Jay Watch 2015, Part 2

The second morning of my Jay Watch duties found me at the Lake Monroe Conservation area at dawn. Once I signed in and gathered my gear I dod a bit of exploring in the parking lot before we started. One shot I missed since it was so quick was an adult Bald Eagle that flew straight past us on the road about 10 feet off the surface. Then it was gone.

Instead, I had to settle for an illuminated Spiny Orb Weaver and its web.



Gaura is a Florida native but I don't see it too often. It was all over this little lot.



Eastern Towhees are always calling out on this property but I could never get in a good position, lighting-wise.



Once I turned around I did have perfect light for the Rusty Lyonia.



One pf my favorite flowers out in the scrub is the Tar Flower. I always make a point of trying to find the best bloom while I am searching for Jays.



My point shift was over so I walked up toward the next point. Out in the distance was a single Florida Scrub Jay feeding around the vegetation. I played the Scrub Jay tape quickly and the bird flew our way. Too bad it was the only one I would see today but the photos do prove it is an unbanded bird.



At the next count point I found some Lyonia sporting its small white blossoms.



Loblolly Bay flowers are hard to miss. Especially once you get nearer to thicker forest on property.



Out in the more open areas out here we know there are not any Jays here but there are other birds that come through like Great-Crested Flycatchers perching on any high snag. Sometimes we find Blue Birds and we had several Bachman's Sparrows flying by.



I was putting my clipboard down and prepared to play my Jay calls when I noticed this pink bloom in the middle of some rather barren ground. Not sure of the species yet. Most likely one of the Sabatia family species.



Off in the distance a pair of women on horseback were winding their way through the scrub. A couple of times they halted for a while but I couldn't tell why. By the time they passed me I said Hello and they said, "Wow, they aren't scared of you!" and they rode on. Turns out those pauses before was as they tried to go past the others in my party the horses spooked and would not go directly past the ladies. Go figure.



I was watching a Northern Mockingbird when suddenly a Brown Thrasher emerged from the scrub to pose for a bit.



Several of these large stalked plant came into view. I have know idea what they are but they always intrigue me.



A really close inspection revealed a small batch of purple blooms at the top.



A very large ant came scurrying past me as the morning wore down. It looks kind of like a velvet ant but...not.



My last count point was pretty quiet but there was a very small dragonfly that landed next to me.



As I headed up the trail I was finding much larger dragonflies swaying in the rising breeze.



Around the corner was a plant full of seed heads. Kinda pretty.



Swaying around with the dragonflies was a small patch of tall Yellow-eyed Grass. My last photo of the day.



We headed back in the truck to the parking lot and said our good-byes. Rain was moving in as I headed home. There are other spots I could have visited but this year I am too tired to stand in the heat any longer. I will be back out to count again next year, after all.

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.

LaCosta Wetlands

I ran out to LaCosta Wetlands for a quick check this morning. I am usually greeted by a bunch of Northern Mockingbirds in the parking area but there were none when I arrived. Instead, I heard a quick call from the fenced field and a pair of Brown Thrashers emerged from the grass and perched on the fallen tree nearby.



These two were very actively moving about and I would not doubt that there are babies being fed or about to hatch.



Down around the ponds Red-winged Blackbirds are calling on territory on all sides. By the first bridge a male leans back for a full-on call.



I love watching them pose and sing this time of year. This angle gives the bird a more cloaked appearance. Dig those bright red shoulders.



Around the corner, a female Red-winged Blackbird searches the grasses for food before heading back to the reeds.



I was looking for Green Herons out here earlier but I noticed a lager shape skulking in the cypress tree. A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron watched me warily. The second young one I have found in the past month.



Back to the grind. Today that includes jury duty. Oh, boy.

A Quick Walk in the "Woods"

The office where I work is basically in an industrial setting. Lots of warehouse space and certain distributors but a few strip sections that contain small offices all in a row. A lot of concrete, asphalt, and trucks. Which is why I am constantly surprised by the wildlife you can find in and around it. Like those Turkey I found a few months back.

So, across from my office is a little patch of 'woods'. Mainly what is left from what used to be here, a pine scrubland environment with a few oaks scattered around. Measuring from a map view it is about 200 feet wide by 700 feet long. Just a little leftover in the middle of 'progress'. I have been checking this area for birds some and vowed to make a small trail from one side to the other. Today is the day.

The storm system that swung through over the weekend is causing a birder's paradise over on the west side of the state. Not so much here but it is worth a try. I headed to the far side of the woods and ventured toward them with some clippers and my camera. Just before the trail entrance I found a singing Brown Thrasher.



I was after warblers but the first bird I encountered rose out of the palmettos on quiet wings and drifted my way. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird!



She grabbed a few bugs in the pines and then rested on a branch under some cover. I wasn't able to get a great shot but I always love finding them in unexpected places.



Back to warbler hunting. Winds were still pretty brisk today so there were not a lot of birds out. Mainly, all I was hearing were the calls of several Pine Warblers. They were in the pines, of course, but I could not talk them down.



I was about to head back to the office when I noticed a little clearing farther ahead. I had a Common Yellowthroat pop out next to me but of more interest was a tiny speck out in the clearing itself. A male American Redstart, my first of the year!



I did a bit of pishing (sounds birders often make to mimic other birds or bird alarms) and the Redstart flew toward me. Not the best shot but at least my flash worked for once.



Time to head back and watch progress bars on the computer but I will try to make this jaunt a few more times this week to see what else I can find.

So Blurry Around Here

Well, we are back to the backyard and the large tray feeder. Let's go through some shots from the week.

"Does this feeder make me look fat?"



Blue Jay time. Often, the squirrels leap off of the tray feeder and send it spinning. Blue Jays are waiting around and sometimes land at just the right moment.



More adults hanging out. Blue seems to be intensifying lately.



Plus, I have been wondering who was eating the fruit bits now that the Catbirds were gone.



Look! Finally, a juvenile bird has graced us with a photo pose. Compare the head feathers and color brightness with the adult above.



A little later a White-winged Dove watches a female Red-winged Blackbird feed.



A couple of days later we get a much better view of a female Red-winged Blackbird.



Ah, another blurry photo. Yet, it is a new bird for the month. A Red-bellied Woodpecker!



Next blurred photo of the week: Our banded Carolina Wren bobbing for bird seed.



Not long afterward, a juvenile Carolina Wren stops in for a look-see. Note the yellow gape still showing at the base of the beak and no white spots on the wings which distinguishes the younger birds from adults.



Finally, a really blurry photo! Had to include it, though, as I can't remember a BirdCam shot of a Brown Thrasher from the past. They live around here and breed around the yard but they do not visit the feeders too much. Proof after all of this time!



All local birds but still fun to see.