I'd Rather B Birdin': Northern Parula

Showing posts with label Northern Parula. Show all posts

§ A Day at the Park...

I was told several weeks ago [over a month now] about a vagrant bird from Old Mexico visiting us at one of our local parks. One day last week, I was downtown for an appointment, and I thought...it's a good day to check to see if I could find it. I started walking around. Another birder was there, and I was asked what I had seen. I said "I just got here, so nothing yet." I also mentioned I was looking for the visiting bird. With camera in hand, the other birder said "I just saw it...I'll show you where I found it." Yep, sure 'nough. It was there. But so far into the trees ... not enough light. I scouted the rest of the park. Before I left, I returned to where we had seen it. It had moved, and was perched in a thicket. The lighting was somewhat better. Tho, I had to lean over a huge branch to get it into focus. Not real GOOD focus, but at least I now have a photo record of this. A new bird for me...

A Clay Colored Thrush!!

Long ago the Clay Colored Thrush was named Clay Colored Robin. But in the years that followed the name was changed from robin to thrush . It's habitat range is the eastern side of Old Mexico and down into a bit of South America. Recently a couple have been frequenting Southern Texas [mostly the Rio Grand Valley], with Arizona and Southern California unconfirmed. The last I heard, it continues to share the park here in Corpus Christi with some other migrating birds.

All photos below were taken at Blucher Park, downtown Corpus Christi...:

CLAY COLORED THRUSH
habitat map: Thrush

I didn't stay at the park long [it's a small park] but that day I also photographed these...

WHITE WINGED DOVE
habitat map: Dove

INCA DOVE
habitat map: Dove

NORTHERN PARULA
habitat map: Parula

...the following photos are honest to gosh DIFFERENT photos taken of ONE bird...the bird doesn't move much during the daytime hours unless startled, or their nest is intruded upon and threatened. They're night hunters. At first glance, I thought it was a Chuck Will's Widow which, like clock-work, they arrive at this park yearly. Then, while getting photos of it, I realized it was much smaller and stockier than the "Chuck", and not quite the same coloration even tho it was spotted under tree cover, I could see the difference [or thought so anyway]. Also, with this bird, the head is more rounded than that of the "Chuck". I got four photos and stepped to the side to get more light on the subject, and it flew off. That action also convinced me it wasn't a Chuck Will's Widow; the wing span wasn't long [wide] enough. I'm now 99% sure it's a whip-poor-will, which would be the 2nd one I've ever seen in my life [the other one was in the late 1970s in Loveland, Colorado]. ..

EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL
habitat map: Whip-poor-will

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§ ...El Paso

Here, in our yard, the lack of hummingbirds for the migratory season was dumbfounding....yet, we saw them in abundance at local parks. It dawned on me why....the Spring rains brought a whole slew of flowering plants, profusely blooming all around town and the barrier islands!! The hummingbirds prefer the blossoms' natural nectar!! Can't blame 'em. We've only had TWO active at our feeders over time. During the drought...........dozens!!

No...the following bird photos I share were NOT seen in El Paso, Texas!! They're migrants that were just passing through our area this past month, on their way to their summer breeding grounds....el paso [the passage].

Without a whole lotta chit chat, I'll just share the photos I got of several seen mainly in one area of town [along the island highway] over several different days in April:

FEMALE SUMMER TANAGER - WOOD THRUSH [?]

photos taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas

habitat map: Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush

MALE ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK - YELLOW BREASTED CHAT

photos taken: Packery Channel Motte - Padre Island [North]

habitat map: Grosbeak, Chat

ORCHARD ORIOLE - FEMALE ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK

photos taken: Packery Channel Park - Padre Island [North]

habitat map: Orchard Oriole, Grosbeak

INDIGO BUNTING - YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO

photos taken: Packery Channel Park - Padre Island [North]

habitat map: Bunting, Cuckoo

PAINTED BUNTING - CHESTNUT SIDED WARBLER

photos taken: Packery Channel Park and Paradise Pond

habitat map: Bunting, Warbler

CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW - SCARLET TANAGER

photos taken: Blucher Park [widow-Corpus Christi] - Packery Channel [tanager]

habitat map: Chuck Will's Widow, Scarlet Tanager

NORTHERN PARULA - BALTIMORE ORIOLE

photos taken: Port Aransas and Packery Channel - Padre Island [North]

habitat map: Parula, Oriole

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§ 'Coat' of Many Colors

I am 64 years young today...so, I thought for my birthday, I'd post this special bird for the occasion. I think I finally ID'd this little booger!!! I found it amongst the thicket just off the bridge that crosses a small run-off creek by the bay waters, in a thickly wooded area. The tiny beautifully marked bird was quite elusive. By this I mean, I was seen chasing it around here and there 'cause it wouldn't remain still long enough for me to focus on it before it flitted to another branch. At long last, Bud [my husband] spotted it in the low lying area near the small creek bed. I was able to stand behind a tree just off the path, and get a good focus. Well, at least enough to photograph it as it cleaned itself, a bit oblivious to me being so nearby. The late time of day and the sun hitting the area in the leaves and branches also made it difficult to try and identify it because the coloration is off somewhat...casting a yellow glow on some photos. Well, when I got home and uploaded from the camera card to the computer, I viewed it. Then...to my dismay I could not find anything online, or in my bird guides, that resembled the markings and colors. After days of trying on my own, I faced my dilemma head on and posted a photo [one of several only] on the "What Bird Is This" Forum. There, no one knew. In fact, some of the bird experts were not helpful at all being that they responded that the photo was over exposed...sorry, but it's not...straight off the camera. Others even went and told me it was an orange toed bird. No help at all, and not funny as they thought when I was seriously trying to ID. Off and on I was adamant, knowing that someday when I had a lot of time, I would continue my search...using clues from other bird sites and clicking on different links that sounded similar to this particular bird. One time, clicking away because of ID similarities, I turned up with a bird from South Africa! Nope...not that one. After a long time of searching off and on...I found it...I think...on my own accord!!! The Corpus Christi Audubon Society told me that they are extremely rare here in town. Right now, I'm so pleased with my finding. I did it. And, hoping that all you bird experts out here that frequent my photo blog, won't tell me differently. LOL I will be elated if my IDing is correct. And, if so, I won't ever forget this one. After finding one photo online that closely resembled my photos, I went to other sites after I typed in its name, through google and found many similarities. I also read on another birding area web site that they are quite abundant on the King's Ranch [which is only minutes away from Corpus Christi]......

Besides, it's pretty. {I'm also thinking this is a young one; without the maturation markings...or perhaps a female}