I had a post readied to publish for this week, but I will forgo that post and share this new bird with you instead....
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
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
For use of graphic link in your post, copy text in lavender text area below
and paste into your blog post:
or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
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
and paste into your blog post:
Those Harris's Hawks portraits are really intense! You did great with the Dickcissels. Although they can sometimes be fairly common in Illinois, I never saw such a cluster of them.
ReplyDeleteYou've shown a lot of birds I've never seen! It's an exciting time of year to see birds that are unique! I can't wait to get out again tomorrow! Love the Raven! We had lots of black ravens here. I would have to take a second look if I saw these! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteo my, that is more birds in one day then I see in a year.
ReplyDeleteThe raven is really a huge one, and loosk beautiful. The kookaburra I have seen in Queensland, but I´m not sure it was this one. There were at least two similar ones in the area. You had a great day for sure. :) Nice birds and shots all of them :)
WOW! I am stupefied and mesmerized by this Raven! I did not know that one even existed! I am off to Google him. You got excellent pictures!! Spooky yet beautiful! The kookaburra is my next favorite. Which bird did you get to pet? I just love your blogs!!
ReplyDeleteI would say this was a great birding day! That raven's beak looks almost too big for the head! I don't see as many dickcissels as I used to out at the strip pits. And seldom get a chance to photograph one.
ReplyDeleteUh oh! My browser tricked me into submitting twice, and the second is the wrong post.
ReplyDeleteThese are all beautiful pictures of the different birds.
ReplyDeleteThat Raven is so beautiful Anni, compliments.
Best regards, Irma
We might well see the raven next week as we will be in all the areas that it exists. Sure we will see plenty of pied crows Corvus albus but I must make sure I look for the difference. Diane
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing thing about hawkwatches. Around fifty year ago (thereabouts) when a couple of friends and I started doing what would be considered a hawkwatch today, it was rare that anyone else ever came out to join us. Now there can be so many people I get claustrophobic!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great day out Anni. We don't have hawk watch days here, mainly because hawk migration between Europe and Africa takes place further east and south, and we simply don't have the numbers of raptors. Those crows sure are intelligent aren't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link today.
that Raven is amazing and perfect for the month of Oct... not sure i would want to pet it though. all your photos are beautiful today and i know how much you loved being there. like i would feel at a donkey farm. ha ha
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely beautiful Raven...along with all your other finds, Anni. Your passion is seen through your lens!!...:)jp
ReplyDeleteGreat series of interesting birds Anni. In fact you have got some beauties here. The Hawkwatch Celebration of Flight certainly showed a really neat variety of interesting feathered friends. The Kookuburra has been a favorite of mine and I love to hear their call. The last time I heard it was at a zoo a few years back. An extraordinary sound. Thank you for sharing all of these.
ReplyDelete