Nothing New at Mead

Well, nothing new, species-wise, arriving in the park but I got some new photos. It has been a while since I took a shot of a Pileated Woodpecker but when one is right by the parking lot what is one to do?



I did hear some bird activity down by the pond but it was caused by smaller birds greeting an unwelcome guest. One of the Barred Owls came out in the open to sit out on one of the dead snags.



Closer to the club house, a Great Blue Heron was on yet another snag.



Along the creek, a Tiger Swallowtail pauses for a few seconds. Just wish it would eat that air potato vine!



Despite the calm in the garden I am glad to be able to find something to get shots of.

Demetree Park Red-shouldered Hawk

I spotted a few warblers near home when dropping the oldest at school. I wondered if other places might have some interesting migrants so I later went back to Demetree Park to see what was brewing there. Just before I headed over, though, I searched again for warblers by Lake Lancaster and only found a few Red-eyed Vireos. I hope this isn't the best shot I can get this year...



Arriving at Demetree Park, I had to park a bit away from the parking area as there was police activity investigating and abandoned and defiled vehicle. Somebody was sure made at someone. Curse words, in Spanish, were written on all sides. This did not bode well.

I walked along the tree lines and could barely hear any warblers. I decided to head over to the bridge that cuts through across some water between ponds. It usually hold some nice warblers in season. However, as soon as I approached to bridge, I could tell there would be little warbler activity today. A juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk was sitting on a branch right over the water.



The Red-shouldered Hawk was way more interested in whatever it was looking for and let me walk right up close. Eventually, it flew a bit deeper into the branches down the walkway but I was still able to get close.



At least there was now some sunlight in the new spot. I took a ton of shots and it finally gave up and headed off into the woods.



No warblers here for me today. I will have to return by next month, I guess. Can't complain about the hawk shots, though.

Quiet Mead, Surprise at Kraft Azalea

Still quiet at Mead Garden. THe best I could do was to get some shots of a male Downy Woodpecker before this woman walked right into my space while I was shooting and began shooting pictures of plants. Right between me and the Downy, which promptly left. Thanks!



So, I head over to Kraft Azalea Park since I haven't been there in a long time. Maybe warblers would be hanging out near the lake. Nope. Once I got to the lake's edge, however, I started hearing a sound I have never heard before. I had to search pretty hard before discovering it was a baby Anhinga!

There were many of them, in fact. They must breed here after the Cormorants and Great Egrets get out of the way. The trees are full of those two species in April.



Farther along the shore, an adult Anhinga takes a breather from the demanding chicks and rearranges his feathers.



Heading back to the van I spotted even more Anhinga chicks high up in the branches.



More interesting was what sounded like a Great Egret chick calling. I eventually spotted it near an adult. Seems to be a late bloomer or from a second clutch. It also appears to be stuck in the limbs. Nothing I can do about that.



Nature rolls on but I am still craving more migrants that my brain knows won't really be here for two more weeks.

LaCosta Wetlands Finally Has Something Fun

So, it is Monday and was trying to figure out where to check after dropping of the youngest at school. I decided to give LaCosta Wetlands one more try even though it has been fairly boring of late. I t was very quiet when I first walked the main trek out to the fields and I was about to call it quits when I took one last look over the far pond just because. I saw a yellow flash. I had to walk to the back.

When I got to the far side where I saw the yellow I only found larger birds. Most of them were feeding on the berries of a Virginia Creeper which was topping a Cypress tree. I was pleased to see a Brown Thrasher emerge, though.



Northern Mockingbirds and Blue Jays soon joined the Thrasher and grabbed a snack before doing their vigil to chase off a possible enemy.



That enemy would be a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks that were cruising the area.



Suddenly, a few birds bolted to the Cypress tree behind me. I followed and discovered that there were several Yellow Warblers feeding on the backside of the tree. My first Yellows of the season. A couple of female Prairie Warblers were in there, too.



I waited for a long time but they would never move to my side of the tree so I only got a couple of shots through the branches before they headed out later.



Making matters worse, a juvenile Northern Mockingbird was forcing the warblers away from the tree when it could. Grrrrr...



I gave up after 15 minutes and headed back to the van. Next to the main bridge, several Northern Mockingbirds were hanging out in the Muscadine Grapes draping several trees.



I counted at least 16 Northern Mockingbirds at this spot, adding to the 16 over by the warblers, and they were popping in and out of the vines and picking berries as they went along.



I was most surprised at the number of juveniles in this flock. They were everywhere.



The young birds were chasing one another around and would sometimes stop for a cute, sunlit pose.



Ihave no idea what is wrong with this youngsters feet. Some weird growth going on.



Yet another Northern Mockingbird juvenile checks me out through the leaves.



Out of nowhere, a new Brown Thrasher arrived and began exploring the grapes.



On the tree to my left, an adult Northern Mockingbird serves as sentry.



One of the other kids pops out below the sentry to assess the situation.



Back at the grape vines, I got my favorite shot of the morning as an adult seemed to warn me off from getting too much closer.



Time to head home. When I got back to the parking area I saw a bird up on the wires. A juvenile European Starling was perched in full view. My first photo of a juvenile. I only saw my first one on a web cam a month ago.



Finally, some action at the wetlands. I was about to give up on this area after a year of checking but perhaps it will get more interesting this year as migrants return.

Mead Check After Banding

Just another routine check of Mead Garden on the way home. It was very quiet but I eventually heard a chipping from the trees near the pump house. I was hoping for something else but I still enjoy seeing Northern Parulas feeding in the trees.



Met up with Donna and Mike and we spied this baby Red-eared Slider heading out for some warmth.



We did find a Louisiana Waterthrush but it was being a bit too discrete. Had to settle for a White Ibis up on the old downed tree by the pond.



Nothing else of note but at least Mike got his first Louisiana Waterthrush shot. Watching and waiting for more migrants.

Breakfast With a Green Heron

I arrived at Mead Garden and quickly discovered some of the Usual Suspects were already there staring up at the trees. A Pine Warbler was recently seen. That is new for this month. We moved on in search of more birds and soon found the Barred Owl the group had seen earlier. It was still perched and posed for some photos before flying off.



Minutes later, a juvenile Cooper's Hawk began calling excitedly. As shadows emerged from the trees we could see that the hawk was chasing the owl. Following them along the creek we eventually got to the far end of the trail where the hawk landed. I moved around the tree for a better look and discovered that there was a nest up in the palms. Was the hawk hatched there? A new spot to watch next season.



I wanted to check on the muck removal and the bag is way full. To recap, they are dredging the muck from the pond and it flows to a big bag up the hill in the pines and will drain the water back and leave the muck in the bag. Here is the before shot that I posted last week.



Here is where it is today. Totally engorged!



Moving off on my own, I headed down the path that leads behind the pond and toward the cement bridge. Along the way, I spotted a Green Heron out on the debris boom in the pond. I just wanted an ID kinda shot since I got great shots the other day.



Then, something amazing happened. The Green Heron flew to me! These birds are very skittish and I am used to them flying away from any humans. It landed 8 feet in front of me. Much closer and I wouldn't even be able to get in focus with the zoom lens.



What happened next was even more amazing. I have never seen a Green Heron catch dragonflies but this youngster was already a pro. It snapped up this one about a minute after landing.



A few more dragonflies later and it finally nabbed the more typical tiny fish. I did not even know I got this shot since I was just rapid firing for another bug capture shot.



Like this one just a couple seconds later. It swallowed the fish and quickly grabbed a damselfly.



The heron resumes the hunt in a new, nearby spot.



Yet another dragonfly is snatched from the air.



Have to get the dragonfly in just the right position...



Chomp. Crunch.



!!GULP!!



Ahhhhhhhhhhh!



Nearly 20 minutes later, the Green Heron moved off to a stump and then back to the boom and I finally took a breath.



I would bet I will never have that chance again. Experiences like this makes me almost forget I was here looking for migrants. Almost.

Mead is a Little Busier

I decided to go out migrant hunting again at Mead Garden. There still is not a lot around yet but it was a fun walk. I should have taken a shot of the 'muck bag' as it was now about 5 feet high! Maybe next time. For now, I had to concentrate on this male Wood Duck in alternate plumage on the pond.



Circling the pond, I did find an American Redstart by the cement bridge but got no photos. I then tried to track down a Cooper's Hawk I saw flying near the club house but it slipped away. Guess I will just have to be satisfied with a juvenile Green Heron hunting down the path.



One of the things that drives me crazy about birding Mead in the early morning is that birds usually hang around the creek which mean birders have to stare towards the rising Sun. I don't mind when a bird is on the opposite side of the path in perfect light.



Heading toward Pennsylvania Avenue I began hearing some activity ahead. A quick look at the creek to my right provided a surprise. A Momma Wood Duck and babies in tow riding the water flow!



Tufted Titmice were calling above me but I couldn't get a good view of them. Suddenly, they all headed down into the Willows just about at eye-level.



They seemed to have no problem finding juicy meals under the leaves.



I have been fighting the urge to explore the damaged boardwalk for ages. We used to go out there when compiling data for what would become the Mead Garden Bird Checklist. Today would be the day I gave in. It was surprisingly more clear than it was years ago but is still a bit dangerous as there are many missing/rotting boards. I didn't find too many things out there, though. Too early in the season.



I was just trying to take a shot of the Duck Potato flower since I hadn't seen them in a while. Suddenly, a metallic green bee (Agapostemon) flew in to pose.



I didn't think this shot of Ground Nut (Apios americana) would be anything more than an ID shot but I kinda love it. I first discovered Ground Nut here many years ago in one little spot. Now it has spread all around the boardwalk.



I later refound the flock of Titmice by the boardwalk and was happily greeted by a Prairie Warbler. It was hard to get a shot but by the time the feeding flock made it to the butterfly Garden, the Prairie flew up to an oak tree for a few seconds.



Nice to see more warblers moving in and this female Prairie Warbler was a nice addition to the morning.



We were all looking for the Northern Waterthrush that has been haunting the area but only had obscured views (but enough to ID). Nearby, a pair of Marsh Rabbits hopped around in the underbrush.



An interesting trek. I will head back out Friday to keep checking for migrants.