Sunday, May 17, 2009

05-16-09 - Stunned Tennessee Warbler

On a lovely Saturday afternoon with moderate temperatures and a bright blue sunny sky I had set my thoughts to reading a book on the patio. I prepared the tea, got my book and stepped out. It wasn't to be. Just inches off the patio and only steps from the door I saw a bird in the grass. It didn't move. I thought maybe it was dead after smashing into the patio door. I walked around towards the bird feeders and then circled back to the house. The bird did look my way a couple of times so I knew it wasn't dead.


This is a picture of the bird as I first saw it.

This has never happened in my yard before. I was a little panicked. I called the bird store and spoke to Ruth. She gave me tips on what to do. First I picked up the bird and sat in the sun for awhile. Then I made a shoebox and placed the bird in, also in the sun, to keep it warm. Ruth suggested offering a bush after an hour. The bird did make it slowly to a branch of my shrubby magnolia.

This is the bird in the shoebox
After an hour the bird was still in the same spot and I was worried. I called Ruth again to ask more questions. She suggested offering water or mealworm if I had it. I tried those things. The bird didn't seem interested but did seem a little more peppy than before. I held it again and it was definately more active then. It actually seemed to prefer being held by me than being in the bush. After about 10 minutes in my hands, the bird jumped and flew. It looked fine as it left.
Me holding the bird.
Side Note. If you click on this last picture to make larger, you can see the Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating from a dish at the feeder. First ever Grosbeak to our yard was this weekend. So two new yard birds in two days!

Friday, May 15, 2009

05-14-09 Martha Lafite

This might be my favorite bird hike of the season so far! Probably the Blackburnian was my favorite warbler. I forgot I even got a picture of it until I got home. Others saw a Canada Warbler, but I did not unfortunately. It was a great morning with nice temperatures, sunny. The nature center had live-cam setup going in the Bluebird nest and the Phoebe nest. After the hike I stopped in to see this live feed. So neat to see the little ones on the nest.

Lifers today:
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo


American Redstart
Baltimore Oriole
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Phoebe
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager (female)
Summer Tanager (male)
Summer Tanager (young)
Yellow-throated Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo

Questions from Martha Lafite

Bird #1
Bird #1
Bird #3
Bird #4 (chestnut sided maybe?)
Bird #5 (tennesee?)
Bird#5

05-10-09 Weston Bend SP Mother's Day

An overcast day, not the best for photos. We started the day at the overlook today in order to catch the Hooded Warbler as his photogenic best. We weren't disappointed. Once located he made several appearances and posed nicely.
Lifers today:
Hooded Warbler
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Blue Jay
Baltimore Oriole
Eastern Phoebe
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Hermit Thrush
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Tennesse Warbler

Question Post

Bird #1 see white eye ring in flight picture next

Bird #1
Bird #2 - nashville maybe
Bird #2 nashville maybe
Bird #3 - this looks like something interesting
Bird#4
Bird #5
Bird #5 I think
Bird #6
Bird #7 - at the city park in Liberty,
very secretive and hiding in deep deep cover
hermit thrush maybe? tip of beak is definately darker, and eye-ring.
Bird #7
Bird #8 (tennesee maybe?)
Bird #8
Bird #8
Bird #8
Bird #8

Bird #9