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A Freckle Or a Seed? I Puzzled 'til My Puzzler was Sore...

After ten plus years of birding and getting photos, this is the first time I've ever witnessed the Crested Caracara with its crest actually visible as it turned its head to either attract the 2nd bird coming in or in defense of it, I'm not sure... other than guess work of what it would look like, the crest usually lays flat with the contours of its head when I'm near by. And, I've seen hundreds of these...they're everywhere! So, now, I can say with no hesitation that the bird is aptly named. It really IS crested!


CRESTED CARACARA
photos taken: Packery Channel
habitat map: Caracara
length:  22-14 inches
wingspan:  50 inches


It's that time of year...the breeding plumage is showing up on many species. One of my favorites in coloration is the mating Spoonbills with their red legs, dark patches, deep, rich rose wings, yellow neck patches and the bright, orange tail feathers.


ROSEATE SPOONBILLS
photos taken: Port Aransas
habitat map: Spoonbill
length:  32 inches
wingspan:  48-52 inches


RED HEAD[ED] DUCKS [male and female respectively]
photos taken: Mustang Island
habitat map: Duck
length:  19 inches
wingspan:  32 inches



At this particular park, the bird seed is replenished daily, year 'round, at the drip system watering hole for them.  But, on this particular day while I was observing through the lens I noticed what looked like a 'freckle' on its right cheek - I used the zoom lens to check it out...it was a loose feather [or a seed?]


GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
photos taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Woodpecker
length:  9.5 inches
wingspan:  17  inches


This week's participants are:

NatureFootstep PhotoArt
Linda, Virginia, USA
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Adam
Lavender Dreams
Phil UK
Lea's Menagerie
Eileen
Sallie [Fulltime Life]
Cloudia



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© Photos copyrighted by Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin' unless otherwise stated.






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13 comments:

  1. eileeninmdMarch 14, 2020 at 12:19 PM

    Hi Anni, The Crested Caracara is a beautiful bird. I think all your birds and photos are colorful. Wonderful photos. Thanks for hosting. Enjoy your weekend!

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  2. LeaMarch 14, 2020 at 12:22 PM

    Great photos!
    Beautiful birds!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. Phil SladeMarch 14, 2020 at 2:09 PM

    Anni. I'm always impressed by your powers of observation and interpretation. Not so many birders have those skills, content to just look at a bird and not much else.

    Unfortunately I'm a little piqued that you have seen "hundreds" of caracaras. Enjoy your weekend. Stay safe.

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  4. ~Lavender Dreamer~March 14, 2020 at 2:09 PM

    Wow! Hubby and I both looked at your photos! And I love your new Spring banner and background. The Roseate Spoonbill is my VERY favorite and so rare to see in the wild here. Love that Woodpecker...never seen that one before! What beautiful mating colors you are seeing already. I love it! Enjoy your weekend! Stay safe and healthy!

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  5. Ginny HartzlerMarch 14, 2020 at 2:12 PM

    Beautiful spring bird photos, especially of the Caracara!! How cool that you captured the crest! I think this is a seed, don't know why!

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  6. Kenneth Cole SchneiderMarch 14, 2020 at 2:37 PM

    All are splendid-- great demo of the crest on the Caracara and the beautiful pink of the spoonbills, but I'm really taken in by the portraits of the Golden-fronted Woodpeckers. Love your flowery header too.

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  7. RhodesiaMarch 14, 2020 at 4:06 PM

    What fantastic photos and that Crested Caracara is amazing. The Woodpecker is also fabulous. Well done and thanks for hosting. Diane

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  8. LindaMarch 15, 2020 at 1:03 AM

    Great photos! I think it's a seed because the birds at my feeders get quite messy!

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  9. Margaret Birding For PleasureMarch 15, 2020 at 2:12 AM

    That |gold Fronted Woodpecker is certainly giving you the eye! Love the plumage of the breeding Spoonbills Anni. Have a wonderful week ahead and stay safe from the virus. Thanks for all your comments.

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  10. SandraMarch 15, 2020 at 4:48 AM

    all of these are new to me, have never seen any of them, even the redheaded duck is new.. I love the look of the crested at the top and that sweet face at the bottom. I love the colors of its head.

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  11. NatureFootstepMarch 16, 2020 at 5:53 PM

    cool to see the spoonbills walking among the ducks like that :)
    The spoonbills are very cool looking.

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  12. RoseMarch 18, 2020 at 8:03 PM

    I love that Spoonbill in flight shot. Actually enjoyed them all. The Crested Caracara is so cool. I would love to see one. And that Golden Fronted Woodpecker is so pretty.

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  13. DeniseinVAMarch 20, 2020 at 1:59 PM

    Your bird photos are stunning Anni, so sharp and clear. I remember my first sighting of the Crested Caracara bird. We went down to Florida and were driving along a country road and there were two on the side just on the edge of a field. At the time I could hardly believe my eyes as it was more of an exotic bird than I had ever been used to. I think I must have been just beginning to get interested in birds, and this was when we bought a camera with a long lens. To see the detail of many of these birds was just extraordinary.

    ReplyDelete

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