canada. Isn't it hard to believe that fall migration is underway? On the Wisconsin Birding Network reports are coming in...a Sanderling at Ashland and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Horicon National Wildlife Reserve. Yesterday morning on my way to work I stopped by a drainage pond along Woodland Drive and found several Least Sandpipers, a few Solitary Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and a Wilson's Phalarope - all southbound migrants headed for destinations to the southern United States or further on to Central and South America.

[paulnj]

Sandlingsand buff breasted nest well within the arctic circle on the islands off the NW territories close to greenland Least/ pectoral nest in the NW territories,Wilson's phalarope nests in Wisconsin, lesser yelowlegs nest the top half of ontario and solitaries are just over the bourder. Wisconsin should see early migrants a few weeks before NJ due to latitude and flight paths(more go through there). I would say Mike took these in NORTHERN NJ far from vast farming areas(southern nj) and large bodies of shallow tidal pools(ocean) . One area does come to mind up there, but it's actually in orange county NY(just over the state line) which BTW is where ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPER is

Mike always seems to find early birds!!!!

[Mike T]

OMG.... Where did you shoot that least sandpiper(atleast that's what it looks like)? That is a rediculously early migrant!

Those waxwings and grosbeak are sweet!

I don't see shore birds that often but by the picture and size I had the ID as the Least Sandpiper. It was a very small bird, there was a sparrow on the green stuff and they were about the same size. I took all of these at Hyper Humus.

Mike

[paulnj]

Yeah that is the other place up north that would have "peeps" in migration(if it's what I am thinking of atleast). BTW... That place is on fire from what I here in the spring (may) with rails, herons and bitterns , but I've never been there.

[Loupey]

The first one - don't know if it is another red-bellied woodpecker or not. The coloration of the head seems different.

Second one - very pretty male. Female (also in the shot) is drab.

[paulnj]

That's a female red-bellied, the last was a male .

As for your indigo buntings, the other one looks like a young bird. notice it's pretty light in the chest. My local park has (no kidding) 100 young buntings being fed by their parents !

Here's a fledgling indigo bunting.... flash died, IS was off and shot at 400mm 1/125th handheld.. who's the dummy who turned off my IS

[Loupey]

Thanks for the quick reply, Paul.

I saw a blue flash past me so I was determined to get a shot of it for an ID. They are gorgeous. I'm told there are bluebirds here so I'm on a hunt for them now.

Now go to sleep.

[mjs1973]

I posted these in my Life at the pond thread, but thought I would add them here too.
Easter Phoebe (I think). and a pair of green herons..

[paulnj]

You are correct. It's not too often that you see 2 green herons together like that!

[mjs1973]

You are correct. It's not too often that you see 2 green herons together like that!

There were actally 3 greens at this pond, and the pond is pretty small.. They kept thier distance most of the time, but a coule of them got pretty close once in a while. If they got too close, one would chase the other one away, but then never went too far.

[Mike T]

Yeah that is the other place up north that would have "peeps" in migration(if it's what I am thinking of atleast). BTW... That place is on fire from what I here in the spring (may) with rails, herons and bitterns , but I've never been there.

I saw several reports of Rails there but most weren't sightings just people hearing them. I want a bird I can get a picture of not one I can listen to. Here's another shot I took there thursday.
Mike

[Mike T]

How about this one Paul ?

[paulnj]

I was talking to my cousin friday and he said basdicly " Hyper Humus is a pretty cool spot for spring migration rails and such. I had my closest view of a virgina rail there, but the ******* team used it in the WSB and regretted it "

Rails and marsh birds are hard to see, and I understand what your saying totally.

As for that great egret.. you do know they are typically coast marsh nesters, so I would say that's a migrant too

[Mike T]

Here's another bird I shot today. I don't see these birds to often so was glad to spot this one.
Mike

[paulnj]

That's are hard one.... redtailed is my educated guess, though Bald eagle and vultures fly that way at times too. heavy body, long wings

I can surely ID raptors in flight 99% accurately after 5000 hours of viewing them, but images of them going away are tough.

[paulnj]

Sweet!!! Barred owls are easy to find in the open.... IF you know where they live The key words are "IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE. I have seen a few dozen in my travels and usually in a swampy environment, though conifer groves near water are good too. They are usually shy of humans, so you found a good subject!

[Mike T]

That's are hard one.... redtailed is my educated guess, though Bald eagle and vultures fly that way at times too. heavy body, long wings

I can surely ID raptors in flight 99% accurately after 5000 hours of viewing them, but images of them going away are tough.

Wasn't a very good picture but I thought it might be enough for you to get an ID. I've read that vultures wings are usually at more of a V when they soar. I was trying to explain that to a woman I work with so I thought I might get a few pictures like this one to make my point.
Here is a better picture of the bird.

Mike

[Mike T]

Sweet!!! Barred owls are easy to find in the open.... IF you know where they live The key words are "IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE. I have seen a few dozen in my travels and usually in a swampy environment, though conifer groves near water are good too. They are usually shy of humans, so you found a good subject!

This one was just off the path at the Duck Pond section of Swartswood State Park.

[paulnj]

Bald eagle it was ! Yes, TV's sour with a dihedral, but I have seen them fly flat winged at times too.

Is that a lower swartswood fledgling because I don't think too many NJ birds have left the nest site yet?

[Mike T]

Bald eagle it was ! Yes, TV's sour with a dihedral, but I have seen them fly flat winged at times too.

Is that a lower swartswood fledgling because I don't think too many NJ birds have left the nest site yet?

Yes this is also from Swartswood. The two were staying close to the nest but they did fly from tree to tree and then this one flew half way across the lake toward me before turning back. I was there for a little over an hour today, they were calling out quite a bit but I never did see the parents. I was glad to see the two young birds, a woman that I work with told me she heard that one had died unless there was a third bird I never saw.

Mike