Still Thinking of Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Like I suggested at the end of the last post on the Yellow-headed Blackbird, I couldn't get it out of my head. I needed to swing around the area today and see if it was still around.

I didn't find it near the restaurant so I hurried across the street to Lake Mendsen (it DOES have a real name) and stepped out of the van to the sound of a really raspy call in the bull rushes. Not two minutes later, the bird appeared.

It was in shade and in the rushes for most of the time. Then it flew off across the lake and, soon, back again. I lost sight of it and was about to give up. I headed back toward the van and couldn't believe what I saw. The bird was feeding along the ground, again in shade, right near the parking lot!



Just after that shot it flew over the hotel and back toward the restaurant. I let it be. Nearby, Boat-tailed Grackles cleaned up and fed along the shore.



Next, a very inquisitive White Ibis flew down next to me and posed in the light of the setting sun. One of my favorite Ibis shots to date. Much more impressive in a larger format.



Someday, I hope to get a more clear shot of the Blackbird. It was nice to have it around. Hope it makes it back to its real home.

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Success!

The thought of the Yellow-headed Blackbird was haunting me still after not finding it yesterday. I had to swing by the sighting spot again. There was another birder there who had driven all the way from the Tampa area to try and find it.

We sat on a cement culvert and waited. She had thought she had spotted it briefly before it disappeared into the reeds. So, wait we did.

After nearly and hour it appeared! It hung close to the reed and preened for what seemed like forever. Not a good view for a shot. But I took several anyway just for positive ID purposes.

Satisfied with her find, the woman headed home. Said she had a dog to walk after a long drive home. I stayed and waited longer, hoping the bird would come out in the open. Some folks visiting the restaurant next the the spot noticed my camera and came over to chat. Wanted to know if there were good hiking spots nearby for visitors to explore.

I notice that whenever I am out with this new digital camera I get more curious people asking either what I am taking photos of and since I seem to know about birds then I must know other outdoor information. Luckily, I do!

Right after the last visitor got their info from me the bird seemed to be done with preening and began to slide down toward the water for a drink. Then, it hopped out onto the fence.



There he was! Just looking around and posing. Even though it was at a bit of a distance I thought my shots were more in focus. Maybe my heart was pounding more than I realized in this shady spot holding a long lens at its max focus.



I managed one more full shot just before it vanished back into the bull rushes to hide.



Ah, success. Now I could go home and forget about this wayward bird. Or could I...?

Hunting for a Wayward Visitor

Word spread fast that an out of town bird watching group had found a Yellow-headed Blackbird lurking in some reeds behind a hotel. Best news was that it was just minutes form our house! No need to run 2 hours to get a new bird.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds are most common out West. Every now and then there is a sighting here in Florida. Strong fronts have been sweeping in of late and may have ushered this bird in the wrong direction.

I had some chores to run first thing in the morning so I would pass by the area on the way. It was just around dawn so I hoped traffic, cars and bird watchers alike, would be at a minimum.

I got to the spot and waited. Scanned the reeds. Waited. Nothing in sight but Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles. Still, it is fun to watch the male Red-wings performing their calls and flaring their wings.



Not much else to see. Until a Limpkin flew in to look for Apple Snails.



Time was running out for today. No Yellow-headed Blackbird. I would have to try again next time.

Dang.