I'd Rather B Birdin': VERMILION Flycatcher

Showing posts with label VERMILION Flycatcher. Show all posts

§ Calallen Texas

Early one morning I left for the park* in Calallen, Texas. And, to my surprise, I kinda think I hit "pay dirt" with a variety of birds [and mosquitoes as big as birds it seems]. Hawks, flycatchers, starlings, mockingbirds, shrikes, herons, ducks, cardinals, sparrows, caracaras, kiskadees, hummingbirds, and one I haven't seen in quite a long time...a solitare kingfisher! I also spotted an elusive rail, but at another park [Port A] Those listed are just the ones I can recall seeing. There were more species. I'll share just a few of the photos of along the park road:

CLAPPER RAIL
Habitat map: Rail

GREEN KINGFISHER
Habitat map: Kingfisher

RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Habitat map: Hummingbird

VERMILION FLYCATCHER
Habitat map: Flycatcher

RED SHOULDERED HAWK
Habitat map: Hawk

LITTLE GREEN HERON
Habitat map: Heron

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* Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas

§ Two Weeks Into September

September is half over for the year. Altho, it's been a grueling year, 2020, I always enjoy the days following the month of August. The Atlantic, as I type this up, has 6 storms, one threatens the Texas coast. I may not be online to visit if power goes out and damages are done from this storm, BETA. Other than one day so far, I've done a little bit of birding. I even drove to the island in hopes of catching some migration activities...but when I arrived, I reached for my camera with the zoom lens and it wasn't in the car seat beside me!! I left it home on the hutch, charging. Senility is setting in! Oh well, I acquired my step count that morning. At least it wasn't a TOTAL waste of time, but if you ask me, I'd beg to differ. Without further chit chat, here are some birds I've photographed this first two weeks of the "Fall" season...

EASTERN WOOD PEWEE? GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER?
-no eyering, about 4 to 4 1/2 inches]
photo taken: Blucher Park
habitat map: Pewee

BROAD WINGED HAWK [young and docile: known to be more "tame" than others]
photo taken: Rose Hill Cemetery
habitat map: Hawk

WILLET -crab salad for breakfast
photos taken: Hans Suter Park
habitat map: Willet

VERMILION FLYCATCHER
photos taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Flycatcher

MONK PARAKEET
photos taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Parakeet

LONG BILLED CURLEW
photo taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Curlew

GREEN JAY [in molt]
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Jay

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§ A "New" Bird Was Seen!

Walking around the larger pond of the area known as Pollywog Ponds just a few miles northwest of town, I think I sighted in on a new sparrow for me; one I've only read about in my guide books...the Song Sparrow [?]--And my question mark is validated to be incorrect ID...it's a female red-winged blackbird. Thanks to David for steering me clear on it. It was too small to be another female blackbird by my estimation, about 1/2 the size [about 5 inches, but I guess I'm wrong]. It's the last photo of the series. I only got the one photo before it went off into the tree branches and I was unable to follow it with the lens and get a better view.

LESSER SCAUP
photo taken: Pollywog Ponds
habitat map: Scaup
length: 16 to 18 inches
wingspan: 24- 32 inches

SNOWY EGRET
photo taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Egret
length: 22-36 inches
wingspan: 46 inches

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD [male, black - female, brown]
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Blackbird
length: 7.5 to 9 inches
wingspan: 12 to 14 inches

SOLITARY SANDPIPER
photos taken: Pollywog Ponds
habitat map: Sandpiper
length: 8 inches
wingspan: 16 inches

VERMILION FLYCATCHER
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Flycatcher
length: 6 inches
wingspan: 9.5 inches

WHITE IBIS
photo taken: Leonabelle Refuge
habitat map: Ibis
length: 24 inches
wingspan: 38 inches

SONG SPARROW [new bird for me!] ?
Correction: female red-winged blackbirds

photo taken: Pollywog Ponds

Those participating this week:

Nature Footstep PhotoArt
Calendula
Eileen
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Linda, Virginia, USA
Tom the Back Roads Traveler
Lavender Dreams
Crafty Gardener
Phil UK
Travels With Birds
Lea's Menagerie

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§ Migrants....and Locals

It was grand seeing the three migrant birds this week! Along with regular, permanent Texas residents of course. I never tire of seeing the same species over and over again. I just like photographing them and perhaps comparing the plumage from one season to the next. I remember when I began my birding 'fetish' [hobby] and learning all the hundreds of TEXAS birds...thinking I knew it all in just over three months. Lo and behold, the breeding plumages threw me on a kilter, and I had to re-learn. But, what a good challenge it's been. This week, here are some I took pictures of for this post:

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER [winter plumage]
photo taken: Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens
habitat map: Plover

BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER
photo taken: Oso Bay Wetlands
habitat map: Warbler

NORTHERN CARDINAL
photo taken: Blucher Park
habitat map: Cardinal

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER [immature or female?]
photo taken: Packery Channel Park
habitat map: Flycatcher

CRESTED CARACARA [immature ...notice the pink instead of orange on adult]
photo taken: Mustang Island Highway
habitat map: Caracara

VERMILION FLYCATCHER [adult male]
photo taken: Botanical Gardens
habitat map: Flycatcher

ANHINGA
photo taken: Caribbean Drive Ponds
habitat map: Anhinga

Texas State Bird NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Mockingbird

PS...in America, each of the 50 states have a state bird....what is your state bird?

These are those that participated this week:

Hootin' Anni
Lea's Menagerie
Phil UK
Lavender Dreams
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Eileen
Travel with Birds
Orchid
Christina, Sweeden
A Quiet Corner

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§ How I Dream to be so Free!!!!

FIRST, I HAVE A QUESTION: Do any of you own a spotting scope? I want to buy one that doesn't cost much. But, if you do have one, or have knowledge of them, my question is ...Is a 20-60x60 any good at a distance of say....a quarter of a mile viewing distance?

Different Parks...different birds, and a song:

So often, when birding and no one is around to hear me, I find myself in song; especially if I get a good photo op like the flycatcher image I share today found below. Or, I will play her CD on the car as I drive to a birding hotspot. My favorite birding song is from a British artist, Susan Boyle - song video [linked] has over 2 million hits. Do you sing? Oh, and by the way, NO....I don't sing when birds are close. That would scare 'em away to never return.

Lyrics
Want to spread my wings and fly
Away into the sky
How I dream to be so free
No more sadness no more pain
No more anger no more hate
How I dream to have those wings and fly into the sky
If now, I could grant my wish
I'd wish to have those wings
Those wings just like the birds
That fly up in the air
So high up in the air
With feathers bright and fair
No wealth nor power can make
My heart filled with such joy
Want to spread my wings and fly
Away into the sky
How I dream to be so free
No more sadness no more pain
No more anger no more hate
How I dream to have those wings and fly into the sky
Want to spread my wings and fly
Away into the sky
How I dream to be so free
No more sadness no more pain
No more anger no more hate
How I dream to have those wings and fly into the sky
I'd fly
With those wings to the sky

LARK SPARROW
photos taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Sparrow

SUMMER TANAGER
photos taken: Refugio Texas
habitat map: Tanager

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
photo taken: Packery Channel Audubon Sanctuary
habitat map: Dove

CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW
photo taken: Blucher Park
habitat map: Widow

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER [or sometimes spelled with ONE "L"]
photo taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Flycatcher

NORTHERN CARDINAL
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Cardinal

RED SHOULDERED HAWK
photos taken: Country Club Golf Course
habitat map: Hawk

Would you like to fly like a bird? [I envy them to hatch a nest full and the babies are grown and on their own after only a few weeks - instead of years like we humans. [just kidding]

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