I'd Rather B Birdin': Couch's KINGBIRD

Showing posts with label Couch's KINGBIRD. Show all posts

§ Birds With The Cold Front Moving In...

With three cold fronts moving into our area, it's been very chilly [downright cold for us Texans], windy, and not too pleasant to be outdoors doing much of anything. In fact a couple of days we woke up to frost on the ground!! I've been staying indoors mostly, wishing for no wind and the sun warming up the countryside. But, not to be had. While shopping, tho, I took back roads home, stopped here and there to step out in the cold and walk through some naked trees and at other stops, trees that are evergreen. Some areas protected with the warmth of the tree canopy, the grass remained green, while in open areas, the golden blades were dry and crunched under my steps. I walked a piece to find some birds and I got lucky. I did see some activity...near the car, and the car's heater within close proximity:

RED TAILED HAWK

Habitat map: Hawk

WHITE EYED VIREO

Habitat map: Vireo

CHIPPING SPARROW

Habitat map: Sparrow

AMERICAN KESTREL

Habitat map: Kestrel

COUCH'S KINGBIRD

Habitat map: Kingbird

BLACK CRESTED TITMOUSE

Habitat map: Titmouse

All too soon I will be complaining of the extreme heat. I know I should be enjoying this break of what lies ahead in just a few months, but I can't get myself motivated to be in the cold. Maybe by January 2021 it'll be better.

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§ Celebration of Flight...

I had a post readied to publish for this week, but I will forgo that post and share this new bird with you instead....

On Saturday, September 28th, I attended the 31st annual Hawkwatch Celebration of Flight that is held in Hazel Bazemore Park in Calallen, Texas. I left early hoping to beat the crowds and get some birding in and walking my goal of 10,000 steps [approximately 5 miles]. But it was a 'no go' for the most part since when I arrived about 30 minutes after sunrise, the crowds were gathering already. I did walk, I did go on the watch platform, I did witness a 300+ flock [aka, scoop, squadron and more collective names] of American White Pelicans flying overhead, I did stop and watch the action on the ground, just below the platform and near the drip system for the small watering holes for the migrant birds...There I saw Green Jays, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Sparrows [house and olive], heard a Kiskadee, several different doves, hummingbirds, vultures above us, and more. One species in particular caught my attention and I focused mostly on them...there were five Dicksissels feeding on the corn. I haven't seen one Dicksissel in over two years!!

I then, took a stroll down the park's roadway since most traffic was blocked off for our safety. More doves mostly, stilts and ducks on the larger pond in the hollow. Around 9 a.m. the hosts of the festival began sitting up the tents, the tables and the spectators' chairs to watch the demonstrations of other birds; from Texas [harris's hawk, turkey vulture, barn owl, caracara] and one from Australia, and another from East/South Africa. The one from Africa was a new bird at the show, and I was particularly interested in learning...besides I got to pet it, and was mesmerized by its near human antics....

The African White Necked Raven:

habitat map

The Australian Laughing Kookaburra

habitat map

Also at the park that morning:

Dicksissel

Inca Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove

Young Harris's Hawk

Harris's Hawk and Couch's Kingbird

...as I prepared to leave the park, perched on a tree branch by the larger pond was a Red Shouldered Hawk

I also published MORE birds that day at my personal blog, as mentioned above, with the likes of Green Jays, Cardinals, etc. earlier this week. VIEW HERE

Participant Listing Before Closing on Thursday
LINKS below:
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Lea's Menagerie
Lavender Dreams
Phil UK
Nature Footsteps PhotoArt
Linda in Virginia
David Gascoigne
Christina [Sweeden]
Shiju Sugunan
Rose, Time Stand Still
A Quiet Corner

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§ A Morning At the Park...

All bird images this week are from one area park, Hazel Bazemore Park, in Calallen, Texas. To begin, I have two North American Sparrows this week.

SONG SPARROW (?) - NO
habitat map: Sparrow

This park in particular has Northern Cardinals year 'round. On a regular visit, I can see up to dozens...both male and female. Oftentimes, juveniles. Just an added note here: This is my favorite of all birds, since I was six...

NORTHERN CARDINAL
habitat map: Cardinal

Snowy Egrets are a regular, year 'round resident at the ponds also...

SNOWY EGRET
habitat map: Egret

When I'm out walking the winding road between the golf course and the river, I encounter Red-winged blackbirds. But only during migration season; even tho the habitat map shows it's a year 'round resident. I never see them after winter sets in, not again until Spring...

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD
habitat map: Blackbird

Kingbirds are very common that I tend to ignore their beauty...

COUCH'S KINGBIRD
habitat map: Kingbird

HOW DID IT GET ITS NAME: A civil war general who took a leave of absence to participate in a zoological expedition into Old Mexico.

The 2nd sparrow, I identify it by its grayer plumage than most sparrows AND the yellow eyebrow, another Savannah...

SAVANNAH SPARROW
habitat map: Sparrow

And of course, the resident female Northern Harrier. I first encountered a very distant view of her in the field between the large pond and the river. She is a strong hunter, and a regular in this vicinity. I took a long distance image to record my sighting in case she flew away before I could then use my zoom lens to watch her preen. As I was getting ready to leave, taking the zoom off, I spied a visitor nearby the harrier....another red-winged blackbird...

NORTHERN HARRIER

habitat map: Harrier

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§ Kingsville Texas and King's Ranch...

On an overcast day Bud and I drove to Kingsville, Texas...home of the world renowned King's Ranch!! [known for the size of the ranch land AND the breeding of Longhorn cattle and Santa Gertrudis breed...not to mention the triple crown winner, Assault bygones ago!!] While at Dick Kleberg park we saw a few birds, mockingbirds, black bellied whistling ducks, flycatchers, couch's kingbird to be exact...but no Green Jays that I had hoped to see. Then, a short distance away from the park, King's Ranch Visitor's Center where we spotted the longhorn and gertrudis cattle...plus Wild Turkeys

WILD TURKEYS [Dick Kleberg Park Lake]
photos taken: King's Ranch Kingsville, Texas
habitat map: Turkey

COUCH'S KINGBIRD fledglings, MOCKINGBIRD and Texas Longhorn
photos taken: Dick Kleberg Park, King's Ranch
Kingsville, Texas
habitat maps: Kingbird....Mockingbird

...if you'd like to see more of my photos of the park and ranch cattle [along with visitor's center], CLICK HERE

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§ Birds With The Cold Front Moving In...

§ Celebration of Flight...

§ A Morning At the Park...

§ Kingsville Texas and King's Ranch...

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