Yesterday I was outside working on a frame for a movie screen to take to camp. My aunt came over and began to describe a couple of birds that she saw while on her walk that morning. The only thing that came to my mind was Monk Parakeets. While we were talking about it, two Monk Parakeets flew along the road heading west, making property bird #186. I suspect we'll see a lot more of them in the days and years to come. They can join the House Sparrows, European Starlings and Eurasian Collared Doves as birds that aren't supposed to be on our property. Sigh. When will people ever learn that it's not a good idea to mess with nature?
Other than that, the baby bluebirds from brood #1 are doing well. They hang out in our yard quite a bit. They are learning to hunt pretty well. I watch them catch insects by themselves. I don't see them around the male that much anymore, so they're getting more independent all the time. A Roseate Spoonbill flew over yesterday. He was the first of his species that I've seen from the property this year.
I'm slowly getting to my goal of seeing more than the 129 species I saw in 2004. It's summertime now and that typically means slow birding days ahead of me. But, fall migration will be here before I know it.
'08 Birds as of May 29: 126
'04 Birds as of May 29: 105
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Dog Days of Summer
There hasn't been much to report from the property lately. Some of the most exciting things has been watching the male bluebird lead the three young ones around to teach them how to hunt. They sit on our fence pretty regularly and watch the ground below. All three of them seem to be doing really well. The second nesting is well underway. We've got five eggs again. We hope all five hatch. They should hatch sometime between June 5 and June 7. Amberlyn predicts the 6th and I predict the 7th.
White Ibis still continue to fly over in large numbers. Seems that everytime I'm outside there are several flocks that fly over.
I hope to get out for a little bit on Friday or Saturday to see if I can find that Painted Bunting that was singing. That would be pretty cool to know they're nesting on the property.
I head out to camp on June 1 where I'll be surrounded by Golden-cheeked Warblers, Bewick's Wrens, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Zone-tailed Hawks. It'll be pretty cool!
White Ibis still continue to fly over in large numbers. Seems that everytime I'm outside there are several flocks that fly over.
I hope to get out for a little bit on Friday or Saturday to see if I can find that Painted Bunting that was singing. That would be pretty cool to know they're nesting on the property.
I head out to camp on June 1 where I'll be surrounded by Golden-cheeked Warblers, Bewick's Wrens, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Zone-tailed Hawks. It'll be pretty cool!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Just Sitting Around
Today was sort of a Big Sit for me. One of the teens from church came over and we sat in one spot hoping the hogs would come up for the corn I've been throwing out for them. We didn't see any hogs, but there were more birds that I expected. I got a couple of new property birds for the year. A Blackpoll Warbler looked for food in the top of a water oak. He was joined by several American Redstarts, Black-throated Green Warblers and a couple of Magnolia Warblers. An Eastern Wood Pewee entertained me by showing off his flycatching skills. I saw a large, black bird fly over and he called. I quickly identified him as a Fish Crow which was the first of those for the year. One thing that really excited me today was a male Painted Bunting singing his territorial song. I've always wondered why I didn't hear Painted Buntings singing on the property since we've got great habitat for them. Looks like we've got at least one nesting now!
Birds Seen 5/17/08 (33 species): Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird
'08 Birds Seen as of 5/17: 124
'04 Birds Seen as of 5/17: 105
Birds Seen 5/17/08 (33 species): Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird
'08 Birds Seen as of 5/17: 124
'04 Birds Seen as of 5/17: 105
Friday, May 16, 2008
Oh Canada!
Spring migration is winding down, but it's not over yet. With the cool front passing through yesterday and 10-15 mph north winds all night and this morning, some of the late migrants were grounded today. All of the migrants that nest here were singing including Northern Parula, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee and Acadian Flycatcher. Several migrant warblers were flitting around in the trees fueling up for their journey north when southerly winds return. There were Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart and the first Canada Warbler I've seen on the property this year. Yellow-billed Cuckoos finally have shown up and were calling in several places.
I was trying to find a little bird in some pretty thick tangles of tri-foliate orange and yaupon holly trees. I could see a little ways back in this particular spot. I could see a little dip in the ground. As I was looking for the little bird, a Green Heron hopped up out of the little dip. He's the first one of his species I have seen this year on the property.
When I came back in, I went to check the bluebird box. The female seemed a little apprehensive with me going toward it. They have begun constructing a new nest. This nest has a lot of pine needles in it. I would guess they are halfway through with their construction. We'll probably see eggs in the next seven to ten days.
Birds seen on May 16 (35 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Canada Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow
'08 Property Birds as of May 16: 122
'04 Property Birds as of May 16: 105
I was trying to find a little bird in some pretty thick tangles of tri-foliate orange and yaupon holly trees. I could see a little ways back in this particular spot. I could see a little dip in the ground. As I was looking for the little bird, a Green Heron hopped up out of the little dip. He's the first one of his species I have seen this year on the property.
When I came back in, I went to check the bluebird box. The female seemed a little apprehensive with me going toward it. They have begun constructing a new nest. This nest has a lot of pine needles in it. I would guess they are halfway through with their construction. We'll probably see eggs in the next seven to ten days.
Birds seen on May 16 (35 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Canada Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow
'08 Property Birds as of May 16: 122
'04 Property Birds as of May 16: 105
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
#119 For The Year
We've got some deer corn to bait the feral hogs on the property. The weevils have decided they like it a lot, so I'm putting quite a bit of it out to keep the weevils from spreading. While walking down to the spot where I put the corn, a Least Flycatcher was singing from an exposed branch. He would sing for just a few seconds and then fly. We got to watch him show off his flycatching skills a couple of times.
In other wildlife news, there are thousands of tiny tadpoles lining the edge of the pond. I wish I knew what kind of frogs they are going to become. With the Little Blue Heron and Spotted Sandpiper that hang out down there, many of them will probably become lunch as they get a little bigger.
'08 Property Birds as of May 13: 119
'04 Property Birds as of May 13: 105
In other wildlife news, there are thousands of tiny tadpoles lining the edge of the pond. I wish I knew what kind of frogs they are going to become. With the Little Blue Heron and Spotted Sandpiper that hang out down there, many of them will probably become lunch as they get a little bigger.
'08 Property Birds as of May 13: 119
'04 Property Birds as of May 13: 105
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Just A Few Notes from May 10
This morning there weren't many birds moving. I'm thinking spring migration is winding down to the end. I still haven't seen or heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Hopefully they'll start singing soon!
Probably the most interesting bird I saw today was while I was looking out of the bathroom window waiting for the shower to warm up! Four Mississippi Kites were flying around over the woods. One had something in his talons and was eating it on the wing. That was pretty neat. I kept trying to turn one of them into a Swallow-tailed Kite, but couldn't!
The SY male Purple Martin was back this morning with a female. He was singing and going to the house. She never landed on the house, although she had a couple of close fly-bys. I've known of martins to start nest as late as the last week of May, but that's not very common. We'll see . . .
Birds seen May 10 (30 Species): Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Cardinal
'08 Property Birds as of May 10: 118
'04 Property Birds as of May 10: 105
Probably the most interesting bird I saw today was while I was looking out of the bathroom window waiting for the shower to warm up! Four Mississippi Kites were flying around over the woods. One had something in his talons and was eating it on the wing. That was pretty neat. I kept trying to turn one of them into a Swallow-tailed Kite, but couldn't!
The SY male Purple Martin was back this morning with a female. He was singing and going to the house. She never landed on the house, although she had a couple of close fly-bys. I've known of martins to start nest as late as the last week of May, but that's not very common. We'll see . . .
Birds seen May 10 (30 Species): Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Cardinal
'08 Property Birds as of May 10: 118
'04 Property Birds as of May 10: 105
Friday, May 9, 2008
Spring Migration Slowing Down
Joshua and I walked in the woods yesterday evening to see if we could spot any new arrivals. Besides the mosquitoes buzzing around, it was pretty slow down there! I did add a Swainson's Thrush to the yearly property list. Nothing was moving in the treetops. I'll probably go down for a little while in the morning (armed with Deep Woods Off!) and see if anything more is moving.
I made a list of migrants that I haven't seen this spring that I should have seen: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole. Others that I hoped to see but don't necessarily expect were Black-billed Cuckoo, Prothonotary Warbler and Swainson's Warbler. I have seen Canada Warblers in the fall, so I haven't given up on them. I usually see more Baltimore Orioles in the fall than I do in the spring. It's very surprising that I haven't seen or heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo yet. They nest here and should be establishing territory. They were late coming in last year, so maybe they're late this year again. If I don't see one, this will be the first year that I haven't seen a Worm-eating Warbler, Scarlet Tanager or Blue Grosbeak on the property. And if I don't see a Blackpoll Warbler in the spring, I won't see one for the year since they migrate south along the Atlantic coast. I'll keep watching for the next couple of weeks, though. You never know when a late migrant will come through!
I checked the bluebird box on Wednesday and don't see any signs of nest building for a second brood yet. But, the chicks did just fledge a week ago, so I give them another week before they start turning their attention to another nesting.
Birds seen May 8 (27 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting
'08 Birds Seen as of May 8: 118
'04 Birds Seen as of May 8: 105
I made a list of migrants that I haven't seen this spring that I should have seen: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole. Others that I hoped to see but don't necessarily expect were Black-billed Cuckoo, Prothonotary Warbler and Swainson's Warbler. I have seen Canada Warblers in the fall, so I haven't given up on them. I usually see more Baltimore Orioles in the fall than I do in the spring. It's very surprising that I haven't seen or heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo yet. They nest here and should be establishing territory. They were late coming in last year, so maybe they're late this year again. If I don't see one, this will be the first year that I haven't seen a Worm-eating Warbler, Scarlet Tanager or Blue Grosbeak on the property. And if I don't see a Blackpoll Warbler in the spring, I won't see one for the year since they migrate south along the Atlantic coast. I'll keep watching for the next couple of weeks, though. You never know when a late migrant will come through!
I checked the bluebird box on Wednesday and don't see any signs of nest building for a second brood yet. But, the chicks did just fledge a week ago, so I give them another week before they start turning their attention to another nesting.
Birds seen May 8 (27 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting
'08 Birds Seen as of May 8: 118
'04 Birds Seen as of May 8: 105
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