Finally, the Vermilion Flycatcher (and an Unimpressed Hound)

Broken, but unbowed - it took a hit during tornadoes of 2 years ago. This is a tree that supports so much birdlife. It begged for a photo in the early morning light.

Happiness, not in another place but in this place...

Not for another hour, but this hour.

~ Walt Whitman

The pond was waiting for us today after a quick to the store for avocados and such - improving my diet and state of mind was my motivation for the morning.

A couple of birders were already at the ponds and I stopped to see what they had found. We discussed the richness of this short stretch of road. They also directed me to the precise area where they had seen the Vermilion Flycatcher.*  I shared some of the experience from last year's CBC to support their observations (including what seemed like a ridiculous number of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks).  I do love birders - they are so enthusiastic and generous with information. I'm glad to be part of the birding community. 

These birders were visiting the ponds on their way home from a sparrow event about an hour south. It is not unusual to plan a route to include identified "birding hot spots." This place is one. That is how I found it even though I live a short drive away. I did share that I've been birding in this area for about ten years. Have I ever seen things!

Because Z and I began our bird-crawl from the north near the wooded spot we had checked during the CBC, some of the photos might look a little different than a "trip to the ponds." It was early as well so while the light was good overall, the rising sun backlit some photos.** I also took a few other shots because the clouds, trees, and a few other things whispered "take my picture please, I'm here for you." Those photos have to go somewhere.

As I type this, I'm not completely sure what I captured - I've yet to review all the photos. I'll try not to include to many blurry "can't you tell that is an Eastern Bluebird?" photos (actually just noticed I did and I'm going back to delete them). I also will share a list of birds Merlin*** and I agreed about.

Photos I like may be posted in an extra large size, but I'll do my best to avoid unnecessary enlargement of the blurry "huh?" photos. I'm just taking you along on a last minute bird-crawl and letting you read some of what is in my head as I go along. I will edit that too. 

I'm not working on a book or  a calendar. I take photos to use for iNaturalist and to share with those of you who haven't the time or energy to get out in the wild, but still might enjoy a quick visit.  But I have to try and bring those "little brown birds" closer in so that we can appreciate them.

White-winged Dove. Easy-peasy id.

At this point in the crawl I observed at least 3 or 4 different species bouncing back and forth from the roadway to the fence line to the field beyond and further back. I took a shot of this nest (yes - just a nest - no birds at all) to remind me to mention that there is often a great deal of movement in nesting areas. Some birds are more aggressive than others - protecting their territory and/or attacking the territory of another. A mile or so further down the road I watched a Bluejay chase a hawk off across a field and into a tree line some 30 yards away. Feisty birds. Crows will do that too. So will mocking birds.

The first of many Northern Mocking Birds. In addition to being amazing mimics they are very territorial and perform acrobatics during mating season. I love them. I'm always disappointed if they are missing from a crawl. I haven't seen any territorial posturing or dancing yet, but cannot wait!

This is probably my best photo of the morning. White-throated Sparrow. Check out the yellow plumage at the eye. I love a bird whose name is easy to remember. It hung out on this limb long enough for multiple photos so the "second best" will be included too because, well, it is a good example of a photo that would have made me perfectly happy, even though it is just "okay" compared to this one.

For something that often looks like one of those dreaded "little brown birds" to the naked eye, this is one impressive sparrow. Sparrows can be hard. With a little magnification, one doesn't even need to use the "sparrow chart"**** with the White-throated Sparrow.

At the wooded section of the drive and I was disappointed to see few birds. Here is the first American Kestrel of the day. If you know you know. It was too far to worry about a closer shot. 

I gave up on an Eastern Bluebird seen just before this Yellow-rumped Warbler. This area generally is crawling with woodpeckers, wrens, warblers, bluebirds and others, but today they might have been calling but few were showing themselves.

The sun was going in and out of the cloud cover. On this stretch of highway a lone tree held an American Crow. One knows by size, call, and behavior. Crows have a distinct movement when calling. 

And here's the crow. Stay tuned, there will be more.

NON-BIRD BREAK: 

Not a bird. This is a longhorn. This animal's horn-spread looks to be greater than its body-length. I see this herd frequently and watched a calf born right in this area a few years ago. I do not remember seeing this animal before.

See, it is a herd of longhorns. Many are strikingly beautiful, but this one...quite something else.

BACK TO THE BIRDS:

The bird crawl is along a winding road. From the backroad I went across the highway and then right, right, left, right, left, and right -- arriving at a shallow pond with an enormous surface area. My mind pulls up a list of birds I've seen along this road (and where) so I'm moving slowly (hence "bird crawl") and checking out the "good spots." While often I find only a few birds here, today was completely different - gulls, sparrows, mockers, and geese were all over the place. 

A large flock of gulls frustrated most attempts for photos. Probably Ring-billed Gulls.

On one side of the road was a Northern Mockingbird.

On the other side was a White-crowned Sparrow.

As we moved further down the road a woodpecker flew across the road and almost disappeared into the brambles along the fence line.  It's a Red-bellied Woodpecker. This terrible shot is an example of using distinctive size and plumage to identify - even with a photo like this.  They have a distinctive call as well, but did not hear it at this location. Whatever the case, never give up!

Another cheeky American Kestrel gives me an "over the shoulder look."

Check Peterson.***** It is an Eastern Bluebird. Sometimes I'll just get a glow of blue. 

The Belted Kingfisher.

Loads of Mourning Doves at the ponds today.

More Mourning Doves...see, I told you.

American White Pelicans. Of course, there is a duck photobombing. We only saw a handful today, but there were 50 here for the CBC.

Pied-billed Grebe - easily identifiable shape. We have about 4 birds here regularly and watched a nest built within easy viewing from the road last year.  

The crows were feeding. This one was eating, um, maybe fish remains. It was something that required tearing.

This crow is carrying around a seed, a rock, a trinket, a snail....who knows?

Great Egret in the background. Ring-billed Gulls in the foreground (you can just see the dark ring at the end of their bills). I always hesitate to identify gulls. Gull people are easily exasperated by non-gull folks.

Those are Wilson's Snipe. You will have to trust me. They were all resting it seems. They turn their heads and rest their ridiculously long beaks along their backs when resting/sleeping. 

This is the big surprise of the crawl. It is a Common Yellowthroat hiding in the high grass on the other side of two fences. I don't remember ever seeing one, but I checked my iNaturalist database. Yes, I have seen one before - in 2019. I observed a dead bird on the sidewalk at the Art Department at the college. It appeared to be dead  from a "window strike." 

Great Blue Heron

There were more, but this was the best grouping of Canada Geese. I wish I didn't love them, but I do.

Great Egret preening near the turtle pond (or kingfisher pond according to some). 

Eastern Phoebe - they actually tell you their name, well, their last name. Their call is "phoebe."

The Vermilion Flycatcher on a fence totally ignoring the Labrador on the other side. The dog isn't impressed, but I was. Thrilling to finally see this bird. Adult males are primarily a bright red - so bright some describe it as a neon red.

The last shot of the morning...American Kestrel. We saw a number of them.

In addition to the birders, about mid-crawl I looked up and saw a grey jeep heading towards me. Realizing I could barely see him, I thought, "he can probably barely see me -  I need to make sure my lights are on." 

He slowed and pulled up - even with my car. "Everything okay? I noticed you flashed your lights, " he said. 

I explained I just thought I should get my lights on as I had been slow to see him down the road. "I'm just taking pictures of birds," I explained. 

It seems such a privilege to be so close to wildlife riches and to live in an area where this kind of interaction is commonplace - neighbors checking on neighbors whether you know their name or not. A couple of time in the last few weeks people have been rude to me online. My response depends on many things, but my favorite reply right now is that they "might want to think about a calmer hobby, like birdwatching."

So, that's it. It was a good day. I met some lovely people - no trolls. 

Thanks for coming on the crawl.

Some people are very competitive in their birding. 

Maybe they'll die happy, 

having seen a thousand species before they die, 

but I'll die happy 

knowing I've spent all that quiet time being present.

~ Lynn Thomson, Birding with Yeats: A Mother's Memoir

NOTES: 

*An immature male Vermilion Flycatcher has been in the area for a few months now. These visiting birders and everyone else in the county seem to have seen this bird, except me. UNTIL TODAY!

** Unfortunately most birds do not care if they are "backlit" and thus can be difficult to photograph and identify. Hence Peterson's books are very useful. As a child the silhouettes confused me. Don't you need to see a picture?

***Merlin is an app for your phone. It listens to birdsong, identifies it for/with you, and creates a list. Please do not completely rely on it because it isn't perfect. It told a local birder they were hearing Puffins. Well, that just doesn't happen here. Anyway Merlin is a tool designed by the folks with the Cornell University Ornithology program. They also have a website "All About Birds" that is very helpful in identifying birds and differentiating between similar species.

****Sparrow Chart - https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ae/24/b7/ae24b726b3dae78d4c2de8e4cba82ee6.jpg

*****Peterson's Field Guides. There are many. I have the ones my parents used. I mostly carry them in the car for luck.

What did Merlin say we heard (it is pretty close to what I saw:

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Blue Jay

Black-Crested Titmouse (probably a hybrid because that is what we see in this area)

Northern Cardinal

Bewick's Wren

Carolina Wren

Common Yellowthroat

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Bluebird

Canada Goose

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

American Pipit

Green-winged Teal

Killdeer

Northern Mockingbird

Belted Kingfisher

House Sparrow

Carolina Chickadee

White-crowned Sparrow

Lesser Goldfinch

White-throated Sparrow

American Kestrel

Eastern Meadowlark

Savannah Sparrow

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Ring-billed Gull

American Robin

Downy Woodpecker

Brown Thrasher

Crested Caracara

American Crow

Ducks and Cormorants:

Green-winged teal were present in numbers

Mallards - ours may be domestic

Gadwalls

Northern Shovelers

Cormorants were also present in numbers, but I am not fond of them. I do like a good Anhinga, but I have not seen one of those in a while.