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.

Pileated Woodpecker

We had a slower than expected day at the banding site so I headed over to Mead Garden to see if the same held true there. Pretty much. The usual Mead gang was there and reported that there was not a lot of activity at all.

Fortunately, I got easily distracted by a Pileated Woodpecker that flew in close to me. It was searching for food from tree to tree and let me get fairly close.



Why move around to check the hole when you can just twist your neck all the way around?



Over at another limb our bird finds a tasty grub. Yum!



I love watching these big woodpeckers fly from spot to spot. There have been breeding pairs here for many years. This is the male as indicated by the red patch behind the lower mandible.



I almost didn't get any good shots. Several Blue Jays were harassing the woodpecker every time they thought there was an easy snack to grab away.



Now off to the rest of the Garden to see if there are any more fun finds. Bet I can find a couple despite the quiet.

Checking the Banding Site

I decided to take a walk through the banding site today to make sure it was in good enough shape for the grand re-opening tomorrow. Yep. Looks good. Not a lot of birds around right now but still a couple to catch my attention.

I was hoping the flock of Titmice and Chickadees would come out for a picture but they stayed in the trees across the river. I had to settle with the company of a Great-crested Flycatcher. I wanted a more direct angle but I guess this one is not too bad.



A Pileated Woodpecker flew in to join the party, searching along the branches before flying off into the park.



Of course, there are always plenty of butterflies around. I have a lot of photos of White Peacocks but how can you resist their excellent color scheme for just one more?



In the morning, dark in the morning, we begin our 5th Session of banding at Lake Lotus. I will put links to those findings when they are warranted. Hoping for a great year.

One Last GBBC Count for the Year

The Great Backyard Bird Count ends today so I had to head out early and get in one more report. I took the camera along just in case but didn't really plan of using it for some reason. Turns out I used it quite a bit.

Ring-necked Ducks are thinning out as we head toward Spring but it was nice to find a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker around the lake. Can't recall seeing the feathers so pretty before.



Finished the count at Lake Davis and headed over the Lake Lancaster. Hasn't been a lot of birds there of late but I knew I could add at least a few more species. I always seem to forget about certain birds that are so common like Boat-tailed Grackles. Until they turn and catch the sunlight.



Just feet away was a Tri-colored Heron feeding amongst the Mallards.



Started hearing loud calls soon afterwards and first thought someone grabbed themselves a Peacock. Then it dawned on me that it was a Limpkin creating all the racket. Then it flew in near me for verification. I couldn't get a good shot through the tree branches so I had to settle for a Little Blue Heron in another part of the tree being extremely quiet.



That count done, it was time to swing through the Greenwood Cemetery to check on the Bald Eagle nest. As I have mentioned before, I was trying to get a shot of one of the chicks. I did see that there are definitely two chicks in there but only one was up in the open.



The adults flew back and forth dropping off fish for the chicks and I managed to get a shot of one of the adults taking off back to gather more food.



While awaiting the return of the adult Eagles, I noticed some movements of Pileated Woodpeckers around the area. They eventually headed over to the tree where the eagles had the nest before. This now dead tree is currently the home of the woodpeckers and I hope to get some shots of the chick in the future. For now I settle for the female peaking out of the nest hole.



Just above the nest hole were a pair of European Starlings trying to figure out if they could find residence in another cavity in the same tree.



As I waited for the woodpeckers to return I was greeted by the calls of a Northern Mockingbird just under the dead tree in a shrub. It allowed me close approach to get some shots.



So close that I could get action shots of it singing away. Awesome views, awesome songs. Spring is here. Finally.



What will reveal itself next? Still waiting for the Robins and Waxwings.

Two More Lake Lotus Birds

Right before I headed out to get the Gallinule family shots I had two more shots along the trails to share.

There was a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers tearing up the trees in search of a snack. They were pounding the trunks so fast that pictures were quite a blur of heads and bill. Finally, one of the birds dug deep enough to extract a grub.



Also, just after the shots of the Barred Owl, I found a Great-crested Flycatcher feeding in the lower branches.



Still working on getting all the final details ironed out to start banding here. Hopefully soon.

Greenwood Eagles

Had a few minutes so I drove back into the cemetery to see if I could get a glimpse of the Pileated Woodpeckers nesting in the dead eagle tree. As soon as I got out of the van I heard a cry and looked east. Flying toward me were 3 juvenile Bald Eagles. These were the young that fledged just before the old nest fell from the tree a couple of weeks ago.



Not far behind them was Momma who landed on a nearby pine tree as the 3 youngsters landed in the nest tree. One of the 3 flew off again soon to be joined by Pop. The two of them headed out toward the neighboring lakes. The other two sat up top and watched as Momma called out to remind them where she was.



Soon, Pop flew back in carrying a fish. He landed above me and one of the fledglings tried to move in for a snack. The two were trying to get the fish into position when it came loose and fell 50 feet to the ground not far from where I stood. Both of the eagles just kind of stared at the fish but didn't try to go after it.

The look, to me, said, "Dang...".



A few minutes later, Momma flew in from her perch and scooped up the fish and quickly had the 3 others following after her. A very interesting episode to behold.

Then I remembered. I was here to look for woodpeckers. They didn't disappoint.



On the way back to the van I had a quick encounter with a Northern Mockingbird.



Never know what you might find when you aren't even looking for it...