Backyard, Fall Migrator and a UFB

A couple of weeks ago, Ginny left me a question in my comments about a "lifer". To answer, I've really never considered any particular bird as a lifer. Moving here to the Texas coast and becoming interested in bird photography as a hobby, I became more aware of all the different species, but never did I have one certain bird in mind, I find there is no need to travel far either. I'm lucky enough to be in the "Birdiest City in America" [my 6 bird charts show I've spotted/photographed 176 different birds; latest count] The farthest I've driven on a purposeful birding trek to see ONE bird species was about 150+ miles round trip to view the great Whooping Crane's Wintering area at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge about 45 miles from Rockport, Texas which is about 35 miles from Corpus. So, the morning drive from Corpus to ANWR outside of Rockport would be about 80 or so miles from home. We went only once to the area, and at the time saw nothing but one alligator and one robin!!! As the years passed, we drove to Goose Island 'cause one of the frequent birders we ran into on another day's outing told us about a Whooping Crane family on Goose Island just outside Lamar, Texas...which I'm hoping that they survived the Spring Migration and will return to the islands so I can be there to photograph them again - I since then have purchased a better camera with a larger zoom lens. There, we saw three whooping cranes, and a couple of Sandhill Cranes, snowy egrets, black vultures, great blue herons, a flock of killdeer, and a squirrel [lol]. In the meantime, Bud and I have learned to check the local birding societies for reported spottings. But coming back to 'lifers' --- I have had several earmarked on a list of ones I'd like to get a photo of. For instance, an Anhinga [with its wings open!!], a Purple Gallinule, the painted bunting, a Green Heron, baby American Coot chicks, etc. etc. Several warblers and an American Redstart. There are still a few that I would really like to photograph and haven't been lucky yet....that would be a couple of Buntings...the Lazuli and the Varied. The buff bellied hummingbird. Along with the European Goldfinch that has been brought over from Europe to America and I hear tell the species has been in certain parts of America; hoping someday it may make its way to the Texas Coast. Now, if I'd actually use the term "lifer" it'd be one falcon that is on the endangered list and being reintroduced to this area where once they flourished --- The Aplomado Falcon!!! But, in all seriousness, I really don't consider the term lifer...I take what I can get and consider myself lucky. And as for travel, I do believe we may go to a more southern area of the state this fall, late fall, to perhaps find the aforementioned falcon....about a 300+ mile round trip. Time will tell.

Now, on to the bird photos I share this week are:

...one of the earliest Fall Migrating bird species [or so I've read] showed up in our yard this past week. They not only migrate north in the Spring later than most birds, but they return to their wintering area earlier than most...late July to mid August. When I filled the feeders and filled the bird baths in the morning, I was sitting at the dining room table and looked out to see a really dark bird in the grass! About the size of a sparrow with a rusty breast and black head. I knew right away I had to load the battery in the camera and try and get photos of it through the window and window screen 'cause if I even attempted to get back outdoors, they'd fly off and perhaps not return. My only chance; blurry as they may be....

ORCHARD ORIOLE
photos taken: Our backyard - Corpus Christi, Texas
Habitat Range:


TRIVIA:
A group of orchard orioles is collectively known as a "harvest" of orioles.
The Orchard Oriole is the smallest of the oriole family! [no larger than a sparrow]


---also in our backyard this week, on the power lines, I spotted a fledgling. It allowed me to stand right out in the open on our patio and gave me a chance to photograph each profile along with its backside, without flying off. It must've been too young to fear us humanoids. There have been a presumed mated couple of this species of woodpeckers across the street, high in a cottonwood tree. Bud and I could hear their calls throughout the neighborhood and they both have been to visit our sugar-water feeder several times this summer. We believe this is their offspring. Anyway, my favorite is the one that shows a lot of down still visible....

GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER [fledgling]

photo taken: Back yard - Corpus Christi, Texas

Habitat Range:

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ON to the UFB [unidentified flying bird]-

Once again, I have an unknown...or I know it's an owl, but not sure which species. My last share this week is of an unidentified bird. I'm nearly 100% sure it's an owl. The one and ONLY owl I've ever seen in these parts. And it was just a fleeting moment of stopping in the tree to look at me and then it was off...flying into the far distant fields beyond the birding area. The photo was taken quite a while ago, in May of 2012 actually, and the area of just two or three miles from the Gulf of Mexico coast in South Texas on Mustang Island. Sadly, this is the one and only photo I was able to get. I've searched off and on throughout the last 14 months in books, online, and forums. I'm taking a wild guess that it is a Barred Owl. Anyone agree...or know for a fact what owl it is? Sorry for the poor quality and the tree branch camouflage...this attempt was just a spur of the instant I spotted it looking down on me before it disappeared. I'm hoping someone has seen an owl of the same?!!

Lastly, I am going to discontinue posting the larger photos and use smaller dimensions to help in page loading time. I hope doing it this way will speed up connecting to the site and make it easier for everyone's viewing habits. If you like the larger images, by all means, just click on any image and a slideshow will appear in a window to view them all!!!

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