Showing posts with label Carolina Wren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carolina Wren. Show all posts

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Fall Migration at Mead Garden

Now that Fall Migration is kicking in, I decided to take a walk through Mead Botanical Garden, of course. I could not find many birds for the first 15 minutes. Odd. Then I did what I usually do to hopefully break the drought which is get that first photo taken even if it is an easy target like the first bird I did see, a Great Egret.

Great Egret

Even the boardwalk was quiet. Just me and a Cuban Anole.

Cuban Anole

One of the reasons I headed out was that a fellow birder had reported an Acadian Flycatcher near the creek. I wasn't sure if it would still be there but as I got to the giant cypress a bird flew out to catch an insect, nearly hitting me in the chest. It then settled on a branch just to my right. It was the flycatcher.

Acadian Flycatcher

You don't see Acadian Flycatchers, or most other flycatchers for that matter, that seem oblivious to humans walking close by. This bird just didn't seem to care about people being in its space at all.

Acadian Flycatcher

It fed low in the area, zipping back and forth across the path while I snapped photos and other people walked to and fro.

Acadian Flycatcher

The Acadian Flycatcher flew to the opposite side of the creek for a while and I had gathered enough shots to make me happy.

Acadian Flycatcher

Just after the flycatcher moved a little higher to search the branches a Carolina Wren came charging in to take its place. It was singing up a storm and posed just as close as the other bird recently had.

Carolina Wren

I had to move along, though, so I made my way to the spot behind the old amphitheater that typically has some good birds. Today was no exception but the clouds were moving in and rain might be on the way. In the gloom I could make out a small feeding flock and a flash of yellow betrayed a Prairie Warbler snapping up bugs.

Prairie Warbler

Just behind it was a Blackburnian Warbler. First I have seen since last year.

Blackburnian Warbler

Near the cement bridge, a huge flock of Common Grackles were suddenly swarming the area and making quite the ruckus.

Common Grackle

Trying to get a snack below the Grackles, a Red-bellied Woodpecker pounded away on slender branches.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Just before I got to the park exit I heard a call up in the trees. The view was horribly backlit but with a little photo processing I was able to confirm that the songster was a Yellow-throated Vireo.

Yellow-throated Vireo

Not a bad walk on a gloomy morning. Maybe I can find even more on the next visit.

Saturday, April 05, 2014

Birding While Doing Yardwork

Spring is here and finally time to do a little yard work We are fortunate enough to be a bit of a more native plant people so we don't have to waste water on lawns and we can often make it for about 6 month before doing real maintenance. Once the rains return, however, everything erupts before your eyes. Most of these shots are not great but just observations as I was busy out back and watching the birds flow in as I cleared the front and back yards.

I took down the growth in the front yard first as that is the first to get strong sunlight and then moved to the back. Once I mowed down the random weeds, I filled the bird baths and filled the feeders for the first time in quiet a while. I also tossed out a few raw peanuts for our Blue Jays and it didn't take long for them to take advantage of the spoils.

Blue Jay

So ya know, I have the camera out there in the back just in case I can capture something as I work after the dust settles. Comes in handy when a secretive Carolina Wren sneaks out to grab some new food from a feeder.

Carolina Wren

As I took a break to down some water, a Mourning Dove hurried in for a bite.

Mourning Dove

When I first filled the ground bird bath, a Brown Thrashers quickly flew in to take a bath. I missed that photo op but soon a Gray Catbird decided to take its place and then spend some time picking at things from the newly mowed yard.

Gray Catbird

One of the other birds that take advantage of when I fill the peanut feeder is the Red-bellied Woodpecker that is, for the second year, nesting just outside our bedroom window. There are several holes now in the tree but it was quite busy with one particular one.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

It was taking peanuts from the feeders a flying back to deposit them one at a time. Again, not a great shot, but I love seeing the Red-bellied Woodpeckers dropping in throughout the days.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Still trying to see if the Barred Owls are successful in raising a new brood this year but I have yet to see them. Always checking.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Fresh Air and a New Woodpecker at Mead

Some birders are retired and have free time to go on long trips on a whim to see birds any day. Some live near great birding spots that only require a short jaunt to see fun sightings nearly any day. Some of us have Life to deal with. Like me. Kids to run back and forth to school, chores, shopping, and job searching. Leaves precious little time to bird. Sigh.

So, after two weeks of not getting out to do any 'real' birding, I decided the reports from Mead warranted a day to get some fresh air and snag some shots today. Especially since I had to miss the Philadelphia Vireo last week and there are new Woodpeckers reported and photographed out at one of my favorite local hotspots. I had gathered all of my State requested job searches for the week and decided to take a walk.

I arrived at Mead Botanical Gardens as Marcus, a fellow birder, was getting out to refill the hummingbird feeder and he pointed out a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the tree above his van that he says has been there for a while. She was busy making holes in the tree for later meal chances. Despite their name, Sapsuckers don't suck sap. They make holes in bark to allow the sap to ooze out and attract insects that they then eat.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Once we got the feeder filled I wanted to head straight over to the spot where a Red-headed Woodpecker has been taking up residence and storing acorns after drilling out a hole in a nearby dead stump. We looked around a while before the bird began chirping and lead us to discover it up in the pines.

Red-headed Woodpecker

As we were watching this bird a Cooper's Hawk swooped in and landed a few feet away. This caused the Red-headed Woodpecker to hide until the hawk headed off into the neighborhood trees. It still took 20 minutes before the woodpecker felt secure enough to head out to forage. It landed on another snag far overhead.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpeckers breed up at Wekiwa Springs and were only recorded as fly-overs here at Mead. This is the first time they have been recorded staying for any length of time. I was hoping for a closer shot but with any luck they will hang around and I can get a closer shot. The fact that they are storing acorns is a good sign that they may be expanding their range, at least for now. It would be a welcome addition to the gardens.

Red-headed Woodpecker

I was wanting to add my first season sighting of Yellow-rumped Warblers to my list and we found them down by the creek. The lighting was horrible, however, so I got no pictures of them today. They quickly dispersed and were soon replaced by Carolina Wrens emerging from the wetlands.

Carolina Wren

Another bird we found along the creek was an Eastern Phoebe. As we followed its calls a Red-shouldered Hawk glided out of the shadows and landed on a fence on a property across from the gardens.

Red-shouldered Hawk

I mentioned a Cooper's Hawk before and they are still prowling the area in silence. As I was about to leave for the morning, I spotted another near the butterfly garden but it would only pause for a few seconds before being spooked by us as we walked by.

Cooper's Hawk

Being Halloween, spooking would seem to be the task at hand. At least I got some treats on my one day out for now.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Wasting Time at Mead Gaden

That tile is pretty much true. I had a dedication ceremony to get to at Lake Lotus but it did not start until 11 AM. I drop the oldest off at 7-ish so that leaves me some time to 'waste'. I had never parked on the far side of Mead before so I wondered if the back gate stayed open. The front gate doesn't open until later in the day. The gate was open and I got to spend an hour or so walking virtually alone to find some birds.

It actually was pretty quiet but I heard some American Redstarts down towards the amphitheater and headed that way. Redstarts were there. So was a larger bird at the back of the trees. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo!

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

I stayed in place and hoped that the bird would come out in the open a bit more. It finally moved a bit down the river but still wasn't as close as I would have liked. I was busy grabbing bugs so I don't blame it.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Then I noticed a second shape below the first bird. It was a second Cuckoo.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

It, too, was having a successful catch rate.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

They never did come into view any better but it is great to see this elusive species. Especially a pair. I would see another Cuckoo out behind the butterfly garden but it could have been one of these birds.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Another bird caught my attention after the Cuckoos. A single male Blackpoll Warbler was speeding its way from branch to branch in the shade.

Blackpoll Warbler

Down in the creek, a Wood Duck hen and her ducklings snapped up insects from the water's edge.

Wood Duck

Walking through the Cypress stand a bit farther down I spotted a couple of American Redstarts that I thought I might be able to get a shot of. However, I was quickly distracted by something even smaller backlit in the shade. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was grabbing tiny bugs and things before settling down on a branch.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I really wanted it to go into the light more but I had to be happy with a tiny bird scratching away.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

One more shot before heading to the boardwalk.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Just before reaching the butterfly garden, Northern Mockingbirds appeared and were inspecting the Elderberries for the best fruit.

Northern Mockingbird

These birds love the black berries this time of year and the whole family chases one another from plant to plant, vying for the best spot to eat.

Northern Mockingbird

Only got shots of the adults today but the juveniles are around, too. That one looks very, very tasty...

Northern Mockingbird

I knew I wouldn't get a great shot of the Carolina Wren singing deep in the shaded azaleas but it is hard to resist a try.

Carolina Wren

Time to head out and get to the dedication ceremony. I was pleasantly surprised to find one of the adult Barred Owls at eye-level preening over the creek.

Barred Owl

I snapped a few shots and then began hearing the juveniles calling nearby. One had to be very close. In fact, I nearly walked into it as it hid in the leaves which made it fly to another tree. On the ground, though, was the other young bird watching a pair of Northern Cardinals flying back in forth. These birds are so used to people walking around that it takes a a lot to get them interested in anything other than their task and just to have one turn to look at you is nice.

Barred Owl

Not a bad little jaunt. Of to Lake Lotus where I hope to get a little more birding in before the speeches begin.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Jay Watch Results at Blue Springs

Time for the next Jay Watch results event. This year we were back at Blue Springs as we were two years ago. I always like to get there right when the park opens to get some good parking and to do a little hiking before the presentation begins. Awaiting us just out of the van were a couple of Black Vultures.

Black Vulture

The weather has been very warm this year so unfortunately there were not a lot of manatee in the springs. We saw a few signs but no clear views. The only thing we could make out under water was a large gator resting on the bottom.

American Alligator

Heavy fog plagued the drive all the way. Walking to the landing, we could make out a Fog Bow. I used my son's camera to try and grab a few frames to get it all in and later got a chance to combine the shots into a full view. My first actually nice fog bow.

Fog Bow

Heading back up the boardwalk, a stop at the first overlook had a Ruby-crowned Kinglet land so close I couldn't get a shot. A White-eyed Vireo zipped past for an OK shot.

White-eyed Vireo

I noticed a statue at the next overlook and tried to get a shot but these kids kept getting in the way. Oh, well.

The Boys

The Sun was rising quickly behind the oaks. I didn't care if the Thursby House was obscured in shadow.

Thursby House

Things were very quiet all the way up to the end of the boardwalk where Blue Spring reaches the surface.

Blue Spring

I've always enjoyed the view from the top of the cliff over the spring head. Sometimes you get steam mixed in but it is great view whenever you are there.

Blue Spring

Heading back down the walk, we find a number of Alligator Gar hanging in the current.

Alligator Gar

Back near the river, the Alligator had surfaced for a closer look.

American Alligator

Hanging out at the mouth of the spring run were several Double-crested Cormorant coming into breeding plumage.

Double-crested Cormorant

We headed up a trail in search of...something. No real activity there so we had to settle for another type of bow for the day. A Web Bow. Next time you are near different spider webs, try to position yourself in the light and you might just find a nice spectrum display.

Spider Web

Back near the river and we find another Cormorant flying ahead of the many crew teams slicing up the waters.

Double-crested Cormorant

Some find Black Vultures ugly. I think they are pretty in their own way.

Black Vulture

Especially up close. Devoid of carrion and poop.

Black Vulture

There were scores of Black Vultures but I did find a couple Turkey Vultures hiding among the Black Vulture flock.

Turkey Vulture

It was finally time to head over for Scrub Jay results (some good, some not so good). As we sat and listened to the speakers, a family of Carolina Wrens would not be ignored. They often flew right next to us and called and called loudly.

Carolina Wren

Now for the trip home. Next search for new Scrub Jays begins in the Summer.