I'd Rather B Birdin': Loggerhead Shrike

Showing posts with label Loggerhead Shrike. Show all posts

§ When It Rains Here, It Pours!!!

It took two days for the bird activity in our yard and neighborhood to return to normal after Hurricane Hanna made landfall just a few miles from our house [Sunday July 26]. The morning before the storm came in to shore, I did notice all the grackles and seagulls heading in a easterly direction over-head from the Kingsville area. So, I knew that the storm was headed farther south...they were all getting to safe areas. At least that's what I think. You can tell by the bird activity what the weather is going to do. They are good predictors if you pay attention. [my opinion] I guess you can say I'm part of the "old wives" club.

Anyway, needless to say, I have not been out doing my birding for another week. Still a lot of flooding [one area north of us got a reported 19 inches of rain in a 24 hour time period]...no use trying to drive anywhere since all beaches are closed for cleanup and flooded [or soon to be muddied] parks, etc. That makes it three weeks in a row! But, I have gone out along the beaches to check out the damage. Some areas, heavy damage to structures and even erosion at the dunes while other nearby areas, minimal damage. It depends on the surge and the fact of which side [clock-wise or counter-clockwise] of the hurricane the wind was. Hanna did most damage with the SURGE before the 90MPH winds came in, I think. Twenty foot high surge is bound to rip down structures, etc.

So, more photos from my archives never published:

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
photo taken: South Bay Park
habitat map: Shrike
Length: 9 inches
Wingspan: 13 inches

TREE SWALLOW
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Swallow
Length: 6.5 inches
Wingspan: 12.5 inches

Fledged GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Woodpecker
Length: 9.5 inches
Wingspan: 17 inches

YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON [young]
photo taken: Lakeview Park
habitat map: Heron
Length: 25 inches
Wingspan: 45 inches

GREAT BLUE HERON
photo taken: Hans Suter Refuge
habitat map: Heron
Length: 48 inches
Wingspan: 50 inches

...and times when I am cooped up indoors, from boredom, I sketch. Sometimes I draw, freehand, birds. Results are not always accurate, but I try to get as close to 'real' and proportionate as I can:

A colored pencil sketch of a Hooded Merganser [male]

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Participating blogs:

Linda
Birds in Europe and Africa
Christina
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Jidhu Jose
Arun
Sallie
Lea
Nature FootStep
Lavender Dreams
Eileen
Travels With Birds [never uses hyperlink!]
Phil
Jean

§ Behind the Channel and At the Park...

Well, the state of Texas has gone back to keeping people home and requiring masks if going outside the home. The numbers of Covid cases have sky-rocketed in our county [percentage-wise, more cases in our county than three of the most populated areas -Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston]. Parks and other areas where crowds gather will be closed over the holiday. Needless to say, my walking trips have been/and will be shortened, or non-existent. These photos on this post were taken before the mandated changes took place. Either focusing from the car or at the park before others showed up. When the people began to come into the park, I left!

BROWN PELICAN
photos taken: Port Aransas Ship Channel
habitat map: Pelican
Length: 50 inches
Wingspan: 82 inches

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
photo taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Shrike
Length: 9 inches
Wingspan: 13 inches

CRESTED CARACARA [juvenile]
photo taken: Carbon Plant Road
habitat map: Caracara
Length: 22-24 inches
Wingspan: 50 inches

BLACK NECKED STILT
photo taken: Tule Lake
habitat map: Stilt
Length: 14-15 inches
Wingspan: 26 inches

MONK PARAKEET
photos taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Parakeet
Length: 11.5 inches
Wingspan: 19 inches

GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
photo taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Woodpecker
Length: 9.5 inches
Wingspan: 17 inches

WHITE WINGED DOVE
photo taken: West Guth Park
habitat map: Dove
Length: 11-12 inches
Wingspan: 17-18 inches

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PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK:
Jean at NotSoOrganized
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Linda,Virginia, USA
Arun
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink]
Lea's Menagerie
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Lavender Dreams
Phil UK
Eileen

§ Staying Inside Order [Texas Style]

Once again, a drive to the ranch land for photo ops as I practice 'staying inside the car' on drive by shootings [through the lens of course]. These birds were spotted as I took different county roads -34,000 acres (138 km)- a few miles from home one afternoon this week. You could drive from sun up to sun down on this ranch land and still not cover it all...Chapman's Ranch....

COOPER'S HAWK
habitat map: Hawk
Length: 15-20 inches
Wingspan: 28-34 inches

UPLAND SANDPIPER
habitat map: Sandpiper
Length: 12 inches
Wingspan: 18-20 inches

WHITE TAILED HAWK
habitat map: Hawk
Length: 20 inches
Wingspan: 50 inches

LARK SPARROW
habitat map: Sparrow
Length: 6.5 inches
Wingspan: 11 inches

MEADOWLARK
habitat map: Lark
Length: 10 inches
Wingspan: 14-16 inches

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
habitat map: Shrike
Length: 9 inches
Wingspan: 13 inches

If you're curious, we are allowed to get out of the house; walking in parks and natural refuges as long as we keep our 6-10 foot "social distancing" of each other. So many states have the stay at home ordinance/laws enforced during these trying times, everywhere but grocery stores and doctors. Here, in Texas, the government officials see that walking in parks [exercise and fresh air] is safer than in petri-dishes like doctors' offices, stores, and hospitals!!! Thank goodness. Although, I still remain more cautious than before and not go out EVERY day for hours at a time as before the pandemic. Nor do I go to congested city parks...I find the out of populace areas; more remote and less known.

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Those participating this week are:

A Quiet Corner
Anu
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Jenn Jilks
Linda, Virginia, USA
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink]
Tomthebackroadstraveler
NatureFootstep PhotoArt
Eileen
Ella
Jean@SoNotOrganized
Not Afraid of Color
Phil UK
The Early Birder
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Lavender Dreams
DeniseVA
Lea's Menagerie

§ the Call of the Wild....

We are now under "house arrest" here in Corpus Christi, some areas are closed for safety precautions of the virus. Our county now has ten reported cases, and they are in quarantine...nine of the ten are travel related Tsk, tsk. If people would just stay close to home and use the distance safety tips, it'd help with the pandemic. The good thing about birding is you don't have to be out in the open; in crowds...in fact, drive by birding is an acceptable pastime these days. Much better than resorting to cleaning house!!

The first bird I am sharing, I can't help it...I think they're pretty and they have a wonderful, soft, soothing song. Even if they're 'the impalers'...they are one of nature's wonders. Of course, each of the species of birds is, in my opinion. Except for the vultures, but they serve their purpose on earth, so you still have to appreciate them. It's the individual features of each bird [and their survival capability] that never ceases to astound me.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
photo taken: South Bay Park
habitat map: Shrike
length: 9 inches
wingspan: 13 inches

At the hightower for observation [click here for tower photo], the black vultures were gathered in large groups [called committee], and singly spotted here and there in the undergrowth....

BLACK VULTURES
photos taken: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
note: this refuge along the coastal bend is nearly 120,000 acres with hundreds of species of birds/wildlife
habitat map: Vulture
length: 25 inches
wingspan: 60 inches

I am thrilled to capture this with its 'hood ornament' exposed!

HOODED MERGANSER
photo taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Merganser
length: 18 inches
wingspan: 25 inches

Another bird that gets a bum wrap like the shrike [for different reasons] is the American Coot. Again, I marvel at its adaptability to conquer the different terrains along the ponds' edge and walk through quagmire without loosing its footing...

AMERICAN COOT
photo taken: Caribbean Drive [Flour Bluff, Texas]
habitat map: Coot
length: 15 inches
wingspan: 25 inches

This bird is quite easily identified...it is aptly named ...

NORTHERN PINTAIL DUCK
photo taken: Indian Point Park
habitat map: Pintail
length: 20-26 inches
wingspan: 28-36 inches

When I spotted this hawk, I was in awe of its beautiful plumage! Such wonderful colors and pattern. And for a few minutes it posed for me before flying off. I was on foot, and just under by a marginal few feet from its perch...

RED SHOULDERED HAWK
photos taken: Lakeview Park
habitat map: Hawk
length: 17-22 inches
wingspan: 32-45 inches

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Participating this week:

Little Wandering Wren
Rosyfinch Ramblings
Lintuilua-Birding
Linda, Virginia, USA
The Early Birder
Lavender Dreams
Phil UK
Lea's Menagerie
Tomthebackroadstraveler
Sallie
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Eileen
Wren Nest Building
Traveling With Birds

§ The Last of October....

We here in South Coastal Texas had a massive cold front move in in the middle of the week. Temps went from 87 degrees [F] ...30.56 [C] to within three hours it was a whopping 56 degrees. We woke up to 44 by morning. After all the months of 100 degrees plus, day in and day out, this was a god send!!! I don't know if the wintering birds and local feathered residents are enjoying it as much as I am, but they seem to be a bit more active. Here are just some of the birds seen this week....