tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28265205229440509552024-02-06T23:44:24.779-05:00Warblers and rumors of warblersed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-51913124358522112982018-06-28T09:47:00.007-04:002018-06-28T09:47:56.582-04:00It's a hard life being a bird<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3e8b28" title="Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940111656-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
It's nesting season, and woodpeckers are among the busy birds in Central Park. The the end of May I spotted the female Downy Woodpecker excavating a willow tree at the east end of Turtle Pond.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3e8cb5" title="Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940112053-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Downys nested there a couple of years back, too. I think the tree is pretty rotten at this point, so the wood is soft enough for a little beak like a Downy's to dig in. The limb she was working on extended over the water, and I watched sawdust float down to the surface of the pond as she worked.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3e8b11" title="Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Downy Woodpecker excavating nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940111633-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
The male took part in the digging, too. I don't remember that from last time. The hole got quickly deeper over the next few days, with more and more of the bird disappearing into it as it worked<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3e9a4f" title="Downy Woodpecker in nest hole, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Downy Woodpecker in nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940115535-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Finally I saw the female disappear into the nest hole, and then poke her head out. That was about the fourth of June. I figured she must have laid eggs then, and they'd probably hatch about mid-month.<br />
<br />
A week later, I noticed that the area of the hole looked different, as if more excavation had been done. And I didn't see the birds, though I could hear the whinnying call of a Downy occasionally on the south side of the pond. Maybe they were mostly keeping in the nest, on the eggs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3ebbae" title="Starling juveniles at wrecked Downy nest hole, Central PArk"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Starling juveniles at wrecked Downy nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940124078-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately, no. The next day I saw a gang of about five juvenile Starlings poking around the hole. They or their elders must have raided the nest. Starlings are also cavity-nesters, and they're tough birds that are hard to compete with.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaf3eb26f" title="Northern Flicker in nest hole, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Northern Flicker in nest hole, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2940121711-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
In the Ramble, there was a pair of Northern Flickers nesting near the bend in the Gill. When I saw them, the female was in the nest hole, and the male was calling from somewhere nearby. I was told that she had been coming out frequently and they'd been seen mating, but now she was staying in the hole. Possibly she was on eggs already.<br />
<br />
Alas, once again, a couple of days later Starlings were seen in the nest hole, having evicted the Flickers.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, uptown, the nest of Red-Tailed Hawks at Grant's Tomb ran into some problems. Around the time the young were fledging, the male hawk apparently flew into a window hard enough to break it, and has not been seen since. Then the mother hawk lost an argument with a car and was taken to a rehabber where it was discovered to have some problems from ingesting rat poison. That left three fledglings with nobody to feed them, but mobile enough to be hard to catch; eventually they were caught and brought to rehab centers.<br />
<br />
There's a series of posts about the Grant's Tomb nest at the Urban Hawks Blog, <a href="http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/urban_hawks/2018/06/2018-manhattan-nest-update-15.html">June 10</a>, <a href="http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/urban_hawks/2018/06/grants-tomb-news.html">June 11</a>, and <a href="http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/urban_hawks/2018/06/the-crying-game-at-grants-tomb.html">June 14</a>; and at the Morningside Hawks blog (I hadn't know about that one before!) on <a href="https://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/2018/06/610-grants-tomb-hawk-first-fledges.html">June 10</a>, <a href="https://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/2018/06/613-grants-tomb.html">June 13</a>, <a href="https://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/2018/06/614-grants-tomb.html">June 14</a>, and <a href="https://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/2018/06/617-grants-tomb.html">June 17</a>.<br />
<br />
I hear the female has actually been released now, but not the fledglings yet--a single parent would have some trouble feeding three fledglings who can't hunt yet. The young birds are losing important time in learning to hunt.<br />
<br />
It's a hard life, being a bird.<br />
<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-44776354314811196652018-05-24T16:45:00.000-04:002018-05-24T16:46:06.488-04:00Heron vs Frog<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea085fb8c" title="Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v8/p2693135244-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Here's some photos I unearthed from the archives. These were taken five years ago, on a walk through the Ramble in Central Park. Walking along the water's edge on the Point, I encountered a Black-Crowned Night Heron. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0861eed" title="Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v19/p2693144301-5.jpg" height="850" width="567" /></a></div><br />
Frankly, I almost walked right into him, but he was a little too busy to worry about me.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea085cf3e" title="Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v45/p2693123902-3.jpg" height="387" width="580" /></a></div><br />
The heron struggled with that frog for quite a while. He kept bashing it on logs and tree roots. Once in a while he'd half-release it in the water, I guess to see if it was still struggling. As far as I could see, it wasn't--I think it might have been dead already.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea085e5c7" title="Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Black-Crowned Night Heron eating a frog, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v129/p2693129671-5.jpg" height="850" width="567" /></a></div><br />
I believe he was mostly having trouble figuring out how to swallow it. That was one of the largest frogs I've ever seen in Central Park.<br />
<br />
Eventually I had to leave to go to work. The heron still had his own work to finish when I left.<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-74555709723344953162018-05-14T00:37:00.000-04:002018-05-14T01:03:05.244-04:00Kirtland's Warbler<h3>
Part one: the immediate aftermath (posted on Twitter Friday night)</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaadba321" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2866520865-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the Kirtland's Warbler of legend</i></div>
<br />
Six hours later, I'm still wired from seeing the Kirtland's Warbler that showed up in Central Park this afternoon.<br />
<br />
Never in my life expected this bird to show up in New York City. Incredible. <br />
<br />
Kevin Topping found the bird just after 5pm and tweeted the location. I got there at 6:25, and there were 80+ people already there watching it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/recent/eaadba304" title="The birderazzi at the Kirtland's twitch"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; The birderazzi at the Kirtland's twitch" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2866520836-3.jpg" height="326" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the birderazzi</i></div>
<br />
The warbler was in an oak between the West Drive and the bridal path, and cyclists and runners stopped and asked what the heck we were looking at, so we told them about Kirtland's, the migration, the whole saga of the conservation of this extremely endangered little bird...<br />
<br />
It was great. One of my best birding experiences. Thanks, Kevin. Thanks, bird.<br />
<br />
Good night, all.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eab0227ee" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2869045230-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>good night, bird</i></div>
<br />
<h3>
Part two: what makes this bird so great</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaadba328" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2866520872-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>what, it's not obvious?</i></div>
<br />
<br />
So why was I--and all these people--so excited about this little bird? I mean, it's a nice enough looking bird, but there are a number of prettier warblers. <br />
<br />
Well, to start with, Kirtland's Warbler is probably the rarest songbird in North America. There's only three thousand or so. The saga of their conservation is pretty amazing. <br />
<br />
And, none have ever been seen in New York City before (I think this is the third record in the whole state). They breed in Michigan, and a few spots in Wisconsin, and they winter one some of the more isolated of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. Third migration route seems pretty direct, so it goes nowhere near here, and they're rarely spotted in migration anyway. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eaadba316" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2866520854-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>ready for launch</i></div>
<br />
All the places they live are isolated, and protected for conservation, so it takes some serious planning to see them even when they're where they're supposed to be. For 98% of the people out there, this was not just a life bird but a once-in-a-lifetime bird.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Part three: the saga continues</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eab022807" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2869045255-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>with a tasty snack gleaned from the leaf above</i></div>
<br />
The warbler was still there on Saturday, so Elena and I went to see it. Our field Elissa joined us...and the hundred or more birders, photographers, journalists, and curious passers-by at the site (west of the Reservoir, about 91st Street).<br />
<br />
He was a very cooperative bird. I noticed he was doing a lot more hover-gleaning (that's when a bird jumps up and flutters in place to grab bugs off the underside of a leaf above it) than it had done on Friday, and I was able to get one decent action shot.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eab0227fe" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2869045246-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>warbler in action</i></div>
<br />
I say "he", because he sang a bit in the early morning. He was still there Sunday morning, but wasn't seen after the rain stopped. He was likely still somewhere in the area and still might be re-found. And if not--<br />
<br />
Often I feel a little sad about seeing a rare vagrant bird, because it's normally unlikely it will ever find its way back to it's normal range again. But the Kirtland's is on the right side of the right continent, and should have no problem finding a habitat with suitable food this summer. So I think that it has good chance to get back to the Bahamas in the winter, and maybe it will have better luck getting to the breeding grounds next year.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/eab022810" title="Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Kirtland's Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s/v-3/p2869045264-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>hopeful</i></div>
<br />ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-7528196532323274162018-04-06T13:22:00.000-04:002018-04-06T13:22:06.939-04:00Stork nests<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea786f861" title="Wood Stork on nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wood Stork on nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v169/p2810640481-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>watch your fingers</i></div><br />
We made our annual trip to Florida to visit friends in Palm Beach County at the beginning of March. This is the latest in winter we've gone, and the differences in what birds were around were interesting.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea786f85e" title="Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v16/p2810640478-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>domestic bliss</i></div><br />
At Wakodahatchee Wetlands park, the Wood Storks were nesting. Some of them were in trees right next to the boardwalk, practically close enough to touch if you didn't mind losing a couple of fingers. In January and February of past years, the dominant nesters were Great Blue Herons; this time it was the storks and smaller shorebirds like Tricolored Heron and Cattle Egret.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea7871b79" title="Shorebird condos, Wakodahatchee Watlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Shorebird condos, Wakodahatchee Watlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v35/p2810649465-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>shorebird condo</i></div><br />
All the little hammocks had nests in them. They were like shorebird condos. They generally had Great Blue Herons at the top.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea78714ef" title="Great Blue Herons and Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Blue Herons and Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v125/p2810647791-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I just adore a penthouse view..."</i></div><br />
Stork nests were below the Great Blues, and then Anhinga nests farther down. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea786f868" title="Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v169/p2810640488-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>nice neighbors</i></div><br />
Cattle Egret and Tricolored Herons tucked their nests into cozy little crannies throughout the trees. Double-Crested Cormorants mostly had their own hammocks.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea786f86a" title="Cattle Egret on nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret on nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v146/p2810640490-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>cozy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There wasn't much nesting at nearby Green Cay, though there were a nice pair of Screech Owl. The Spoonbills seem to have abandoned it this year, though. I'll post more Florida photos soon, in the meantime, one more Stork nest:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea786f865" title="Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wood Storks at nest, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v183/p2810640485-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-32670665704814904062018-03-22T11:52:00.001-04:002018-03-22T11:52:53.870-04:00Might as well be Spring<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea63a1fc2" title="Blue Jay, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Blue Jay, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v63/p2788827074-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>dramatic Jay</i></div><br />
The last weekend of winter was chilly but bright. Sunday I took a walk through Central Park, testing out a new camera. I caught a couple of birds in dramatic light at Tanner's Spring.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea63a1ff1" title="Commpn Grackle, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Commpn Grackle, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v41/p2788827121-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Grackle down for a drink</i></div><br />
The camera is a Nikon P900, which I bought mostly for it's huge zoom range; I'm hoping to use it instead of a spotting scope when I go to Jamaica Bay. Hauling around a scope and tripod is a pain in the ... backpack. It seems to work pretty well despite its tiny sensor.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea63a2192" title="Northern Cardinal singing, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Northern Cardinal singing, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v123/p2788827538-4.jpg" height="630" width="487" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cardinal in a song battle</i></div><br />
There's a lot of birds singing now. In the Ramble I watched a Cardinal counter-singing against a nearby rival. House Finches are in voice, and I've heard Fox Sparrows and even a few Juncos. The Goldfinches seem to be behind this year, though--I haven't even seen any really bright males yet.<br />
<br />
Robins have been singing in small numbers. WHite-Throated Sprows have been relatively silent--there haven't been very many in the Park this winter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea63a1fbc" title="American Robin, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Robin, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v137/p2788827068-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>O Robin, harbinger of Spring!</i></div><br />
Then Spring came in with a blizzard. I saw a flock of over 40 next to the Met Museum in the falling snow on Wednesday. That's the most I've seen at once since last Summer. I guess they flew in just before the storm.<br />
<br />
Hopefully we'll start getting real Spring weather soon.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-44190483565859386572018-02-27T16:17:00.002-05:002018-02-27T16:17:12.159-05:00Local falcon<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dc0fb" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v89/p2737684731-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
One of the pleasant things this winter has been a Peregrine Falcon that roosts most days in a tree overlooking the north end of the Central Park Reservoir.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dc0e9" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v130/p2737684713-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
She (large bird; presumed female) favors a tree just south of the iron bridge near the north pumphouse, and often sits there for long stretches. The view is much closer than I usually get with a Peregrine.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dc117" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v175/p2737684759-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><br />
The particular tree the falcon favors has a squirrel nest in it. You might imagine the squirrels aren't too pleased.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dca07" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v96/p2737687047-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
However the squirrels have figured out that she isn't actually too dangerous at this range. In fact tying to take a mammal out of a tree is not her hunting style at all. Peregrines are more "swoop down and grab a bird out of the air" hunters.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dc109" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v145/p2737684745-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
In fact, she's not too happy about the squirrels approaching her, and she'll display at them. Unfortunately I don't have a good photo of that yet.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea32dc0df" title="Peregrine Falcon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Peregrine Falcon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v145/p2737684703-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
But she hasn't let that change her roosting spot. I guess it's otherwise the perfect tree.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-44600007810553318342018-02-04T22:05:00.001-05:002018-02-04T22:05:20.968-05:00More Superb OwlsIn honor of the Superb Owl Sunday holiday, here are some more Superb Owls.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/recent/e6c054234" title="Great Horned Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Great Horned Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v140/p1812283956-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Great Horned Owl</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/recent/e8507278f" title="Long-Eared Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Long-Eared Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v61/p2231838607-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Long-Eared Owl</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/recent/e85071b6d" title="Long-Eared Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Long-Eared Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v172/p2231835501-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Long-Eared Owl. Seriously, how cool are these?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0867278" title="Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v18/p2693165688-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Northern Saw-Whet Owl. ohsocute!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0865724" title="Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v7/p2693158692-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Northern Saw-Whet Owl. How round!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/recent/e85071b4e" title="Long-Eared Owl, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Long-Eared Owl, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v46/p2231835470-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Long-Eared Owl. I mean, they're feathered super-villians.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-40999468641244197552018-02-04T00:12:00.000-05:002018-02-04T00:12:27.559-05:00Superb Owl Sunday<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f27f80" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v49/p2733801344-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
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Happy Superb Owl Sunday, everyone! For me, it was last Sunday, when I went out to Jamaica Bay to look for Snowy Owls.<br />
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I was a little worried about finding any, even though they are reported daily there. It was foggy, with intermittent rain, and visibility wasn't great. But I went down the West Pond trail, straight out from the visitor center, and a little past where the breach from Hurricane Sandy was, I looked up in the trees and stopped dead in my tracks.<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f28043" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v146/p2733801539-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div>
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I hadn't expected an owl (a) roosting in a tree (b) so close to the trail. I figured I'd have to scan the mudflats through the fog.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f27f97" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v125/p2733801367-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
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Instead, here was an owl in pain sight in a tree not 50 feet off the trail. Easy!<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f27f89" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v104/p2733801353-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
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Eventually, I continued down the trail...and 100 feet further on, another owl! In another tree right off the trail! This one was hanging out next to an old Osprey nest.<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f28329" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v59/p2733802281-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
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Both these owls continued giving great views to a bunch of people all day.<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f2840f" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v93/p2733802511-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div>
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The West Pond, by the way, is really beginning to look good. There were a large number of ducks with a good variety of species. After the breach was filled in, it took a while to pump out the brackish water enough to make it attractive again to fresh-water species. It seems to be working, though. <br />
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Enjoy your Superb Owl Sunday!<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea2f27f79" style="text-align: center;" title="Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Owl, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v183/p2733801337-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-37890183093546599762018-02-01T13:53:00.000-05:002018-02-01T13:53:01.588-05:00Still more Bahamas birds<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1558473" title="White-Crowned Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; White-Crowned Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v94/p2706736243-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>300!</i></div><br />
The hotel we stayed at (Comfort Suites Paradide ISland) was also close to a little mall. (Let me take a moment here to recommend Anthony's Caribbean Bar & Grill. Delicious food and the prices are not bad for the Bahamas.) It was just a strip mall, but there were still birds in and around it. The White-Crowned Pigeon I spotted perched by the ScotiaBank was my 300th life bird.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155bd39" title="White-Crowned Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; White-Crowned Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v151/p2706750777-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>not wary of people</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The White-Crowned Pigeon is the national game bird of the Bahamas, so you'd think they'd be more wary of people; but no. Also, there's a huge statue of one on the road to the airport. I did not get a photo of that, but trust me, you want to see a ten-foot-tall pigeon.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155c253" title="Loggerhead Kingbird, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Loggerhead Kingbird, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v4/p2706752083-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>surprise!</i></div><br />
The street trees on the road next to the mall had a variety of birds passing through them. I was most surprised by this Loggerhead Kingbird.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155b0fe" title="Yellow-Throated Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Yellow-Throated Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v25/p2706747646-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>vacationing warbler</i></div><br />
I spotted Yellow-Throated Warblers in those trees as well. They were also in the trees on the hotel property and near other buildings.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155ccf5" title="Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v66/p2706754805-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>support your local Woodstar</i></div><br />
The Bahama Woodstar hummingbird was quite widespread. This one was feeding on a tree at the hotel.<br />
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So, New Providence has Rock Pigeons, of course, and we've seen the native White-Crowned Pigeon and the exotic Pied-Imperial Pigeon; but also, there were Eurasian Collard-Doves everywhere. They were practically the first bird we saw when we arrived and sat down at the hotel bar for lunch.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155172f" title="Eurasian Collared-Dove, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eurasian Collared-Dove, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v9/p2706708271-3.jpg" height="387" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>bar pigeon</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1551733" title="Eurasian Collared-Dove, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eurasian Collared-Dove, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v186/p2706708275-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ubiquitous</i></div><br />
Everywhere you went, there they were. It's a little surprising that they coexist with the Rock Pigeons, they seem to have adopted the exact same niche.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea15593e3" title="Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v28/p2706740195-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>turnstone and trash</i></div><br />
One of the features of the hotel was that guests can use the beaches at the Atlantis resort. We spent a pleasant afternoon there. The beach was fairly quiet--it was in the low 70s F, so maybe a little cool for many beachgoers--and there were some birds around. The best one was this lone Ruddy Turnstone who walked the beach like he owned it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155b535" title="Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v127/p2706748725-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>surf 'n' turnstone</i></div><br />
Up here, we only see Turnstones at a great distance, huddled on the rocky shores of islands in the harbor or on the East River. It was quite shocking to have one just walk right up to us.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155d0fa" title="Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v26/p2706755834-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>bold turnstone</i></div><br />
There were pigeons hanging out on the beach as well, and of course gulls. The Lesser Black-Backed Gulls were actually a life bird for me. Somehow I had never seen one in New York, although they are not unknown; in fact, I would say that was the most embarrassing hole on my life list.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1558725" title="Lesser Black-Backed Gull and Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Lesser Black-Backed Gull and Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v63/p2706736933-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><i>gull and turnstone</i><br />
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There were other gulls on the beach as well, mostly Herring Gulls, occasionally trying to steal food from children. In fairness, the kids seemed to be deliberately teasing the birds. Mostly, though, they were just loafing. Like us.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea15588c7" title="Herring and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Herring and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v171/p2706737351-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>gull parade</i></div><br />
One more species I want to mention is Palm Warbler, who were pretty common in urban-type settings, behaving like House Sparrows in the mall, around the hotel, and this one on a restaurant deck at the airport.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155cce3" title="Palm Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Palm Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v5/p2706754787-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>palm sparrow</i></div><br />
We'll definitely be going back someday.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-58782250919167876402018-01-18T13:34:00.001-05:002018-01-18T13:34:05.967-05:00More Bahamas birds, Lakeview Drive Ponds<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1554b9f" title="Common Gallinule, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Common Gallinule, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v184/p2706721695-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>glam Gallinule</i></div><br />
In the Bahamas, we stayed at the Comfort Suites on Paradise Island (following a <a href="http://www.10000birds.com/birding-lakeview-drive-ponds-paradise-island-new-providence-bahamas.htm">recommendation by Corey Finger at 10000 Birds</a>). Just down the road, less than a quarter-mile, is a birding hotspot, the Lakeview Drive Ponds, and we visited them several times during our stay.<br />
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Even before getting there, there were birds, like this cooperative young Green Heron by the roadside.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1554c4d" title="Green Heron, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Green Heron, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v167/p2706721869-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>too young to know better</i></div><br />
And the edge of a dirt parking lot held a few Common Ground-Doves, which were actually a life bird for me.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1555763" title="Common Grond Dove, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Common Ground Dove, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v137/p2706724707-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>hello, lifer!</i></div><br />
There are two ponds. The east pond is larger and a little wilder, and harder to find a good vantage point to. In one spot at the west end, you can sit on the roadside railing (or stand between it and the pond edge) and look east over the pond, though. The east pond is where the Least Grebes mostly stay (another lifer).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1551741" title="Least Grebe, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Least Grebe, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v138/p2706708289-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Least but not last</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155a19b" title="Least Grebe, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Least Grebe, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v91/p2706743707-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>very grebelike</i></div><br />
There was a mama grebe with a baby grebe peeping after her around sunset one day. Quite charming, though the light was too poor for photos.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1552b1f" title="White-Cheeked Pintail (Bahama Duck(, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; White-Cheeked Pintail (Bahama Duck(, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v121/p2706713375-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bahama Duck, yet another life bird</i></div><br />
The west pond has a nice viewing platform, and is where the ducks mostly hang out. The exceptionally cute White-Cheeked Pintail (a.k.k Bahama Duck) was a real highlight.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1551746" title="White-Cheeked Pintails, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; White-Cheeked Pintails, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v114/p2706708294-3.jpg" height="387" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Elena has decided these are the Best Duck.</i></div><br />
Other waterbirds were also plentiful--a surprising number of White Ibis, one Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Common Gallinules, American Coot, a couple of stray Mallards that I'm assured are releases, Neotropic Cormorant...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1552aa0" title="Neotropic Cormorant, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Neotropic Cormorant, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v67/p2706713248-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Neotropic Cormorant</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>About sunset, an Osprey flew in to roost, and we saw Merlins as well.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155173a" title="Osprey, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Osprey, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v109/p2706708282-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'll be your Osprey this evening</i></div><br />
The viewing platform makes the west pond a popular place to feed ducks. I watched one afternoon as six people (one couple and four individuals) came and fed mostly the resident domestic Muscovy Ducks over a half-hour period. These are very fat ducks. Oddly the Mallards didn't come close for feeding, though the Pintails and Coots did.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea1559459" title="Common Gallinule, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Common Gallinule, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v133/p2706740313-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Common Gallinule not shy at all</i></div><br />
Some of the other waterfowl were quite habituated as well; a couple of the Gallinules would come right up on the platform and mix with the Muscovys, one one of the Great Egrets liked to loaf there as well.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155a72b" title="Great Egret, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Egret, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v146/p2706745131-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>habituated Egret</i></div><br />
Notable among the landbirds was a fairly sizable flock of Boat-Tailed Grackles, which apparently are increasing numbers in New Providence recently. I took this photo just to document how many there were in one tree, but I kind of like how it came out.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155a28e" title="Boat-Tailed Grackles, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Boat-Tailed Grackles, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v113/p2706743950-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>artistic Grackles</i></div><br />
North of the ponds, you can walk east along Casio Road to the Ocean Club. There were some nice birds hanging out in the vegetation on the north side of the road. Though I didn't find the Black-Faced Grassquits I was hoping for I did get amazing close looks at Smooth-Billed Anis foraging in the hedges.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155b056" title="Smooth-Billed Ani, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Smooth-Billed Ani, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v72/p2706747478-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>smooth operator</i></div><br />
Near the Ocean Club, I had my best view (and only half-decent photo) of a Red-Legged Thrush. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed by these thrushes; for some reason I thought they were bold and easily seen like Robins. Oh well. Very pretty, though.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155af9c" title="Red-Legged Thrush, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Red-Legged Thrush, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v127/p2706747292-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>got to be good-lookin' 'cause you're so hard to see</i></div><br />
I'm going to do one more post about the Bahamas soon. Fair warning!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea155a7be" title="Common Ground Dove, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Common Ground Dove, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v47/p2706745278-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Common Ground-Dove, ohsocute</i></div><br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-76688672598942418312018-01-07T21:32:00.000-05:002018-03-07T11:42:25.829-05:00A fine day out in New Providence, Bahamas<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d32c19" title="Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v148/p2698193945-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Elena and I went to the Bahamas in December. It was my first time there. We had a great time relaxing on the beach and all, and we also took some time for birding.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d31648" title="Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Ruddy Turnstone, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v134/p2698188360-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
We were in New Providence (that's the island with Nassau), and we hired a local guide for a day of birding. Some online research led us to Carolyn Wardle of <a href="http://www.bahamasoutdoors.com/">Bahamas Outdoors</a>, and she was just great.<br />
<br />
We started at eight in the morning, hitting Montague Foreshore at low tide, where we saw some nice shorebirds including the very confiding Ruddy Turnstone above and the nice Black-Bellied Plover below, and then set about hitting our target species list (which we got using the <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/targets">Target Species feature of eBird</a>). <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d3164b" title="Black-Bellied Plover, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Black-Bellied Plover, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v131/p2698188363-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
First we stopped in a residential neighborhood and found Pied Imperial-Pigeons.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d3164e" title="Pied Imperial-Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Pied Imperial-Pigeon, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v48/p2698188366-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
It seems that a lot of people in the Nassau suburbs have aviaries, and kept these quite elegant pigeons, and some of them... well, escaped, and set up housekeeping on their own. So now if you drive through this one neighborhood, you can spot these big white pigeons up in the trees.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d31655" title="Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bahama Woodstar, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v4/p2698188373-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d31651" title="Prairie Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Prairie Warbler, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v130/p2698188369-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Nearby, we stopped outside somebody's backyard and saw Bahama Woodstars (the endemic hummingbird of the Bahamas), Smooth-Billed Anis, wintering Prairie Warblers, and Common Ground-Doves. This is the kind of thing that makes it worthwhile to have a local guide--we'd never have gone through the neighborhood on our own, much less stopped at this productive spot.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d326df" title="Cuban (crescent-Eyed) Pewee, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cuban (crescent-Eyed) Pewee, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v109/p2698192607-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Then it was off to the <a href="https://bnt.bs/the-retreat/">Retreat Garden National Park</a>. The Retreat is a small park that used to be the estate of a wealthy couple who willed it to the Bahamas National Trust. They had a famous collection of palm trees, and the whole grounds is great bird habitat. We started finding birds right in the parking lot, where a Cuban Pewee (Crescent-Eyed Pewee) was hanging out. It's apparently his spot, which is another thing we'd never have guessed by ourselves.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d32a85" title="Banaaquit, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Banaaquit, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v116/p2698193541-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Moving through the gardens, we lot a lot of species, many of them Bahama specialties. There were more Woodstars (and Bananaquits who took advantage of the hummingbird feeders as well). We saw Red-Legged Thrush and Loggerhead Kingbirds (who didn't give us a good photo opportunity) and Le Sagra's Flycatcher (who did).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d33bab" title="Le Sagra's FLycatcher, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Le Sagra's FLycatcher, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v156/p2698197931-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d333b8" title="LeSagra's FLycatcher, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; LeSagra's FLycatcher, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v87/p2698195896-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
We also good great close-up looks at a very cooperative Thick-Billed Vireo.<br />
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<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d33c05" title="Thick-Billed Vireo, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Thick-Billed Vireo, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v121/p2698198021-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a><br />
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I mean, really close looks.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d33bcd" title="Thick-Billed Vireo, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Thick-Billed Vireo, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v20/p2698197965-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Next, we headed for a youth camp in a semi-rural area, but on the way we stopped in front of a church along a major commercial street. A shop next door had bird feeders, and there, mixed with the House Sparrows...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d35597" title="House Sprrow and Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; House Sprrow and Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v35/p2698204567-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
...were Cuban Grassquits. These pretty little birds were introduced as cage birds, and escapees made their way as streetbirds quite well.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d3443c" title="Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v53/p2698200124-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
The native Black-Faced Grassquits are much shyer of people; and in fact, we never caught up with one.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d33fb2" title="Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas"><img src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v147/p2698198962-4.jpg" width="630" height="630" alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cuban Grassquit, New Providence, Bahamas" /></a></div><br />
By the time we got to the youth camp (also not a place we'd have found on our own), it was getting into the mid-afternoon and bird activity had slowed down. We saw more Vireos, heard a Hairy Woodpecker, and got some excellent views of Loggerhead Kingbirds.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d36107" title="Loggerhead Kingbird, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Loggerhead Kingbird, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v95/p2698207495-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Later, in a pretty stretch of pine-and-palm forest that had been a pine plantation, we got another fine look at a Cuban Pewee.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d3624a" title="Cuban (Crescent-Eyed) Pewee, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cuban (Crescent-Eyed) Pewee, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v31/p2698207818-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Our final stop was Hobby Horse Pond, a wetlands trail maintained by the huge Baha Mar resort. There were some more wintering warblers, and a great look at a pair of Smooth-Billed Anis.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/ea0d36439" title="Smooth-Billed Anis, New Providence, Bahamas"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Smooth-Billed Anis, New Providence, Bahamas" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v64/p2698208313-4.jpg" height="630" width="566" /></a></div><br />
A great day out.<br />
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ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-91233927966982334942017-12-08T15:28:00.002-05:002017-12-08T15:29:19.756-05:00November raritiesIn November the rare birds come. Hatch-year birds who've never migrated before, birds blown by storms, birds whose sense of direction has gone off--all sorts of birds can show up anywhere.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.aba.org/2017/11/abarare-corncrake-new-york.html">There was a Corn Crake on Long Island</a>. I missed that--no transport--and the poor bird got hit by a car a couple of days after its discovery. That's a ridiculously rare vagrant from Europe, only a few North American records in the last century. Excellent young birder Ryan Zucker <a href="https://ybrt.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/crex-crex/">wrote a very nice blog post</a> about the Crake twitch.<br />
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Closer to home, we had a different skulky bird of the reeds up in the Loch section of Central Park, a Virginia Rail . This wasn't off-course so much, but unusually easy to see, foraging in the leaves just off a popular path.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f1d60" title="Virginia Rail, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Virginia Rail, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v175/p2659130720-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
I got to see an interesting bit of behavior--a Blue Jay who had been hanging around suddenly flew up to the top of a small tree and started alarming, and the rail ran for cover, closing the 15 feet or so to a large log in about a second and crouching underneath until the danger had passed, or at least until the Jay quieted down.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f17b3" title="Virginia Rail, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Virginia Rail, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v170/p2659129267-4.jpg" height="630" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in this and the next picture, look at the feet.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f175c" title="Virginia Rail, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Virginia Rail, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v116/p2659129180-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>seriously, aren't they amazing?</i></div><br />
The Rail might have been released in the park by the Wild Bird Find after a rehab stint. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f178d" title="Virginia Rail, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Virginia Rail, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v24/p2659129229-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is just a ridiculously close look at a Rail. That never happens.</i></div><br />
Down in the Ramble, an apparent Hammond's Flycatcher has been around for almost two weeks now. Hammond's is a western Empidonax flycatcher, and empids are notoriously hard to identify, but this bird's small bill, teardrop eyering, long tail, and long "primary projection" (which makes the wings look sword-shaped) are pretty strong evidence, and people have heard it call (which is usually the best way to identify Empidonaxes), so everyone seems happy with the ID.<br />
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I had an unsatisfactory look at it when it first showed up, and then for some days the bird was seen before and after I left the park, but then first I had a decent look late one afternoon, and then a couple of days later I came upon a couple of people looking at it at perched over a small stream the Gill)...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f75a9" title="Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v131/p2659153321-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
..and then it flew right in and showed off on a fence six feet from me. I've never had such a good look at any empid before.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f7476" title="Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v122/p2659153014-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
As of today (Friday 12/8), the bird is apparently still present. It goes all over the Ramble, so it might take some searching unless you see a crowd of people staring into the trees.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f75b8" title="Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Hammond's Flycatcher, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v145/p2659153336-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
That same day I saw two other nice birds. While entering the park I stopped to watch a biggish flock of Common Grackles on Cedar Hill, maybe 150 or 200 birds. They weren't two nervous and I was able to walk pretty close as the foraged and fussed, and then I spotted a slightly larger and browner bird in with them.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f5b8b" title="Boat-Tailed Grackle, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Boat-Tailed Grackle, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v146/p2659146635-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
A Boat-Tailed Grackle! Very unusual for Manhattan, though there's a breeding colony at Jamaica Bay in the summer. I think this is the same bird that was spotted by Anders Peltomaa a week or so before. It's been seen almost daily since; opinions are divided as to whether it's a female or a hatch-year male. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f5a63" title="Boat-Tailed Grackle, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Boat-Tailed Grackle, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v18/p2659146339-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>hey there, long legs</i></div><br />
It was interesting to watch this bird interact with the Common Grackles. Aside from being a bit bigger, it had much longer legs, and when it felt crowded, it would rise up on them and kind of lean on the neighbors a little until they backed off.<br />
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After seeing the Grackle and then the nice view of the Hammond's, I wandered around the Ramble for a while, and came upon a Pine Siskin in a holly tree.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9e7f5735" title="Pine Siskin, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Pine Siskin, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v94/p2659145525-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pine Siskin (OK, next to the Holly)</i></div><br />
Pine Siskins are a decently unusual bird here, although some winters we see a number of them as they wander the region looking for good crops of pine cones to eat. This was the first I'd seen this year.<br />
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ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-75921237321838935512017-11-22T09:40:00.000-05:002017-11-22T09:51:00.010-05:00Winter Is Coming<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9d3e54d0" title="Dark-Eyed Junco, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Dark-Eyed Junco, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v120/p2638107856-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
The days grow short, and it's getting cold. Ducks are coming in to stay at the Reservoir, and now the Juncos are here, so Fall migration is basically over.<br />
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I hadn't been seeing too many Juncos this Fall, but a couple of days ago I found a flock of about 60 on a path behind Tupelo Meadow in Central Park, and more scattered south of there in the Ramble. White-Throated Sparrows are still in relatively short supply.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9d3e54e1" title="Downy Woodpecker digging a roost hole"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Downy Woodpecker digging a roost hole" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v135/p2638107873-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Meanwhile, on Cedar Hill, I've been watching a female Downy Woodpecker excavating a roost hole. When they feel winter coming on, many woodpeckers dig holes in trees to roost in at night, which is what's happening here in this video clip. (By the way, if anyone can recommend simple video-editing tools for Windows, I'd like to hear about them. Doesn't have to be free, but does have to be really easy. Mostly I'd be looking for something to do stabilization better than the YouTube tool.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sd0ct5fq8a8" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Woodpeckers don't reuse their nest holes for winter roosting, which makes perfect sense when you think about what a nest cavity must look and smell like by the time the young have fledged.<br />
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She appears to have finished her roost hole now. Hopefully she can defend it from Starlings and House Sparrows.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving! You stay warm, too.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-72673735546623872372017-10-31T11:44:00.001-04:002017-10-31T11:44:53.993-04:00More street birdingI work across the street from St Bartholomew's Church, which is in midtown Manhattan on Park Avenue. It has a tiny garden which attracts a number of migrants (and which I've <a href="https://rumorsofwarblers.blogspot.com/2016/01/midtown-birding-2.html">written about once before</a>). Recently I saw a couple of new species in the park--rather late in the afternoon both times, so I didn't get any usable photos; I;m going to use that as an excuse to post some old ones. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9accfaab" title="Timberdoodle, International Paper Plaza"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Timberdoodle, International Paper Plaza" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v153/p2597124779-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
I saw a dark shape walking by the wall of the church. It was too large for an Ovenbird (which I've seen there once or twice this Fall), but I couldn't imagine a pigeon skulking in the shrubs like that. I went around to the church steps, where you can look down into the garden, and found a Woodcock sitting under an evergreen shrub.<br />
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It was an interesting vantage point. The bird was facing straight away from me--I was behind and above it, but it's eyes are so placed that it was staring right up at me. It's a startling thing to see up close. They really do have eyes in the back of their head.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9accfc43" title="Gray Catbird, International Paper Plaza"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Gray Catbird, International Paper Plaza" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v186/p2597125187-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
There were a pair of Gray Catbirds in the garden for a while. Last year, one catbird overwintered. However a couple of weeks back, I spotted a Brown Thrasher in the garden at dusk, and both it and the catbirds seemed agitated--the Thrasher was flitting in and out of the shrubs, and the catbirds were sitting in the tree above them and calling loudly. The next day, they had all gone. It's a mystery.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e9accfc3e" title="Brown Thrasher, International Paper Plaza"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Brown Thrasher, International Paper Plaza" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v34/p2597125182-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
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ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-81236116912262494952017-10-23T16:36:00.000-04:002017-10-23T16:36:24.603-04:00Pelican!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e981221b2" title="American White Pelican, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American White Pelican, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v73/p2551325106-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>large flying things</i></div><br />
I was at Jamaica Bay a few weeks ago looking for the American Avocet that spent a long time at the East Pond. I didn't find it that day, but near sunset, I took a last look from the overlook near Big John's Pond. There was nothing exciting on the water, but when I looked overhead, I saw a huge white bird flying south.<br />
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It was already past me when I spotted it, but I got my binoculars up and say it was an American White Pelican. I thought I wouldn't be able to get a decent photo, but luckily it turned at the south end of the pond and flew back toward the north, and I got some good flight shots of it.<br />
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The American White Pelican is mostly a western bird, though some winter in Florida. We get occasional vagrants; there was even a pair that overwintered at Jamaica Bay in 2015-16. It's probably the best bird I've seen that I didn't know was there beforehand.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e981221a8" title="American White Pelican, Jamaica Bay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American White Pelican, Jamaica Bay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v18/p2551325096-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
I'm glad I went for the bins first, by the way. I don't think I would have gotten an identifiable photo if I had grabbed then camera first. The view in the binoculars was good enough that even if the Pelican had kept on going, I would have had an ID. People who say "pics or it didn't happen" can bite me--it just doesn't work that way, not always.<br />
<br />
The Pelican was still around the next morning, and several people got to see it. Then it was gone. I finally saw the Avocet a couple of weeks later--a terrible view through the scope, but at least I saw it. (For that matter, it was way out of range for my camera, and I can't seem to get the hang of digiscoping, so I don't have proof that I saw it; see above.)ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-12875926247723224522017-09-12T15:46:00.002-04:002017-09-12T15:50:43.370-04:00Kingbird vs Hawk<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe87e75" title="Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v42/p2414378613-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Earlier in the summer, soon after the young Red-Tailed Hawks from Pale Male's brood had fledged, I spotted one of them in a tree along the 79th Street Transverse. It called occasionally, a creaky version of an adult hawk's scream. As I drew nearer, I realized that the young hawk was being mobbed by a single Eastern Kingbird, who I knew was nesting nearby.<br />
<br />
This is the only time I've seen the red crown on a Kingbird. It's usually hidden, but this was one angry bird.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe87eef" title="Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v98/p2414378735-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
The Kingbird made pass after pass at the hawk, sometimes going away for a few minutes then returning again. On every close approach, teh hawk would screech.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe881b5" title="Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v35/p2414379445-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
The Kingbird was actually striking the hawk occasionally, though I didn't manage the catch that in camera.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe87eb1" title="Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eastern Kingbird mobbing Red-Tailed Hawk, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v9/p2414378673-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><br />
The hawk eventually decided he'd has enough, and flew off. The Kingbird's young fledged a couple of weeks later, and you'd see the parents feeding them around Turtle Pond.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-67391433152920839652017-07-24T13:52:00.001-04:002017-08-03T09:32:55.787-04:00Nesting season (part 2)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea171f" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v100/p2414483231-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
A well-known location for nesting Piping Plovers is at the tip of Breezy Point, which is as far west on the Rockaways as you can go. It's a pain in the neck to get to--I don't drive and even if I did, Breezy Point is a private community with no parking for non-residents. To get there, you have to go to Fort Tiden and then hike along the beach for a couple or three miles, except it's not clear that you can do that because the community claims beach is also residents-only (and how that can be legal is beyond me). The books an websites about birding the area suggest wither walking the beach anyway, or taking an ATV path from the fisherman's parking lot. Anyway, it's a hassle, but Piping Plovers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe90278" title="American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v160/p2414412408-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><br />
It turned out to be a lot easier than I expected. As soon as I reached the beach at Fort Tilden, I started seeing American Oystercatchers. They nest in the dunes there, and sometimes right on the beach, and there's ropes indicating where you shouldn't go.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe9015f" title="American Oystercatchers, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Oystercatchers, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v105/p2414412127-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
As I started walking west, I spotted some juveniles, and also some pairs who appeared to be doing courtship--making scrapes on the sand, moving side by side in sync, and so on.<br />
<br />
As I was photographing the Oystercatchers, I became aware that the section of beach I was passing seemed to be clothing-optional. You might think that would be important enough to mention in the websites about birding the area (or for that matter the books about NY area birding), but you would be wrong.<br />
<br />
After a spirited discussion with a couple of beachgoers about the uses and virtues of telephoto lenses, I continued west, but I hadn't gone fifty yards before I spotted something very small moving in the beach grass.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea3ebb" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v181/p2414493371-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Oooh! Piping Plovers! I had't expected them at all in this area. The dunes here weren't even roped off; one or two people were sitting in the dunes. I actually saw the chicks first:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea024c" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v5/p2414477900-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
There were about four chicks, I think, and two adults nearby.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea0250" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v138/p2414477904-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Having seen the Piping Plovers I didn't feel a need to go all the way to the Breeze Point tip. I went as far as the fisherman's parking lot (permit only) and the "Surf Club". The club certainly does their best to make it look uninviting to walk past it own the beach, and I didn't see anything looking like a path leading west from the parking lot. I did walk from the lot up to Rockaway Point Boulevard. Lots of songbirds singing, especially Towhees and Song Sparrows, and some Red-Winged Blackbirds who did their best to convince me I should be elsewhere. I did find them a little more alarming than the sunbathers.<br />
<br />
On the way back up the beach, I spotted more Piping Plover adults in the roped-off areas.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea3e59" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v181/p2414493273-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
And more OysterCatchers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe92f09" title="American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v109/p2414423817-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe91916" title="American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Oystercatcher, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v140/p2414418198-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
It was a nice visit. Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fea0244" title="Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Piping Plover, Fort Tilden, Queens" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v68/p2414477892-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-58019113956079608192017-07-18T16:19:00.009-04:002017-07-18T16:19:50.337-04:00Nesting season (part 1)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe8005e" title="Yellow-Crowned Night Heron on nest, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Yellow-Crowned Night Heron on nest, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v69/p2414346334-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Heron Is In</i></div>
<br />
It's nesting season! Out on Governors Island, the Yellow-Crowned Night Herons have returned. The nest they used last year was destroyed somehow during the winter, so they relocated to near the Harbor School. These photos were taken near the end of June I wonder if they've got hatchlings yet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe802d5" title="Yellow-Crowned Night Heron on nest, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Yellow-Crowned Night Heron on nest, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v130/p2414346965-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>time for a stretch and a scratch</i></div>
<br />
The Common Terns seemed to be doing well; their nest colony isn't in plain view at their new location (their half of Yankee Pier collapsed during the winter and they're now on Tango Pier, which is entirely closed to people) but I could see one fledgling on the pier. Too far for a decent photo, though.<br />
<br />
Some birds have fledged their young already (at least their first round, many will renest). Here's a baby Cardinal from Central Park:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe81af8" title="Cardinal fledgling, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cardinal fledgling, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v44/p2414353144-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the dark beak is a sign of youth in a Cardinal</i></div>
<br />
and a recently fledged Blue Jay:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe81e93" title="Blue Jay fledgling, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Blue Jay fledgling, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v143/p2414354067-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe81fcd" title="Blue Jay fledgling, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Blue Jay fledgling, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v181/p2414354381-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>yelling for food<br />
</i></div>
<br />
and the Common Grackles have had a good year so far:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe79d67" title="Grackle fledgling, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Grackle fledgling, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v140/p2414320999-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>time to feed the baby</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8fe79d4c" title="Grackle fledgling, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Grackle fledgling, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v66/p2414320972-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>kids are so demanding</i></div>
<br />
More soon.<br />
<br />ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-34228843860188577702017-06-28T22:18:00.002-04:002017-06-28T22:18:42.600-04:00Surf Scoter, Governor's Island<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8e9e98ba" title="Surf Scoter, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Surf Scoter, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v155/p2392758458-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
One thing about birding is, you never know what's going to turn up.<br />
<br />
Saturday I went out to Governor's Island. I wanted to look for this year's Yellow-Crowned Night Heron nest, which I had a heck of a time finding, and check on how the Common Tern colony was doing, and see what else might be around.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8e9e98a3" title="Surf Scoter, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Surf Scoter, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v87/p2392758435-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
I found a nest up a tree sort of in the area the Heron was supposed to be, and watched it for a half-hour or so. It turned out to be the wrong nest. Oh well. Since I was close to the west edge of the island, I took a break to see what might be on the water. I spotted some terns and Laughing Gulls down the shore and decided to stroll over there and try to get some photos of the birds fishing. I was interrupted by a couple who wanted me to take their picture.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8e9e98aa" title="Surf Scoter, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Surf Scoter, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v113/p2392758442-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
It pays to be polite. It was only after I had finished that that I spotted an odd black duck swimming south maybe twenty yards out. I might have missed it if I had gone trotting off towards the gulls. It turned out to be a Scoter, which is unusual in this area in June--they should all be up around Hudson's Bay--and almost unheard of in New York County at any time. Almost all of the eBird sightings are from right after Hurricane Sandy--water birds often get blown great distances in storm systems.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8e9e98b1" title="Surf Scoter, Governor's Island"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Surf Scoter, Governor's Island" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v159/p2392758449-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
This bird is a Surf Scoter, I believe--the bill is quite distinctive, though Surf Scoter males usually have big white patches on the forehead and nape of the neck (fishermen call them "skunk coots"). However, I think young males can show this all-dark plumage, and that black spot at the base of the bill really doesn't occur in other Scoters. This appears to be the first sighting of a Surf Scoter at Governor's Island. It's also probably the coolest bird I've ever found myself.<br />
<br />
I eventually found the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron nest. I'll talk about that some other time, though.<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-25799366143603338412017-06-22T15:37:00.003-04:002017-06-22T15:37:59.057-04:00Looking back at Spring (part 2)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dd848e8" title="Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v98/p2379761896-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><br />
Another bird I got a better-than-usual look at this Spring was Worm-Eating Warbler. Usually they're hard to find in Central Park in the Spring, but this year there were several good sightings, mostly along the south short of Turtle Pond.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dd85181" title="Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v143/p2379764097-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
Worm-Eating Warblers are more frequent in the park in Fall, when they tend to creep through the dead leaves on the ground in shady spots. They are pretty cryptic in that setting. These Spring migrants, though, liked the catkins in the oaks, pretty high off the ground but sometimes coming down almost to eye level. The oaks at Turtle Pond are set well back from the fenced path, but it was still a pretty good view.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dd859a1" title="Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Worm-Eating Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v108/p2379766177-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
because of the distance and light, these photos didn't come out quite as well as I had hoped, but it was still quite a nice view of the bird.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-64078353329420822552017-06-19T10:08:00.001-04:002017-06-19T10:08:27.955-04:00Looking back at Spring (part 1)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dbe6ba6" title="Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v19/p2378066854-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
So how have you all been? Had a good Spring migration? Mine was good, but I didn't have my act together to post about it. Too many photos, too little time. I really need to come up with a better workflow. And now Summer is beginning, and the migration has passed, and it'll be another year before I get to do it again.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it was a pretty good migration season. There were a lot of birds, although some of the "normal rarities" didn't show up much--I don't think anyone had a Prothonotary or Cerulean Warbler, for example, not in Central Park, maybe not anywhere in Manhattan.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dbe6b8a" title="Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v67/p2378066826-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
I never ran into a real <a href="http://rumorsofwarblers.blogspot.com/search/label/magic%20tree">"magic tree"</a>, but I did have a nice long encounter with a Bay-Breasted Warbler, right where the Belvedere Caste plaza ends and the steps down to the Ramble start.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dbe6b84" title="Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v109/p2378066820-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
He foraged in one tree for a good half-hour, frequently at eye-level, and in really good light. I was amazed how his cap glowed in the sunlight.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8dbe6b7a" title="Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Bay-Breasted Warbler, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v144/p2378066810-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-41970813655111794302017-05-02T22:05:00.002-04:002017-05-02T22:05:36.319-04:00The Out-of-Towners<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894fe1d9" title="Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s12/v177/p2303713753-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Cattle Egret on the prowl</i></div>
<br />
It's migration season! And of course New York City is getting pretty much every type of warbler found in the northeast, just like every Spring. Enjoy them while you can! <br />
<br />
But we're also seeing some very unusual visitors. At the top of this post, we have a Cattle Egret--I think the first every seen in Manhattan--who has been hanging around at the Penn South co-op, around 28th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue in Manhattan.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894fdf5f" title="Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v137/p2303713119-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rare bird and common passers-by</i></div>
<br />
Cattle Egrets are originally an African bird, showed up in South America in the 1950s, and have been steadily extending their range over the last few decades. They're quite common now in the southern US--basically a roadside bird in Florida, for example.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8950101b" title="Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v115/p2303725595-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>on the move</i></div>
<br />
However, it's rare up north. I believe one shows up at Jamaica Bay or Jones Beach once in a while, but that's all. It's in good breeding plumage--the off-white crown and back feathers--but I don't think it's going to find a mate up here.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894ffe54" title="Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret, Penn South, Manhattan" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v24/p2303721044-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Not much of an environment--but enough</i></div>
<br />
The area you see the Cattle Egret in here is (so I understand) having some construction work done on it, but the bird is still around a little farther south, still on the grounds of Penn South. Worth a visit if you're in Manhattan. Keep an eye out for other birds when you're there--there were some warblers about when I visited.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894fdf3e" title="Wild Turkey, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wild Turkey, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v110/p2303713086-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wild Turkey, Central Park</i></div>
<br />
A Wild Turkey showed up in the North Woods of Central Park a couple of weeks ago. Turkeys are not unknown in the City. I'm told there are some in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, and even in Manhattan there are reports occasionally from Inwood Hill. And of course there was Zelda the Battery Park turkey, killed by a car a couple of years back after a long life there. Still, they're pretty rare here.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894fdf4d" title="Wild Turkey, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wild Turkey, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v41/p2303713101-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>official vehicle, unofficial bird</i></div>
<br />
I was emerging from the Ramble after an afternoon's birding, and I saw David Barrett looking at something at the edge of the Ramble Maintenance parking area. Surprise! The North Woods turkey had been one the move. We watched the bird scratching through leaves and pecking at the grass for a while, until some idiot chased it across the lawn and it flew up a tree.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e894fdf55" title="Wild Turkey, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wild Turkey, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v99/p2303713109-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I think I'll just stay up here. To heck with you people.</i></div>
<br />
The turkey continued moving south through the park the next day, and wound up at the lawns around Seventh Avenue and 59th Street. I think it's still there--it seems to be smart enough to avoid traffic and dogs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e895029c1" title="Least Bittern, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Least Bittern, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v102/p2303732161-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Least but not last</i></div>
<br />
On Sunday, a Least Bittern was spotted perched high up in a tree over the Gill in the Ramble in Central Park. This small egret is very unusual in this area. I asked long-time bird photographer Peter Post if there had ever been one in Central Park before. He said he had seen one--sixty years ago!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e895032c9" title="Least Bittern, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Least Bittern, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v54/p2303734473-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Least Bittern, lurking</i></div>
<br />
There appears to have been one since then, seen by legendary bird guide Starr Sapphire in 1989. But anyway, wow.<br />
<br />
Up a tree, by the way, is <i>not</i> where you'd expect to find such a bird. It would like t be down in the tall reeds at the edge of a pond or stream with some tasty fish in it. Alas, reeds are in short supply in Central Park these days. I suspect the bird was waiting for dusk--if all the large mammals would just go away, it would chance a fishing expedition at Azalea Pond.<br />
<br />
Anyway, you never know what might turn up in Manhattan.ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-79268199384408787072017-04-14T11:34:00.002-04:002017-04-14T11:34:26.782-04:00Stepping into Spring with a spring in your step, or something like that<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b68c0b" title="Red-Tailed Hawks mating, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Red-Tailed Hawks mating, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v31/p2276887563-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in spring a young hawk's fancy...</i></div><br />
Spring is here! And resident birds are at various stages of family life. Some of the lcal Red-Tailed Hawks were already sitting on eggs by the beginning of April. Others, like the pair above that I ran across one morning in the Ramble, were just getting started on the process.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b68c14" title="Great Horned Owls, Bronx NY"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Horned Owls, Bronx NY" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v118/p2276887572-4.jpg" height="630" width="420" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Great Horned Owls, not big on nest concealment this year</i></div><br />
Some birds were even farther along. The Great Horned Owls at the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx nested in a very prominent place this year and had nestlings by mid-March, who should be about ready to fledge by now<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b68bc2" title="Great Horned Owls, Bronx NY"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Horned Owls, Bronx NY" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v127/p2276887490-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>not just one but <b>two </b>adorable slaughterfloofs!</i></div><br />
Once the slaughterfloofs are ready to leave the nest, they will flutter down into nearby trees. The parents will feed them there until they can actually fly. The Botanical Garden folks are prepares to rope off the whole area while that's going on.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b697c9" title="Blue Jay, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Blue Jay, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v31/p2276890569-3.jpg" height="450" width="562" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jay chillin'</i></div><br />
Other residents, like this Blue Jay, will be breeding a bit later in the Spring and are just chilling for now. I've only just started seeing Robins building nests this week, though they've been singing for a month or more.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b6989e" title="Rusty Blackbird, Van Cortlandt Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Rusty Blackbird, Van Cortlandt Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v2/p2276890782-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Rusty Blackbird" always sounds to me like a baseball player's name from the 1930s</i></div><br />
Many birds who spent the winter in the NYC area will be moving north to nest. Rusty Blackbirds were at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx all winter as usual, and are now headingfor their mysterious breeding grounds in somewhere in the boreal forests.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b69a03" title="American Wigeon, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Wigeon, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s1/v6/p2276891139-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>American Wigeon, swim away from me</i></div><br />
Our wintering ducks will also be nesting somewhere in the north. THis female American Wigeon spent a good deal of the later winter at Harlem Meer.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b6ad49" title="Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v51/p2276896073-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>male Golden-Crowned Kinglets have the orangey racing stripe on their head</i></div><br />
Meanwhile the first spring migrants have started moving through the area. Both kinds of Kinglets have been around, along with Chipping Sparrows. Fox sparrows have basically all left already, and the bulk of Song Sparrows have passed through, though some will stay and nest here.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b6b0a0" title="Chipping Sparrow, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Chipping Sparrow, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v103/p2276896928-4.jpg" height="630" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>very confiding Chipping Sparrow behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art</i></div><br />
Phoebes came in in a big rush around the end of March and have also mostly left by now. Still waiting to see the first Pewees and Empidonax flycatchers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e87b68bad" title="Eastern Phoebe, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Eastern Phoebe, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v116/p2276887469-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Phoebe, here today gone tomorrow</i></div><br />
The first warblers have arrived--Pine, Palm, Yellow-Rumped, and now Black-and-White--but I don't have good photos yet. Also there have been several reports of Yellow-Throated Warblers, which is unusual.<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-896038777158897162017-03-30T15:10:00.002-04:002017-03-30T15:10:12.715-04:00Invasion of the Timberdoodles!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e866781b9" title="American Woodcock, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcock, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v108/p2254930361-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>enjoying the stream in the morning light</i></div><br />
The day after the big March storm, people noticed a huge fallout of American Woodcock (fondly called "Timberdoodles") in the city. (A "fallout" is when a lot of migrants descend on a place all of a sudden; usually because they;re forced by the weather.) The first #birdcp tweets came from the north end of Central Park, the Loch and Ravine area. Four woodcock...no, <i>six</i> woodcocks, um eight, no, make that <i>twelve</i>... Then the first report from the Ramble, two in the stream on the Point.<br />
<br />
So I slogged into the Ramble on the way home from work. Didn't find the ones on the Point, but there were four down in the Oven in the fading light, and then two more in a stream between there and Azalea Pond.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e866781ab" title="American Woodcock and Grackles, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcock and Grackles, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v102/p2254930347-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>had to share the stream with bathing Grackles, though. noisy neighbors!</i></div><br />
I went back in the morning. Much better light, and even more Timberdoodles. Still two in that stream, and then:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667842e" title="American Woodcocks, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcocks, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v91/p2254930990-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>pile o' timberdoodles</i></div><br />
A whole pile of them in the Oven. I counted and watched, and then this little scene played out:<br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr> <td><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e866781b3" title="American Woodcocks, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcocks, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s3/v7/p2254930355-2.jpg" height="225" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>into this peaceful scene...</i></div></td> <td><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e866781bd" title="American Woodcocks, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcocks, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v30/p2254930365-2.jpg" height="225" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...came a chilly interloper from under the bank!</i></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667960a" title="American Woodcocks, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcocks, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s6/v146/p2254935562-2.jpg" height="225" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>who waddled over to the pileup...</i></div></td> <td><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667ae34" title="American Woodcocks, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcocks, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v72/p2254941748-2.jpg" height="225" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...and pushed himself into the middle. </i></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So that was six in the Oven before I left for work. Meanwhile, Anders Peltomaa saw nine at the Triplets Bridge, and a Wilson's Snipe. And then the reports really got going. Tom Fiore estimated that there were at least a hundred Woodcock reported in Manhattan, and many more in Prospect Park in Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
Some of these birds were in trouble. Woodcocks have a tendency to fly into building. This is a problem for many birds, but Timberdoodles especially because they don't see directly in front of them very well. Their eyes are way high and towards the back of their head, which is great for scanning for predators, but not so great for flying. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/nyregion/an-early-bird-gets-caught-in-the-snowstorm.html">a New York Times story</a>, the <a href="https://www.wildbirdfund.org/">Wild Bird Fund</a> (local wildlife rehabilitators; great people, you should send them money) had 55 Woodcocks brought to them.<br />
<br />
Others fared even worse. Woodcocks, as I said, have their eyes placed so they can scan for predators. They need this because they are slow and tasty, and even with the nearly 360-degree vision, they rely heavily on their excellent camouflage. When they're on a forest floor covered in leaves or pine needles, they pretty much disappear. But when thy're on snow, or the bare muddy banks of a stream...well, that's a problem. Birders watched Timerdoodles get snatched up by hawks all day long. Probably at least 50 in Central Park alone; I heard from one birder that he watched a single young Red-Tailed Hawk eat three in close succession. It was a raptor buffet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667c2c1" title="Wilson's Snipe, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wilson's Snipe, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v71/p2254947009-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wilson's Snipe!</i></div><br />
So when I finally made it to Triplets Bridge, only three of the nine woodcock Anders had seen in the mrning were still there. But the Wilson's Snipe abided, foraging peacefully in the stream.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667c52c" title="Wilson's Snipe, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wilson's Snipe, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v51/p2254947628-4.jpg" height="630" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ruffled</i></div><br />
At one point he ruffled himself up and preened a bit. I've never had such a good close view of a Snipe before.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667c119" title="American Woodcock, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcock, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v27/p2254946585-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>survivor</i></div><br />
The remaining timberdoodles were ware buy still active. One came out and walked across the stream near the Snipe, giving me a chance to see both of these similar birds together.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667dd0f" title="American Woodcock and Wilson's Snipe, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcock and Wilson's Snipe, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s11/v3/p2254953743-3.jpg" height="450" width="563" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>comparison</i></div><br />
The Wilson's Snipe by itself gives the impression of being a largish bird. It is not. It was much smaller then the Woodcock, which is itself not huge, being rather smaller than a football.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667e5cf" title="American Woodcock, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; American Woodcock, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v162/p2254955983-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in the hollow</i></div><br />
That woodcock eventually nestled itself in a hollow, where it foraged.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8667be33" title="Wilson's Snipe, Central Park"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Wilson's Snipe, Central Park" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s10/v108/p2254945843-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>more Snipe</i></div><br />
Many of the surviving Timberdoodles flew out that night, but some remained in diminishing numbers. I saw one as late as Sunday in the Ramble. They should be close to finishing up migration at this point, though I know that Gabriel Willow is leading a group to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn on Saturday to <a href="https://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1123&EID=23468">see their spectacular mating flights</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2826520522944050955.post-69509952685249156202017-03-10T16:44:00.003-05:002017-03-10T16:44:29.493-05:00Big White BirdsJust because, here's some photos of the big white wading birds of Florida.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e852f3a3c" title="Snowy Egret, Greek Cay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Snowy Egret, Greek Cay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s2/v53/p2234464828-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the more I look at this one, the more I like it (Snowy Egret, Green Cay)</i></div><br />
Some of the birds at the wetlands parks are quiet used to people and go about their business within a few feet of the boardwalks. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e852f1262" title="Great Egret, Green Cay"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Egret, Green Cay" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v158/p2234454626-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>up close and personal with a Great Egret at the Green Cay boardwalk</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e852f1258" title="Great Egret, Wakodahatchee"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Great Egret, Wakodahatchee" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v160/p2234454616-3.jpg" height="387" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Great Egret hunting, Wakodahatchee Wetlands Park</i></div><br />
Cattle Egrets were happy to get close as well. At Wkosahatchee, a bunch of them flew up onto the boardwalk railing only a few feet away from us.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8504e11c" title="Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL"><i><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v167/p2231689500-3.jpg" height="450" width="562" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>no, </i>you <i>back off</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8504e123" title="Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v10/p2231689507-3.jpg" height="436" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Let me tell you something, buddy...</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8504e139" title="Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret Wakodahatchee FL" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s7/v168/p2231689529-4.jpg" height="630" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>more 'tude</i></div><br />
I looked at this next one a long time while photographing, and then again at the photo at home. It's a Cattle Egret, too, just in a slightly different state of plumage.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e8504e12e" title="Cattle Egret, Wakodahatchee FL"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Cattle Egret, Wakodahatchee FL" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s9/v17/p2231689518-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><br />
Here's an odd one out for the big white birds. This is a Little Blue Heron--they're white in their immature plumage:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e852f124f" title="LIttle Blue Heron, Loxahatchee NWR"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; LIttle Blue Heron, Loxahatchee NWR" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s4/v67/p2234454607-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>odd one out</i></div><br />
I'll finish this up with a White Ibis in nice light:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edgaillard.net/birds/e85052ec6" title="Whte Ibis, Wakodahatchee FL"><img alt="Ed Gaillard: birds &emdash; Whte Ibis, Wakodahatchee FL" src="http://edgaillard.net/img/s5/v131/p2231709382-3.jpg" height="435" width="580" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>damn fine lookin' bird</i></div>ed g.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11919010458729730372noreply@blogger.com0