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| Pileated Woodpecker |
but they also enjoyed visiting the same palm tree in my backyard this weekend...
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
and while chatting around the tree, they discovered...
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| Pileated Woodpecker |
they use the same hair stylist who LOVES red!!!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Coincidences
Not only are they both birds that enjoy pecking wood....
but they also enjoyed visiting the same palm tree in my backyard this weekend...
and while chatting around the tree, they discovered...
they use the same hair stylist who LOVES red!!!
but they also enjoyed visiting the same palm tree in my backyard this weekend...
and while chatting around the tree, they discovered...
they use the same hair stylist who LOVES red!!!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Yard Visitors (take II)
My first yard visitors post did a mysterious disappearing act when I tried to make an edit from my iphone. I'm not sure how that happened...(I'm sure it wasn't any sort of operator error)
While frequently I encounter the same regulars that congregate in my yard, I occasionally come across ones that only make a brief appearance.
Ospreys are among the regular visitors. Since early February, this Osprey has been working diligently on constructing a nest in my neighbor's pine tree. For every one stick this Osprey would put in place, five more would fall to the ground. For the past 3 years, Ospreys have attempted to build in the same area of this tree without success. Just as I was beginning to speculate that this tree was some sort of Osprey nest building training tree, this guy finally had success!
If you really enjoy watching the painstaking process of nest construct (and you have A LOT of free time) check out this video from a post I did a while back. Osprey Nest Building Video (We made this video from our living room window)
This week aDowny Hairy Woodpecker stopped by to join the regulars, the Red-bellies, for some Oak tree foraging fun. Check out a great post on Dwayne's Blog (Nerdy for Birdy) on differences between the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Blue-Jays can regularly be seen and, of course, heard in the yard. This week we watched them collecting some nesting materials.
A Great Crested Flycatcher made a brief appearance this week, but my camera wasn't nearby for a capture of this beauty.
While frequently I encounter the same regulars that congregate in my yard, I occasionally come across ones that only make a brief appearance.
Ospreys are among the regular visitors. Since early February, this Osprey has been working diligently on constructing a nest in my neighbor's pine tree. For every one stick this Osprey would put in place, five more would fall to the ground. For the past 3 years, Ospreys have attempted to build in the same area of this tree without success. Just as I was beginning to speculate that this tree was some sort of Osprey nest building training tree, this guy finally had success!
If you really enjoy watching the painstaking process of nest construct (and you have A LOT of free time) check out this video from a post I did a while back. Osprey Nest Building Video (We made this video from our living room window)
This week a
Blue-Jays can regularly be seen and, of course, heard in the yard. This week we watched them collecting some nesting materials.
A Great Crested Flycatcher made a brief appearance this week, but my camera wasn't nearby for a capture of this beauty.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Around Town
Amid our different schedule this week, we were happy to be able fit in a Wednesday evening trip to the wetlands, a Thursday morning walk at the Moccasin Island Tract, and a dreary Saturday morning visit to the Click Ponds.
The Least Terns and I seem to be frequenting the same areas lately. I saw them at both the wetlands and Click Ponds this week and I am still seeing them regularly along the Indian River.
The wetlands have quieted down quite a bit since the departure of the winter birds. The usual Herons, Egrets, Limpkins, Moorhens, Coots, Anhingas, Cormorants, Blue-winged Teals, Pied-billed Grebes, White & Glossy Ibises, and Ospreys were all visible. Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah Sparrows, a Loggerhead Shrike, and Northern Mockingbirds were a few of the other birds we saw.
I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk hanging out on a fence post, pulling something apart, on the drive out to Moccasin Island.
Turned out to be an insect with large green wings.
I think you can guess what we heard on our Moccasin Island walk...
The Click Ponds seemed overrun with Boat-tailed Grackles and dragonflies. We walked a section of the ponds where we observed a variety of activity in the wooded area that surrounds the ponds. It started with the plump Mockingbird with a bill deformity (I seem to be encountering quite a few of these lately).
We saw a pair of Cardinals, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, several Mourning Doves, and one Common-ground Dove. We also saw a Gray Catbird, who decided to flash us a view its rufous-colored undertail coverts.
We then spotted a large, in-flight raptor headed our way. It turned out to be a Bald Eagle, and it landed on a utility pole in the far distance, but still within view.
Just as I thinking it was exciting to see the Eagle, a pair of juvenile/immature Bald Eagles flew overhead! I have never seen 2 young eagles flying together before. I guess Mom (or Dad) was trailing them to be sure they were staying out of trouble.
I saw this new family of Sandhill Cranes on a quiet street by my house. I took these photos from the car.
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| Least Tern Viera Wetlands |
The Least Terns and I seem to be frequenting the same areas lately. I saw them at both the wetlands and Click Ponds this week and I am still seeing them regularly along the Indian River.
The wetlands have quieted down quite a bit since the departure of the winter birds. The usual Herons, Egrets, Limpkins, Moorhens, Coots, Anhingas, Cormorants, Blue-winged Teals, Pied-billed Grebes, White & Glossy Ibises, and Ospreys were all visible. Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah Sparrows, a Loggerhead Shrike, and Northern Mockingbirds were a few of the other birds we saw.
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| Red-shouldered Hawk Moccasin Island Tract |
I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk hanging out on a fence post, pulling something apart, on the drive out to Moccasin Island.
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| Red-shouldered Hawk Moccasin Island Tract |
Turned out to be an insect with large green wings.
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| Eastern Meadowlark Moccasin Island Tract |
I think you can guess what we heard on our Moccasin Island walk...
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| Boat-tailed Grackle Click Ponds |
The Click Ponds seemed overrun with Boat-tailed Grackles and dragonflies. We walked a section of the ponds where we observed a variety of activity in the wooded area that surrounds the ponds. It started with the plump Mockingbird with a bill deformity (I seem to be encountering quite a few of these lately).
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| Northern Mockingbird Click Ponds |
We saw a pair of Cardinals, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, several Mourning Doves, and one Common-ground Dove. We also saw a Gray Catbird, who decided to flash us a view its rufous-colored undertail coverts.
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| Gray Catbird Click Ponds |
We then spotted a large, in-flight raptor headed our way. It turned out to be a Bald Eagle, and it landed on a utility pole in the far distance, but still within view.
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| Bald Eagle Click Ponds |
Just as I thinking it was exciting to see the Eagle, a pair of juvenile/immature Bald Eagles flew overhead! I have never seen 2 young eagles flying together before. I guess Mom (or Dad) was trailing them to be sure they were staying out of trouble.
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| Sandhill Cranes |
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| Sandhill Cranes |
I saw this new family of Sandhill Cranes on a quiet street by my house. I took these photos from the car.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Blackjack, Boulders, and a Bird of Blue
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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
I spent this past weekend out west in Las Vegas. While most people probably don't associate Vegas with birding, there are a few areas close by that offer an opportunity to do just that. We took a little trip over to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for some combined hiking and birding fun. We explored the scenic drive, a 13-mile loop, which offers lots of eye pleasing scenery, overlooks, and a number of great trails. We stopped off at the first trail head, where I saw my first feathered friends, a pair of Western Scrub-Jays. This was my first sighting of the western version of the scrub-jay. They definitely shares the pleasing blue hues with the Florida version!
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| Western Scrub-Jay Red Rock National Conservation Area |
These guys decided to keep giving me the look away. I guess they are a little more standoffish than the jays around home.
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| Western Scrub-Jay Red Rock National Conservation Area |
The trails here at the first pulloff were alittle too steep for the tike so we headed on. We stopped a few miles up the drive at a great little trail that led to a small natural waterfall. There were a number a birds around on this trail. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were abundantly fluttering about the trail, although I couldn't find one on the right side of the trail for some better lighting!
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| Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red Rock National Conservation Area |
I spotted a pair of Sparrows were on the trail up ahead of us as we made our way up, and believe they were Chipping Sparrows, as they were sporting some distinctive rufous caps. Upon arriving at the waterfall, I spotted this guy,
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Red Rock National Conservation Area |
This was my son's first hike on a trail that contained lots of fun obstacles. He got the hang of it pretty quick!
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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
As for blackjack, we didn't really play, I just thought it went with the title...
Monday, April 16, 2012
Afternoon Delight
Spending time, usually in the late afternoon, watching the plethora of activity on the Indian River is a favorite activity around my house. On this particular afternoon last week, we came out to see six pelicans, three Ospreys, and a hand full of Least Terns dipping and diving into the large schools of mullet.
This Osprey made several circles around us before scooping up its fish. The Osprey grabbed the fish, a rather light meal, with one talon before circling around and heading back towards us.
We have seen the Least Terns nearly everyday since their recent arrival in town. I'm usually initially alerted to their presence by their distinctive calls, which sound remarkably like my dog's squeaky toys. It's a rather unmistakeable sound!
At the end of the dock we visit, there are a few pilings that are quite popular with the birds. During the near 30 minute visit, the Least Terns, a Brown Pelican, and a Cormorant all popped in.
Over the past month, I've noticed that many of the Brown Pelicans are in various stages of breeding plumage development.
I photographed this Brown Pelican a little later in the evening.
In addition to the birds, a small pod of dolphins came into the area. They were quite active, and may possibility have been mating.
I liked this Dolphin, swimming on its back!
This Osprey made several circles around us before scooping up its fish. The Osprey grabbed the fish, a rather light meal, with one talon before circling around and heading back towards us.
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| Osprey Rockledge, Fl |
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| Osprey Rockledge, Fl |
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| Osprey Rockledge, Fl |
We have seen the Least Terns nearly everyday since their recent arrival in town. I'm usually initially alerted to their presence by their distinctive calls, which sound remarkably like my dog's squeaky toys. It's a rather unmistakeable sound!
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| Least Tern Rockledge, Fl |
At the end of the dock we visit, there are a few pilings that are quite popular with the birds. During the near 30 minute visit, the Least Terns, a Brown Pelican, and a Cormorant all popped in.
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| Least Terns Rockledge, Fl |
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| Brown Pelican Rockledge, Fl |
I photographed this Brown Pelican a little later in the evening.
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| Brown Pelican Rockledge, Fl |
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| Double-Crested Cormorant Rockledge, Fl |
In addition to the birds, a small pod of dolphins came into the area. They were quite active, and may possibility have been mating.
I liked this Dolphin, swimming on its back!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Cruickshank Sanctuary
The Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary is a great place for an early morning stroll through the scrubby flatwoods. While weekly visits had been a longstanding tradition for us, we have been on a hiatus for the past few months. The sanctuary is most well known for its optimal Florida Scrub-Jay habitat. The Scrub Jays here aren't hard to find as they often find you before you find them.
They usually congregate in small groups and can be seen in multiple spots along the one-mile hiking trail. This Scrub-Jay was waiting at the trail head to greet us.
As we hiked the trail, a very bold Scrub-Jay came out of nowhere and landed on my son's head as I carried him along on my back. Luckily it didn't stay there long as I know my son was quite startled. A short ways up the path we encountered this Scrub-Jay, which I believe was the same one we encountered a few minutes earlier.
This Scrub-Jay's bill deformity was immediately apparent. I'm not sure if this bird had been injured or if it was born with this deformity. Another apparent fact was, this guy was very bold! It made repeated dive bombs onto my head, and followed us for quite a while. (It was easy to recognize!) I've read that Scrub-Jays, like Crows, are attracted to shiny objects, and I did have shiny sunglasses resting on my head, or it may have been looking for a handout, which it definitely would not be getting. (Feeding Scrub-Jays is dangerous to their health!) I'm not sure if this bird's deformity interferes with its ability to forage as Scrub-Jays use their bills to crack acorns against hard objects.
A pair of Osprey were carrying on quite a loud conversation in a nearby tree as numerous Red-bellied Woodpeckers were tree hopping in a foraging frenzy. Northern Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves, Grackles, and a Gray Catbird were also in the area.
While I've seen Great Horned Owls here in the past, it was a rather unexpected surprise to see one emerge for the brush with some prey. It flew to a distance tree, so I as unable to see what was for breakfast. Great Horned Owls have always been a favorite bird of mine!
This Eastern Towhee was perched close to the trail as it spoke with another Towhee that was hiding somewhere among the scrub.
I spotted a plump bird in the distance perched on a branch of a tall tree. I took a few photos for identification purposes, guessing it would leave as we made our way up the trail. I wasn't quite sure what it was, thinking it looked somewhat Quail like. I was able to tell it was a Northern Bobwhite upon zooming in on my photo. While these pudgy fellows are known to frequent this sanctuary, this was my first sighting of one here.
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| Florida Scrub-Jay Rockledge, Fl |
They usually congregate in small groups and can be seen in multiple spots along the one-mile hiking trail. This Scrub-Jay was waiting at the trail head to greet us.
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| Florida Scrub-Jay Rockledge, Fl |
As we hiked the trail, a very bold Scrub-Jay came out of nowhere and landed on my son's head as I carried him along on my back. Luckily it didn't stay there long as I know my son was quite startled. A short ways up the path we encountered this Scrub-Jay, which I believe was the same one we encountered a few minutes earlier.
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| Florida Scrub-Jay Rockledge, Fl |
This Scrub-Jay's bill deformity was immediately apparent. I'm not sure if this bird had been injured or if it was born with this deformity. Another apparent fact was, this guy was very bold! It made repeated dive bombs onto my head, and followed us for quite a while. (It was easy to recognize!) I've read that Scrub-Jays, like Crows, are attracted to shiny objects, and I did have shiny sunglasses resting on my head, or it may have been looking for a handout, which it definitely would not be getting. (Feeding Scrub-Jays is dangerous to their health!) I'm not sure if this bird's deformity interferes with its ability to forage as Scrub-Jays use their bills to crack acorns against hard objects.
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| Florida Scrub-Jay Rockledge, Fl |
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| Close up of bill deformity Florida Scrub-Jay Rockledge, Fl |
A pair of Osprey were carrying on quite a loud conversation in a nearby tree as numerous Red-bellied Woodpeckers were tree hopping in a foraging frenzy. Northern Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves, Grackles, and a Gray Catbird were also in the area.
While I've seen Great Horned Owls here in the past, it was a rather unexpected surprise to see one emerge for the brush with some prey. It flew to a distance tree, so I as unable to see what was for breakfast. Great Horned Owls have always been a favorite bird of mine!
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| Great Horned Owl Rockledge, Fl |
This Eastern Towhee was perched close to the trail as it spoke with another Towhee that was hiding somewhere among the scrub.
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| Eastern Towhee Rockledge, Fl |
I spotted a plump bird in the distance perched on a branch of a tall tree. I took a few photos for identification purposes, guessing it would leave as we made our way up the trail. I wasn't quite sure what it was, thinking it looked somewhat Quail like. I was able to tell it was a Northern Bobwhite upon zooming in on my photo. While these pudgy fellows are known to frequent this sanctuary, this was my first sighting of one here.
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| Northern Bobwhite Rockledge, Fl |
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Viera Wetlands 4/6/12
Friday's adgenda didn't include a trip to the wetlands, but somehow we ended there anyway. Many of the winter time visitors are now noticeably absent, especially the ducks. Blue-winged Teals were the only species I noticed. I did encounter this American Bittern who spotted me at precisely the same time I spotted him. The Bittern immediately struck a pose in an attempt to camouflage itself in the reeds. I took one quick photo from the car and moved right along.
An Anhinga family that nests on the lower part of the same palm as the herons was visible today. These chicks seemed to be making similar demands, although much less aggressively.
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| American Bittern Viera Wetlands |
The next stop was near the herons. I once again arrived as a heron parent was arriving to deliver a meal. The juvenile Great Blue Herons went into a frenzy as they waited to be fed. They repeatedly grabbed and stabbed at their parent and once the food arrived the frenzy became between the two young birds. They ended up in a tug a war match with the fish with one chick being victorious as it swallowed the whole thing. The sibling seemed less than pleased and poked around the nest for any crumbs.
An Anhinga family that nests on the lower part of the same palm as the herons was visible today. These chicks seemed to be making similar demands, although much less aggressively.
