A week of 'firsts' - -

For this past week, at least for me, it's been filled with a lot of 'firsts' for my birding addiction interests. Last Sunday Bud and I joined in on the Audubon's Bird Walk at a local park. I wanted to see what they were like, and hoping I would get a bit more education on how to spot a more eclectic count on birds as we strolled through all the tree covered land in mid town Corpus Christi. I was more than happy to sign in and register so the Society can get more wild bird funding from the city. The more people attending, the more funds and awareness. In all honesty, the walk was just mediocre. I wasn't all that impressed with the 'experts'. I'd much rather walk in smaller groups and not talk so loudly. I've mentioned that before, the quieter we humans are the less frightened away are the birds. And they remained, chattering and laughing and scoping out the same area far too long; more birds were singing off in the distance. LOL   But, it was something I was interested in seeing for myself. I've always, more or less, been self-taught when it comes to extracurricular activities and interests, and I think my style just isn't ready to change. I'm set in my ways, and I like to be stealthy when birding, and listening to their calls; locating them...not there to chit chat.  This outing was probably a first and ONLY one.  Migration is so cool!!! The array of birds is exceptional right now. Bud and I hit many different areas that are within a short driving distance and spotted so many different birds, and I was able to capture them through the viewfinder!! Some good, some not so good...there were some birds we spotted through the binoculars that just wouldn't cooperate and show us their faces. Mostly the back side -- especially the first ever spotted by the two of us: The Rose Breasted Grosbeak. I got 3 pictures...but it was hidden so much in a tree top, the images are  not that good. I'm gonna keep trying for better. [I may have to resort later to showing the ones I got tho] Among many more that I won't show n tell about 'til another time, are the white tailed hawk, the hooded warbler, the swainson's thrush, a beautiful wonderful male indigo bunting, one yet to be identified, and more. But this weekend the ones I will share are again all 'firsts' for me.

1- I have only seen hummingbirds nesting in pictures...like National Geographic and Birds and Blooms magazines. This week, walking back to the car after checking out the bays for waterfowl, I spied a humming bird zipping through the tree just feet away from our car. I happened to stop and watch it while Bud was putting the binoculars and bug spray back in the trunk. It landed in a NEST!!! So, I took aim and got several images of which I'll share three:

...from About.com this is stated:

Hummingbird Nest Construction

Hummingbird nests are built entirely by the female bird – male hummingbirds do not have any part in raising chicks once the initial act of copulation is complete. The female, however, will spend several hours a day for 5-7 days collecting materials to build her nest. The most common nesting materials found in hummingbird nests include:

Moss and lichen

Plant down from thistles, dandelions or cattails

Spider silk

Cotton fibers

Small bits of bark or leaves

Feathers

Fuzz or hairs from leaves

These materials are woven together into a dense cup that is frequently decorated with moss, lichen or other materials for camouflage. The edge of the cup is curved inward to protect the eggs from tipping out in high winds, and the spider silk used to bind the nest together gives it elasticity to enlarge as the hatchlings grow. Exact nest dimensions vary depending on the species of hummingbird and the materials used to create the nest, but most hummingbird nests are 1.5 inches in diameter, or roughly the size of a walnut or golf ball.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [female]
photos taken: Hans Suter Nature Reserve - Corpus Christi, Texas
Habitat Range:

2- My next 'frist' is something that put me in awe. Oh, I've seen the apartment complexes jutting high up many feet into the air... several times before, but NEVER having any residents!! This past week, I spotted Purple Martins busy ON nests and flitting around inside and outside the complex!

PURPLE MARTIN
photos taken: Blucher Park - Corpus Christi, Texas
Habitat Range:

3-  As we were walking the pathway to reach Paradise Pond, in Port Aransas, Texas, Bud spotted this lovely creature on the ground!! A Yellowthroat. Another 'first' to be seen and photographed by us---

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
photo taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
Habitat Range:

4-  Now this next one, I've seen before, but at times I've not had a camera on my neck and primed and ready for a feast of color!!  My first photo of a Summer Tanager...

SUMMER TANAGER
photo taken: Leona Turnbill Birding Center - Port Aransas, Texas
Habitat Range:

5-  ...and last for the week, I must say this bird has been on my 'to spot and hopefully get images of it' list for a couple of years now, and to no avail. While we were home, sitting at the dining room table playing gin of all things, I looked out the window as Bud was shuffling the cards for the next hand dealt, and to my surprise and utter delight, the handsome fellow was on the ground by the larger feeder [and I have suet cakes chained to the feeder stakes also]...he was just a'scurrying here and there. I knew I couldn't possibly get the back patio door open with any luck having him stick around for a photo shoot. So, I loaded the battery in the camera and shot these photos through the hurricane shutter slats and window and screening! They're a bit blurred, but I finally saw a Painted Bunting!!

PAINTED BUNTING
photos taken: Backyard - Corpus Christi, Texas
Habitat Range:

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