..See Jane Bird. Bird, Jane, Bird.

Up a Crazy River

2012-01-09T18:12:00.001-08:00

I really wanted to go kayaking this weekend. Wanted to try a new
location. Hemmed and hawed and today finally decided to try the Bogue
Chitto river at the state park. Got the boat loaded up (I'm getting
pretty good at that) and headed out. It's almost a 2 hour drive and I
was worried the rain might set in, but it held off. Checked in at the
gate. The girl actually laughed at me. I told her I was going to put
in and then turn around and head back -- make a loop, as it were. It's
what I usually do -- have done on other rivers. But apparently there's
a significant difference with this river -- it has a current. One of
the other rangers suggested I put in at the takeout so I could start
going upstream first and then essentially float back down if I got
tired. Sounded like a plan.

Had to drag the boat several hundred yards to put in. Not fun. And
they were not kidding about the current. But I got all my stuff and
started out, feeling strong. Did okay for the first quarter of a mile
or so. Then I hit a baby rapids. I paddled as hard as I could...and I
was just standing still. If I let up for a even a second, the current
pushed me backward. This was just not going to work. I enjoyed the
float back to the takeout :-)

So...lesson learned. Next time I need to either rent one of their boats
and and get a takeout, or take someone with me so we can take out down
river. Got it!

Oh, and birds? I had a great little flocks of warblers, Blue-birds, and
woodpeckers at one point, but my favorite bird of the day was the Winter
Wren that yawned at me. Yes, yawned. I saw him, played the Winter Wren
recording. He looked over at me and yawned. Allrighty then, so much
for that :-)

An Eagle is born!

2012-01-08T08:48:00.001-08:00

Checked the nest near Sherburne South Farm (off Ramah-Maringuoin exit from I-10, just east of the Atchafalaya basin) last week. What I saw surprised me! I was hoping to see downy eagle chick heads and unless I saw a chick that's almost as big as the parent already! I love this location because you can easily observe the nest from the road or while standing on the levee. Afternoon is really the best time because the light is coming from the west. Note to self: bring an extra tripod for the camera! This location is always windy and because of the extreme zoom and the distance, a handheld video leaves a lot to be desired. I hope no one gets seasick watching it! Some still photos from my Facebook album(with more to be added as I watch the nest over the next 6 weeks or so)

I'm partial to redheads

2012-01-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

There is red, and then there is RED. The word "vermilion" was made for this bird. It shines like a beacon, especially against the more drab landscape of winter in Louisiana. And indeed, it should stand out, because it doesn't belong here. This is another bird of the Southwest that visits Louisiana in small numbers in the winter time. This particular one has returned to this horse stable for the 3 years now. He particularly likes looking at himself in the dressage mirror that they have in the training paddock!

Rare bird + lifer = good bird day!

2012-01-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

An oriole in winter in Baton Rouge is a good bird. This bird was located just before the Christmas Bird Count in Baton Rouge and it has been determined to be a Scott's Oriole. This is a bird normally found in the southwest US and Mexico, and there are very few records for Louisiana. The homeowners have been very generous about sharing with all of us.

I decided to try for the Scott's Oriole today. They reported that it had been seen at 8am today and that it seemed to come with some regularity in the mid-afternoon so I decided to go about 2pm. We were treated to a winter hummingbird spectacle while we waited on the Oriole - several Rufous and possible Black-chinned hummingbirds were snap, crackling, and popping all over the place. (This same home hosts a Broad-tailed Hummingbird -- another great bird for LA in the winter!) Another friend arrived to give the bird a try at about 3:45pm. At 4pm I decided I'd best go, and told them to call me if that bird showed up as I was pulling out of the driveway. I dawdled a bit talking to the homeowner and was not even out of the subdivision when they called to say they'd seen the bird! I zipped back. The bird was spied moving cautiously toward the hummingbird feeder at the back of the yard. It eyed everything suspiciously but finally drank from the feeder for something over a minute before it flitted away. I'm sure there are other photos are better than mine, but here's a video (from about 60 feet?) and a couple of stills.

New Year's Resolution!

2012-01-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

How can it be a year since my last blog update? Oh, yeah...Facebook. So much easier to throw a few pics up there!One of my new year's resolutions will be to update this blog more often, even if it's just a quick note or a single picture. I put it off because I want to go into a lot of detail...but I think more frequent updates are key rather than blathering on and on about a single event :-) So, we'll see how long I can keep this up!

How to prepare perfect sushi

2011-12-17T22:55:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist!

2011 Baton Rouge Winter Hummingbird Tour

2011-02-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

For the past dozen years or so, Baton Rouge has featured a tour of homes in the Baton Rouge area that are hosting winter hummingbirds. What's a winter hummingbird, you ask? Well, hummingbirds are not supposed to be here in the winter time. In the east, our "standard" hummingbird is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which returns from Central America in ~March and stays til ~Oct. So when hummingbirds show up in winter...well, that's something special. It turns out that several western species of hummingbirds sometimes come to spend the winter with us. The most common is Rufous, but we also get Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and even more sparsely, Broad-billed, Anna's, or Allen's. So we've learned to keep an eye out and keep our feeders up.

About 30 folks showed up for the tour this year. We started the clear and chilly morning at the Davey's house looking for the elusive adult male Calliopes. They have excellent habitat, which means LOTS of dark and tangled places for tiny birds to hide. Finally spotted the Calliope in the winter honeysuckle - most everyone got a look. Usually this yard has a good number of birds, but it was quiet, hummer-wise, this year.

Moved to the Allen's house. There were so many hummingbirds here it was hard to keep track of them all! Many were banded and color-marked -- 11 have been "processed" in their yard -- but there were more that had no color marks and thus were unaccounted for! We saw at least 3 Buff-bellied hummingbirds for sure, 1 female Calliope, and assorted Ruby-throats and Black-chinned besides. The Baltimore Oriole was a treat, too!

Then on to the Leblanc's home where the Rufouses were dueling it up! Joan had taken the feeders down in the front so we were able to stand in the backyard and have good views of the birds vying for the feeders. Highlight was a hummer in the hand. An immature male Ruby-throat was on the feeder and someone said "It flew down to forage in the grass under the feeder." Um...not a common practice for hummingbirds. After a minute or so, Ryan Terrill walked over and picked up the tiny torpid bird and gave it a little mouth to mouth (not really -- he just held it and breathed warm air on it) and before long it flew away -- lived to fuss another day!

Our last host home was the Schutte home in south Baton Rouge which backs up to a large swampy area. There were several birds here, including a feisty molting male Rufous, and we picked up our last species for the day -- Broad-tailed hummingbird.

So happy that the 30 or so tour participants got to see the birds they wanted to see - especially to Steve and Cindy who made the trip from Houston to see the birds! Many, many thanks to our hosts, to Dennis Demcheck for lending his advice and leadership, and to Kevin Morgan for the up-to-date bird info. We look forward to next year!

Sunset at Lake Martin

2010-08-23T19:52:00.001-07:00

[click here to see album]

Late summer at South Farm

2010-08-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sunrise over misty fields

Lorry spotted someone watching us

Beautiful early morning at South Farm

The night herons were still up too

Still too much water for shorebirds

Though we did see a few wading birds

Darn, we left our machetes at home!

Our Louisiana Heron (aka, Tri-colored Heron)

Water Hyacinth

Late summer is the time for Golden Silk spiders

Bill and Lorry were treated to a whole family of Purple Gallinules -- this is mom

Button Bush

Egrets, I have a few

2010-08-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

Morning at Blackwater

2010-08-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Blackwater Conservation area is a BREC park in north Baton Rouge (actually in the community of Central). It is a reclaimed dirt pit on the banks of the Comite River. It is today one of the few locations with public access to the Comite. Dirt pits have become fishing ponds, and large, wide, gravel paths have been installed for easy access. Vegetation here is mostly new growth, but a few cypress trees have survived and more are coming back. Other riparian trees -- sycamore, swamp maple, river birch, and, unfortunately Chinese Tallow, are returning. Many of our other native plants can be found here as well.

Wonderful fishing spot. When I arrived, Chimney Swallows had just risen from their roost and were flying low over the water, eating and drinking. As the morning went on, they were seen higher and higher over head.

Nice spot for a breather.

A bird favorite. This vine was the scene of much activity. Don't know the name, but Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Common Yellowthroats, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, Hummingbirds, Towhees all congregated here.

This one I know -- American Beautyberry. In the winter, the White-throated Sparrows will be found near this plant...

Silver-spotted Skipper. I swore I wasn't going to try to learn butterflies, but they're often easier to photograph than birds.

Portent of fall? I like the blues and greens on the yellow.

Rabbits are common here. Obviously not enough hawks. :-)

Trumpetvine - waiting for a hummingbird

As I said, the park borders the Comite River. The Comite is extremely shallow with a nice sandy bottom here. You can see that the sandy beach is used by 4-wheelers, which fortunately don't come up into the park itself.

Signs of a sand critter

Something in the ornamental oats family. I made the mistake of planting this in my garden once, years ago. I'm still pulling out its descendants.

Perfect markings on this Monarch. Yeah, I know...I'm not learning butterflies...

Frogs, fish, turtles...there should be more kids here with bare feet and nets

Really cool flower..could it be something in the orchid family with that interesting flower?

I'm not learning dragonflies, either.

Go away butterflies!

Shoo!

And finally, a bird. This one was a first for me.

I couldn't figure out what it was, until it called..."Breee"
Juvenile Eastern Towhee

And here's the dad

Just doing what he dew from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

When this Towhee flew into the path in front of me, I was a bit surprised. Normally Towhees are fairly reserved creatures, preferring instead to skulk in the bushes. Although it's a member of the sparrow family, it acts more like a thrasher, hopping around on the ground, tossing up leaf litter looking for food. When this one flew out in the open and proceeded to forage on the ground (at least that's what I thought at first) I was surprised. And then I realized he wasn't looking for food at all. He was bathing in the dewy grass! Now we were within a few feet of a lake, but obviously it didn't offer the right properties for his morning grooming. Once he finished his bath, he went back to his bush and admonished one and all to "Drink your teeeeeeeeeea!"

The Birds of Cat Island

2010-08-01T21:01:00.001-07:00

Today I traveled north of Baton Rouge to the Felicianas. Once you cross Thompson Creek, you notice something significant -- hills! The topography changes, the vegetation changes, even the fauna change. There is a lot of construction here, as they widen the highway and build the new Audubon bridge across the Mississippi river. But if you turn off the highway, you are immediately plunged into rural Louisiana.
Bluffs and ravines and sandy creeks -- this area really feels a lot like the Appalachians...

When you turn toward the river, you find a more typical Louisiana again. Bottomland hardwood forest -- quite a variety of trees -- sycamore, cypress, locust, sweet gum, swamp maple, several kinds of oak, and many more that I have yet to learn to identify, make up a dense forest here. And along the river, my destination... Cat Island.

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in a bend of the Mississippi River north of Baton Rouge near St. Francisville. The refuge was established in 2000 and is almost 11,000 acres. There are not many natural areas along the Mississippi River batture because most of it has been taken over by industry, but this area is one.

The main reason for that is that it's inaccessible for much of the year. From January to June each year, as long as the Mississippi River guage reading is over 18' at Baton Rouge, the refuge is flooded. As the river recedes, more and more of the refuge can be reached. This means there is really very little human interference with this area. Hunting is popular in fall and winter, but there are areas of the refuge where hunting is not allowed.

In 2007, management of Cat Island moved from the Louisiana office to the Mississippi FWS office at St. Catherine creek. Is that the reason the information kiosk is now the Kiosk of No Information? There were actually a few brochures tucked in here -- you'd think they could at least post a map. The self-clearance permit station had no permits to offer.
There are some signs, though many are in serious disrepair. This one was in better shape than most. It'd be nice to explore more of the refuge -- the road was still closed past the Blue Goose ATV trail intersection.
One of Cat Island's claims to fame is that it's home to the World Champion Cypress Tree. How did this grand old tree escape logging? Hard to know -- maybe its uneven shape didn't appeal to the harvesters. Whatever the reason, it's remote location continues to protect it today. I didn't get back to the Champion Cypress today -- the road's still closed -- but I did see some fine old cypress trees.

The roads here are gravel, some with serious potholes -- I bottomed out the Prius a few times today. Of course, that's to be expected from an area that spends half the year underwater.
I am not going to lie; it was hot. I arrived about 7:30 or so, and it was already well above 80. I did most of my birding from the car, but I had to get out and walk when the road was blocked off - that mile nearly did me in.

What was fun was the bird life! I went looking for Wood Storks -- and managed to find a few flying over just as I was leaving. But well before that I had some other interesting finds. I enjoyed watching a great group of grackles that were feasting on delicious green worms. And then I noticed they were being joined by a flock of cuckoos! Now, normally you're lucky to catch sight of a single Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- they seem to be one of the stealthiest of birds. But at this particular location there were several -- at least 15 -- and I bet there were more that I didn't see. I also heard more nearly every time I stopped! Obviously a great breeding population in the area.

As I said, I hoped and expected to find an abundance of wading birds here. There were signs of birds...

And I did find a few but not in the numbers I expected. It was not for lack of food opportunities. There was standing water along all of the roads and it teemed with life.

At one spot near a culvert, the fish were just roiling...literally flopping and turning somersaults-- it looked like the water was boiling! I will post a video, but in the meantime here is a poor closeup of one of the culprits...
Doesn't that look lile a miniature dolphin?? There was a fisherman there and I asked him what the fish were -- he said they're gar. You can see the teeth here if you look closely!

In addition to the rambunctious gar, there were tons of baby catfish along the road. I was really surprised the birds were not there just picking them off. Of course, they might occur all over the island and not just along the road...

Handsome little fellers...
One of the most interesting things about the trip was seeing all the family groups -- babies of every sort. From Cardinals to Orioles to Buntings to Hawks. Including families of the striking Mississippi Kite.
One of the issues with birding on a National Wildlife Refuge is the fundamental conflict between hunting and non-consumptive activities like birding. Now, one interesting question is why the land is labeled "refuge" and hunting is allowed in the first place. Beyond that, there is a safety factor for people as well. I don't really want to be roaming around in the woods where there are folks with guns running around. And, as a hunter told me, they don't want me roaming around scaring their game either. I like the idea that there are areas of Cat Island NWR where hunting is not allowed at all. I have no idea if that's enforced -- can only hope -- but I'm going to make a point to come back in the fall and explore some more. I believe I will wear some day-glo orange -- just in case.

of Storks and Dirt Pits and Rainbows

2010-07-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, even though Baton Rouge is located prominently on the largest river in North America, which also happens to be the pivotal feature of one of the largest bird migration flyways in North America, there is very little natural habitat left by the river in our immediate area. To man, rivers mean industry and transportation, and Baton Rouge is a prime example of these uses. The river itself produces material for man to use...sand and silt that flow down river are harvested for construction, industry, and agriculture. It would be nice if we had some natural riparian habitat left for resident and migrating birds, but instead they must make do with what we've left them.

Richfield Riversilt is a working dirt pit just south of Baton Rouge, located on a bend in the river. Natural sand and silt deposits make it a prime spot for this use. I don't have a good sense of area, but it's probably a couple hundred acres all tolled. There are no trails, no rest rooms, no amenities of any kind. There is a construction trailer and heavy equipment.

But the owners are "bird friendly" and since the birds use the area despite the heavily disturbed habitat, AND since this spot is close enough to Baton Rouge to dash out on an impromptu field trip, it's a popular place for Baton Rouge birders. With permission, of course, since it is private property.

I went today to see if I could find Wood Storks, and also to check the property for potential later in the summer & fall. On one of our field trips last fall, we had excellent numbers of Storks. I didn't see any storks today, but there was plenty of water and the trees and undergrowth was very overgrown -- excellent weed habitat :-) My best bird of the day was one I couldn't even get a picture of -- a singing male Painted Bunting. Oh, what a bird.

I'll definitely be going back later this year... The rainbow was nice bonus -- one of the perks for birding in the rain.

Touch and Go!

2010-06-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Tree Swallow chick being fed by parent
Near Hog Island, Maine
June 2010

Swamp Song

2010-05-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

Black Lake, near Campti, Louisiana on a quiet Sunday morning
(as always, click on each picture to see a larger version)

Northern Parula
This beautiful warbler nests in Spanish Moss

Some kind of huge swamp spider. I couldn't tell until I saw this picture on the computer that it was eating a dragonfly or damselfly. The beast was at least 3 inches from stem to stern. Arachnophobic's nightmare.

It was so creepy and intriguing that I had to enlarge it so you could see more detail. Note the bristles on its legs and the multiple eyes. I wish I'd had the nerve to get even closer but I was afraid it'd jump on me.

Beautiful and serene

Yellow-pop sings its little heart out!

The cold winter killed many of the invasives in Black Lake. In years past, this area was thick with water hyacinth and others.

Little Blue Heron stakes out breakfast

A bromeliad? Well...kinda...this is the miniscule flower (less than half inch across) of the Spanish Moss!

Dragonfly pauses and reflects

Under the boat shed

Interesting perspective...from the dock to the house

This fox squirrel dropped in about 6 feet from where I was sitting quietly to investigate. He was none to happy with the intrusion.

Bird Observation at Sherburne South Farm

2010-05-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Recently attended a meeting with folks from the Army Corps of Engineers and the LA Wildlife and Fisheries department to discuss a project they're considering for Sherburne South Farm Wildlife Management Area. They want to build an observation platform and asked for input from the birding community. They also want our help -- the plans call for them to get it started and then recruit volunteers to help with the final construction. Stay tuned!

The selected location be ideal for a 360 degree view of the water compounds. Perfect for the Wood Stork and Wading Bird event in summer, for shorebird viewing in fall, and for waterfowl viewing in winter.

Sherburne South Farm is located a couple miles north of the Ramah-Maringuoin exit off Interstate-10 in Iberville parish Louisiana.

What're you squawking about??

2010-04-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

Complaint of a Moorhen from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

This Common Moorhen was not happy that I was able to get so close...not sure if the alarms were for itself or if had a mate or chicks that may have been hidden in the vegetation.

Observed near the backside of the rookery near Jefferson Island, LA.

A Look at a Rookery

2010-04-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Scenes from a rookery from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

"I'll get you, my pretty!"

An alligator patrols beneath a wading bird rookery near Jefferson Island, LA. Little Blue Herons, Tri-colored Herons, Cattle, Snowy, Great Egrets, and a few Roseate Spoonbills are all nesting here, as well as a few Neotropic Cormorants and Anhingas.

Where have all the Spoonbills gone?

2010-04-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Spoonbill Convention from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

This collection of Roseate Spoonbills was seen hanging out near the small rookery near Jefferson Island, Louisiana. They didn't seem to be interested in pairing off for breeding, which was odd. Mostly they seemed to be pestered by flying insects (buffalo gnats?). There were a few spoonbill nests stirred in with the other wading birds, but not many at this location.

Fuzzy little Red-tails

2010-04-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

The hawk's nest is hidden well at the top of a tall cypress. I wasn't sure, for a while, if there was anything in the nest, but then a head poked up...and then a second. A few trees over, the parent screeched at me...I didn't stay long...

Red Tailed Hawk nest in cypress tree from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

There were two nestlings visible and they seemed to be curious about me. Mom was not amused, however, and she cussed at me big time for being too close to her babies.

The Swamp Canary sings

2010-04-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Swamp Canary sings from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

The Prothonotary Warbler is a welcome sight, and sound, in south Louisiana. Its song is a sure sign of spring, as it finds its way to our swamps and bayous and sets up nesting territories. This one found a lovely snack!

Swamp Scenes

2010-04-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

Painted Bunting - this is how a rainbow colored bird hides in a green tree

This turtle has had a hard life...still kicking

Picture perfect stream

Have a seat

Cypress-Tupelo Swamp

Virgina sweet-spire

Stand of Indian Pink

Close up of Indian Pink

Penstemon

Thistle

Red Swamp Maple - leaf bud

Spider Lily

Cuckoos and Catbirds

2010-04-16T20:22:00.001-07:00

Beautiful day for birding on Grand Isle today. Even though I arrived mid-day, the weather was sunny but not too hot, a little breezy, and altogether pleasant. The woods are all fresh and green. I did make a pass to the state park end of the island and picked up a few shorebirds, but spent most of my time in Sureway woods. Birds were not there in great number, but there were some good ones. Unfortunately, most of them eluded my camera. Catbirds are probably the most plentiful, but there were also 3 types of vireos, both Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks, a several warblers -- coolest for me were the Northern Waterthrush and the Black-throated Green. There were also several Cuckoos, though try as we might, we could not make any of them into Black-billed.

Roadside Birding on Grand Isle

2010-04-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

I love that you can detour down a side road on Grand Isle and run across a gaggle of shorebirds.

Shy Willet

This is the story of the Yellowlegs who thought he was a Dowitcher

Striking Stilt

Frenchtown Road Conservation Area

2010-04-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Photos taken on 4/11/2010 at BREC's Frenchtown Conservation Area, where the Amite and the Comite rivers meet.

New fern frond

Jack in the Pulpit

Green Dragon - relative of jack-in-the-pulpit with an even more impressive tongue

Close-up of the dragon's tongue

Gartner snake

Cypress-tallow swamp

Stand of giant bamboo

This is where I want to put in my kayak on the Amite river.

He's flown the coop!

2010-04-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Ramah-Maringuoin Eagle chick has fledged! A friend (thanks, Carol!) sent me this link today to a photographer's photos on flickr. He apparently caught the chick in the act of taking his first flight!

Calling in the nest
Wings spread -- ready to go!
Up to a nearby branch!
And he's away! First flight!

How terrifically exciting -- how I wish I could have seen it! Good to know the chick's on his way. Bald Eagles take 4+ years to develop the white head and tail and become fully adult and are ready for a nest of their own. Best wishes to this chick, and here's hoping the Ramah-Maringuoin pair come back next year to this wonderful location and do it all over again!

I'm addicted to waxwings!

2010-04-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

I can't help it. I walk past a tree full of Cedar Waxwings and I have to take a picture of them. They're just so darn photogenic and cooperative!

Eagle Bonanza!

2010-04-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

Visited the Ramah-Maringuoin eagle nest this week and found the chick continuing to "flappercize" --stretching his wings in practice flying motions. The wind was so stiff we were worried a gust might take him right out of the nest before he's ready! There's not doubt he'll be leaving the nest soon. The parents are still very attentive, with one adult usually at or near the nest. One was even observed feeding the chick this week, though he is obviously able to eat on his own.

As an added bonus, we noticed TWO Bald Eagles down at the Capitol Lakes in downtown Baton Rouge this week! There have been eagle sightings at the Capitol and University lakes all winter, but this is, I believe, the first time two have been observed together. Seems very likely this pair might have a nest site close to downtown, but nothing has been reported (to my knowledge). I was able to set up my scope in our office building and let people look at the eagles -- for many, it was the first time to see an eagle "in person"!

Crowns Up!

2010-03-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Yellow -crowned Night Heron ready to defend his territory! This was the first time I've ever seen the display -- crown feathers standing straight up and mantle all a-bristle!

Away with you, young upstart!

To the victor go the spoils. The nest is his once again. Now all he needs is a lady to share it with...

I am the most beautiful Anhinga of them all

2010-03-21T20:55:00.001-07:00

Mirror, Mirror, in the lake... from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

Found this male Anhinga in exceptional breeding plumage preening himself at Lake Martin. Notice he picked a spot where he could admire his reflection as he primped :-)

3/14/2010

There's red, and then there's RED!

2010-03-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

The male Northern Cardinal is an great example of a red bird...there's no doubt. In the spring, in fresh breeding plumage, they seem to perch themselves to reflect the sun and they're quite a sight.

But if you want a *really* red bird...a bird that seems to glow with a fire from within...find a Vermilion Flycatcher! He's not a large bird, but the color makes him pop! This bird is a rare visitor to southeastern Louisiana, so this bird in Braithwaite (across the river from New Orleans) was a treat. He was very cooperative and I wish I'd gotten even closer for a better picture, although quite frankly, it's hard to do him justice.

Welcome back, Little Blue!

2010-03-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Little Blue Herons are arriving in force from their wintering grounds in the tropics. They have spiffed up for breeding season -- look at all the colors! And you thought they were simply blue!

This picture was taken at Lake Martin on 3/14. Though the herons have arrived, they seem to be later with courting and nesting this year. Stay tuned though -- they usually nest in the button bush which is closer to the road, so I may be able to get some good photographs.

The Eagle chick is growin' fast!

2010-03-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Update on the Bald Eagle nest from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

The eagle chick in the Ramah-Maringuoin is growing fast! He's as large as his parents now. He's shown here exercising his wings and lumbering around the nest. The parents seem to be leaving him alone for longer periods of time now -- sometimes watching from the nearby tree-line, but often they can't be seen in the vicinity at all. I think he has about 3 more weeks in the nest, give or take...

(apologies for the shaky video -- at 70x zoom any bit of wind throws the camera around, even on a tripod)

'Tis the season of the Waxwing!

2010-03-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Cedar Waxwings are common winter visitors in the Baton Rouge area. They arrive in late fall and folks report them now and again. But around March each year, they become more visible, it seems. One of the reasons for this is that they're eating in our yards! Hollies are a standard landscaping plant and, either because the other natural berries are depleted, or because the hollies ripen so late in the season, the waxwings come after the hollies. Hollies are used along the streets and around many buildings in the downtown area, so clouds of waxwings descend. They come in small and large flocks, with their extremely high-pitched call, descend on a bush, strip it of the berries and move on. Sometimes they'll get so full they appear to be "drunk" and just fall out on the ground! Unfortunately, Cedar Waxwing window strikes are very common this time of year as well. If you didn't know better, you might mistake these birds for Cardinals, since they also have a crest. But the fine details -- the black mask, the perfect red accents on the wing, and the yellow-dipped tail, tell you this is another bird altogether!

Eagles in downtown Baton Rouge

2010-03-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

There have been several Bald Eagle sightings in downtown Baton Rouge this winter and spring. They are coming in apparently to fish on the lakes at LSU and the Capitol. Have to wonder if there's a nest in the vicinity but no one has reported one to my knowledge.

I ate lunch down by the Capitol Lake this week and this Bald Eagle was perched in a cypress tree across the lake and stayed there for a good long time. (Not great quality due to limited optics, light, and distance, but I think you can tell it's an eagle :-) )

Hummingbird Jewelry

2010-03-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

Installing hummingbird jewelry

She shows off her new bling

She's got some bling of her own!

Tail decor

Buff-bellied jewel

From head to toe

Such beauty deserves close inspection!

Ah, how she shines!

The release!

Buffy basks in the sunshine wearing her new accessory.

Eagles and Other Pretty Things

2010-03-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

Eagle Lift-off!

Eagle Education

Ma and Pa Eagle

Bayou Black, Louisiana

Lift!

Amy Shutt and CC Lockwood

while attending CC's photography workshop at 2010 Eagle Expo

Serious Nutria

Egret Silohuette

Red-Tailed Hawk

Great Blue Heron

Red-Shouldered Hawk nest

Bayou Black, Louisiana

Red-Tailed Hawk

Anhinga

(love the blue eyes!)

Cooper's Hawk

Red Swamp Maple

Bayou scene - South Louisiana - February 2010

Japanese Magnolia - February 2010

Daffodils - February 2010

Layers - Ag field with train bridge

As the Eagle grows

2010-02-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

As the Eagle grows from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

Paid another visit to the Ramah-Maringuoin Bald Eagle nest today. A fitting end to Eagle Expo weekend, even though that was held down near the coast in Morgan City (LOTS of eagles down that way!!). Michael Seymour with LDWF and his wife Kim and son Gavin arrived not long after I got there to see the nest and take some pictures and video as well.

This video features a few minutes of the chick being fed by Dad. You can see how much he's grown in the 3 weeks since the last video I posted. He's nearly as large as the adult now. He'll probably be larger than his parents them by the time he fledges, since they're working hard and all he does is eat, sleep, and poop.
Speaking of which, at about 3 minutes into the video you'll be treated to a shot of that. Then Mom arrives and Dad leaves after a minute or two. The nest is buzzed by an Osprey, which doesn't seem to bother her too much.

As Michael and I watched, a 4-wheeler approached the nest tree. It seemed to deliberately head for the tree, and when it got too close, Mama Eagle bolted. Another 4-wheeler followed the first, along with 3 or 4 tagalong dogs - 4 guys altogether. They parked under the nest tree for several minutes, which kept Mom from returning to the tree. It was not clear what their intention was, but it was clear they were bothering the eagle and keeping her from returning to the nest. Because there are laws bothering eagles (Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act) Michael called LDWF enforcement, but the guys left the tree area before enforcement arrived. I also left before enforcement got there, but as you can see in the comments Michael left, they did talk to the guys and let them know what the rules are. I'm not sure how the landowners feel about the eagles nesting there, and they may not appreciate the attention directed toward their property, but the eagles are just trying to make a living and hopefully they'll respect that.

I have my eye on you, woman

2010-02-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

and I will kill you if you threaten my young'un

A friend recently told me about a Great Horned Owl's nest in the middle of Baton Rouge. I looked for it last weekend, but I was operating under the impression I should be looking for a nest in a cavity. There was a great hollow tree at the proper location, and I saw an adult owl, but if there was a nest there, I wasn't seeing it. I did see a stick nest high in the tree....but owls don't use stick nests, right? Wrong! Apparently Great Horned Owls are opportunistic nesters -- they don't construct their own nests but will use the abandoned nests of other birds. Since they actually nest in the winter time, before other birds nest, this may actually be more of a "time share" deal -- although something I read said that GHOwl nestlings basically make such a mess of the nest there's not much left of the abode once they're done with it!

So I went back today to see if I could see any sign of baby owl life in the nest. Since there's an adult owl hanging around, it stands to reason that there are offspring there. It appears the young owl is getting self-sufficient as the adult is not "sitting" on the nest. Instead it perches some 100 yards away in a pine tree, at a height that must be appropriate for keeping a sharp eye on the little guy in the nest. I set up on the road under the nest -- not too close because I didn't want to be directly under the nest. Unfortunately, because of the lighting, while I was taking pictures of the nest my back was directly to the adult owl -- and I gotta say, this was making me VERY nervous. I kept imagining him or her swooping in on silent wings, talons extended, taking off a good chunk of my scalp. ::gulp::
Fortunately, I must not have seemed to threatening, as I walked away in one piece.

Glimpses into the Eagle Nest

2010-02-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

A Glimpse Into the Eagle's Nest from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

Composite of video clips featuring action at the Bald Eagle nest. Includes the female eagle doing nest maintenance and calling, the male joining her on the nest, the female feeding the chick (is that a flounder??), and a few seconds of the chick alone on the nest. Be sure to stay for the finale :-)

The nest is located on the east side of the Atchafalaya Basin levee near Ramah & Maringuoin, LA. Video taken on 2/7/10. The chick appears to be about 3-4 weeks old.

Ramah Maringuoin Eagles - First Video 2010

2010-01-31T23:12:00.000-08:00

Ramah Maringuoin Bald Eagle Nest from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

First video of this year's Bald Eagle nest near Ramah & Maringuoin in south central Louisiana. The location of the nest is perfect, both for the birds and for the on-lookers. The tree stands alone in a large ag field and has visibility for miles on all sides. It can be observed from the road very well. And I think, unlike last year, the view will not be completely obscured when the tree leafs out either.

There is one chick visible in the nest. You can catch glimpses in the video as it moves around and as the parents feed it. Click on the title above to watch the video on the Vimeo.com website -- it's larger and easier to see!

This my first video of the nest, but likely not my last! Note to self: use tripod!

The Ramah Maringuoin Eagles

2010-01-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

The Bald Eagles that have nested in years past near Sherburne South Farm WMA are back, and better than ever! They have a new nest this year. It's in a large water oak situated in the middle of a bare field, so it's very easy to see. And, time will tell, but I think you'll be able to see the nest even when the tree leafs out (unlike last year) which will be great for watching the nest progress.

There is definitely a chick in the nest! Difficult to tell if there is more than one. The one I could see looked to be about 2-3 weeks old. According the what I read in the references, they spend about 75 days in the nest, so we should be able to watch this little guy grow for the next 2 1/2 months or so.

To find the nest, take the Ramah Maringuoin exit off I-10 west. Turn right on hwy 3000 when you exit, then take the first left (almost immediate). Take the next right turn. This will take you across a small bridge over a bayou and onto the road next to the levee. Follow this for about 2 miles until you see the sign for South Farm on your left. Look to your right and you'll see the Eagle Tree.

Hummingbird Banding video

2010-01-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

Hummingbird Banding from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

Next best thing to being there!

Watch Linda Beall band a Ruby-Throat Hummingbird -- fascinating process! She explains every step as she bands, weighs, measures, and marks the bird.

Miniature Miracles

2010-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

Most people are familiar with hummingbirds...tiny, flying jewels that never seem to sit still, flitting from flower to flower. They are so tiny and look so fragile. But these birds are remarkably resilient. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds we see in the eastern part of the U.S. migrate each year from Mexico and Central America up into the U.S. from the Gulf Coast all the way to Canada -- and then back again! More species of hummingbirds occur in the western part of the U.S. than the east, and some of these little birds also migrate. They are supposed to head for Mexico and Central America as well, but in the past 30 years or so, people have started seeing them along the Gulf Coast and even in some eastern states during the fall and winter months. Dubbed "western vagrants," these birds may take up residence in our yards here in Louisiana for the winter and keep us company while we're missing our ruby-throats. The most common of these western hummers is the Rufous (technically, Selasphorus Rufous). I've been fortunate enough to host a handful of these birds, mostly Rufous, over the past few years (since I've known to keep my feeders up and pay attention!). Nancy Newfield and her crew have come to my yard each year to try to band these birds so that we have a better idea where they come from and where they go. Since these birds nest from the northern Rockies to Alaska, one of them may turn up 2500 miles away some day!

Today was Banding Day 2010. They caught 2 female Rufous hummingbirds in my yard. One was new... The first thing they do is apply a band, in case the bird escapes while it's being handled. Generally they are very docile and of course they are treated very carefully. The tiny aluminum band contains a unique code of a letter and 4 digits that identifies only this bird. It's applied gently to the tiny leg of the bird.

Each bird is inspected carefully for general health and to try to determine age....

Each bird is weighed... they're looking to see if she's put on fat and might be ready to migrate back to the west coast

The feathers are inspected to see where she is in the molting process. Hummingbirds generally replace their feathers during the winter months -- getting all pretty for the breeding season!

After the banding is done and all the data about the bird are recorded, the bird is marked with a non-toxic liquid "paint" that will allow us to see from a distance that this bird has been processed. If there is one more than one bird in a location, different colors are used so the host can tell the birds apart. Since this is virtually impossible without the color-marking, this is one of our favorite parts of the process. The "paint" will disappear as the bird molts their head feathers.

This pretty girl is ready to go! We caught her again twice this morning when she came back to the feeders. She had a pretty trying day but I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a tough little bird!

Nancy Newfield and Kevin Morgan on stakeout, patiently watching the traps...

The second bird that was caught today turned out to already have a band on her leg! She was banded in my yard in 2006, so this is her 4th year to travel thousands of miles cross country to my yard! If that doesn't amaze you....well....I just give up :-)

She was marked in blue so I can tell her from the other bird. They think there may have been a 3rd one in my yard, so if I see one that's unmarked I'll know that's the case....

And I got the honor of holding her for the release. The best way I can describe this is "a feather with a heartbeat." She's so light you can barely feel the weight of her on your hand, but you can feel the heartbeat just vibrating, it's beating so fast... She rested there for a moment...and then poof! Back to the shrubbery!

Since she's come back for 4 years in a row, I decided she needs a name. She shall be called "Tish" for "titiana" which means auburn-gold color....like the beautiful feathers in her gorget.

Other Texas Wildlife

2010-01-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Still so much to learn...

2010-01-21T18:18:00.001-08:00

One of the neatest things at the bed & breakfast was the bird life. The hosts set a great table for the birds and they were there throughout the day. In addition to the collection of titmice and sparrows, we noticed a yellow bird on the feeder. Two wing bars, yellow-orange beak, about the size of a cardinal...what was this bird? My first instinct was tanager...but the wing bars? My best looks of the bird were without a camera at hand (of course) but I finally managed a couple of mediocre pictures.

Without good internet access and my field guide library, I wasn't able to figure out for sure what the bird was until I got home. Anyway, long story short...the bird is a female Western Tanager...and it doesn't seem to belong in coastal Texas. It's one of the fun things, and the frustrating things, about learning birds. Knowing when something is special, when it doesn't belong. And it's something that can only be learned with experience, with time in the field. Sometimes you get lucky and you get some documentation and you can prove what you saw, other times you don't know to get a picture or think to get one and the opportunity is lost. It definitely keeps you on your toes!

The Tree House at Rockport

2010-01-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

On our recent trip to Texas to see the Whooping Cranes, we stayed at a bed and breakfast on the Copano Bay. It's actually a garage apt that Marsha and Harry Krenek rent out, and it's a wonderful spot. Situated in the middle of a coastal live oak grove, on a bluff overlooking the bay, it's a tranquil spot and one that is wonderful for wildlife. Not only were there plenty of birds around, but we spied raccoon, deer, fox, and the biggest, fattest fox squirrels you'll ever see. We highly recommend it if you're in the market for a place to stay near Rockport-Fulton, TX.
Copano Bay Retreat

(click on each picture to see larger version)

Sunrise over Copano Bay -- view from the bluff toward the northeast

Great Blue Heron sittin' on the dock of the bay

Ned sittin' on the dock of the bay (well, the steps leading to it, anyway :-))

Spotted Sandpiper bobbing on the rocks

Rockport's famous for its hummingbirds of course...here's one that couldn't bear to leave. Female Rufous

Black-crested Titmouse -- I guess I should have chosen a picture that shows his crest, huh? I'll have to look for one

The only Lincoln's Sparrows I've ever seen have been hiding in shrubbery...these came right out the feeders (but were still pretty shy).

Well, don't you look chipper!

In the live oak canopy

Nice place to relax and enjoy nature

Ahhhhh

The Littlest Grebe

2010-01-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

The Grebe who thought he was a penguin from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

I happened to be on the observation tower at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas, Tx one evening. Looked down and noticed this bird fishing. He was hard to follow with the camera -- you can see how quickly he propels himself through the water with those webbed feet. I love the huge droplets of water that gather on his back when re-emerges. He reminded me of a penguin chasing after fish-- all feet and rounded body and no suggestion of wings at all....

My lifer Least Grebe.

But there's more here than Whooping Cranes...

2010-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

A few other scenes from the Whooping Crane tour.

A view of the Rockport Marina
The Fulton Mansion on the waterfront The drunken Peregrine. (Captain Tommy's nickname for her -- not mine. He said she looked like she was leaning up against the nesting platform for support after a hard night on the town :-))
Forster Tern. What did the birds rest on before we added flotsam and jetsam?
At one point we picked up a small group of Bottle-nosed dolphins who wanted to get their pictures taken and frolicked in the wake, hamming it up.
These Oyster-catchers didn't have to work too hard to get oysters. They were standing on a big ol' pile of 'em.
A study in Cormorants. With a Ring-Billed Gull thrown in for good measure and size comparison. The Double-crested are the larger, bulkier Cormorants -- the Neotropic the smaller and more delicate.
We spied a coyote on one of the outer islands. He was not particularly happy for the attention.One Dunlin, Two Dunlin, Three Dunlin, Four.
You get the idea. No those are not insects. Those're ducks. Thousands of 'em, in the distance.

Crab fisherman are having to work hard for a living....like the cranes, they're finding the blue crabs very hard to come by this year... Peaceful, early morning marina

Visiting the Whoopers

2010-01-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

Ned and I went to Rockport, Texas this past weekend to see the Whooping Cranes. Captain Tommy Moore's boat, the Skimmer, sails out of Rockport to the islands and bays off Aransas National Wildlife Refuge just north of there. The Whooping Cranes generally hang out in these marshes looking for their favorite dish -- the blue crab. Unfortunately crab are scarce this year, so the cranes are having to work harder to find food. The census taken of the cranes this year numbered them at 264. We saw 14 of them on our trip...

Distance made me wish for the mega-lenses that other folks use to photograph these great birds.

More photos from the trip forthcoming...

Wings of Hope Wildlife Sanctuary

2010-01-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

Eastern Screech Owl with injured leg
Visit the link below to see some pictures from our recent visit to the Wings of Hope Wildlife Sanctuary and rehabilitation hospital in Livingston. The sanctuary is run by Leslie Lattimore. Leslie takes in and cares for all sorts of injured wildlife, from birds to squirrels and otters and, well, you name it! It takes a lot of time and energy and dedication to care for these animals, and you can tell it's a labor of love for Leslie and her volunteer staff, like my friend Amy.
Scenes from Wings of Hope - Dec 2009

Visit the Wings of Hope Sanctuary website
You can also visit the website to find out how you can arrange to visit the Sanctuary in prrson and meet Leslie and "her" animals.

Gulls on Ice

2010-01-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

What's wrong with this picture? Can this be Baton Rouge? Frozen lakes? Gulls skating on thin ice??

Butter-butt (aka, yellow-rumped warbler)

Orange-crowned warbler

Hello Phoebe!

Sunset over the batture

Arctic birding

2010-01-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

OK, arctic birding may be a bit of an exaggeration. I'm sure our friends to the north would snicker at our discomfort at getting out in sub-freezing temperatures. But for those of us who are used to more temperate climes, 23 degrees is just plain COLD! The steady, biting wind didn't help either. But we piled on the layers and braved the elements in the interest of the hobby and the science. The mission was the Louisiana Winter Bird Atlas and the areas visited today were the west side of the Mississippi River in the Port Allen area, then up to False River near New Roads, then on to the Morganza Spillway. Landbirds were in short supply, mainly because there are not a lot of accessible woodsy areas to visit in these quads. Our best land birds were undoubtedly the large group of Horned Larks in a tilled field. No pictures, sad to day, they were just too far in the distance. Water birds were a bit easier to find. There was a great group of Buffleheads and Horned Grebes up at False River. Morganza Spillway had great gaggles of gulls and terns (and some geese as well :-)) The good news was that we estimated over 10,000 ducks on the lake at the Spillway...the bad news is that we could barely see them as they were at the very back part of the lake with no land access. The plan is to go back with a boat or permission to access the area so the ducks can be accounted for in the WBA.

One less Fox Squirrel at Old River

American Pipit

Lindsay searches for chilly landbirds

While Van tries to lure them out ...or tick them off...

Poor little raccoon was so cold and hungry he couldn't sleep

Interesting ice shelves -- not something we see a lot around here

Raptor no more

2010-01-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

Dead raptor discovered on the bank of the Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge. Moment of fear that it might be one of the Peregrine Falcons...but I believe it to be a juvenile Cooper's Hawk that was often seen in this area. What does a bird of prey fall victim to? Due to the extensive decomposition, it's impossible to tell if there were wounds. It might have starved...and frankly, given the number of house sparrows in the immediate vicinity, if that's the case, it's probably better that this bird was removed from the gene pool!

Back of bird

With ruler for size reference

Closeup of head

Talon clutching leaves

Front of bird

Closer view of tail

Crowley Christmas Bird Count

2010-01-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

It was a cold and blustery day, but Melanie Driscoll, Amy Shutt, Van Remsen and I braved the elements and counted birds in Vermilion parish in southwest Louisiana earlier this week. We had a total of over 90 species of birds, but it was a darn good thing that Van knew where to go because I doubt we'd have done that well without him. He's had this CBC territory for a number of years and even though he's seen significant decline in the habitat and numbers, he knew just where to go to find the different species. There were huge numbers of some birds...Red-winged Blackbirds, for example. Just after dawn they were streaming north in huge endless flocks. We watched as thousands and thousands...and thousands of birds went by. At one point, Melanie used a pole as a fixed point to estimate birds passing by and came up with a number of 400,000 in 20 minutes. Van's final estimate of 750,000 is probably very conservative. Other very large groups were White-faced and White Ibis...thousands of each. Snow Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese were plentiful. Landbirds were more difficult to find -- the woodlots that would hold passerines are in short supply in this largely agricultural area.

The Director of Bird Conservation checks out the Ibis

Yes, Dr. Remsen, the sign applies to you, too

My lifer Eastern Screech Owl

Flycatcher found on the Baton Rouge Christmas Bird Count

2010-01-02T21:02:00.001-08:00

Flycatcher found during the Baton Rouge Christmas Bird count today. Located in the willow growth between the levee and the Miss. River just south of the casino closest to the Capitol. Photos taken through tangle of branches in late afternoon. Larger photos were cropped but otherwise unretouched.

It's probably an Ash-throated Flycatcher, which is good for the area and good to have on the count...but if someone wants to make it into something more exotic,that's fine with me :-)

playing with the blue moon

2009-12-31T21:38:00.000-08:00

Horned Grebe @ Capitol Lakes

2009-12-27T14:26:00.000-08:00

Views from a kayak

2009-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

Black Lake, Natchitoches, Louisiana

November 27, 2009

Photos from Capitol Lake, Baton Rouge, LA

2009-11-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

Last flowers of fall

2009-11-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

A must see event!

2009-11-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Tree Swallow Roost - Vacherie, LA from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

The Tree Swallow roost at Vacherie is the subject of much discussion for birders in Louisiana lately. A naturally occuring phenomenon -- thousands and thousands...and thousands... of swallows descend upon a certain sugar cane field near Vacherie, LA just over the Miss River levee for the night. At first, there are a few. And then, about 30 minutes before dark, there are an astounding number. The light goes quickly, but as you look out over the fields they appear to be literally rain down into the cane. Great flocks undulate over the cane and then suddenly disappear. It's quite a sight. Even the sound is something -- twitter and chatter of thousands of birds, but somehow still delicate and fragile.

The sight is most difficult to capture as it literally occurs after sunset. This was my first attempt -- I do want to try again. The camera work leaves something to be desired as I was fooling with 2 video cams and a still cam all at the same time. The video is long, but do watch at least until the 7th minute...impressive numbers of birds!

For more information about the tree swallow roost phenomenon, read the article written by Michael Seymour (biologist, LA Wildlife and Fisheries).

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/onlinestore/laconservationist/peekinside/

See a larger version of this video by clicking on the link to go to Vimeo website.

Rail Road Crossing!

2009-11-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Caution - Rail Road Crossing! from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

Clapper Rails are notoriously easy to hear and hard to see. In the spring, however, it seems to be a different story. This adult rail repeatedly crossed the road right in front of us to go collect food...probably feeding hungry chicks hidden in the marsh grass.

Video was taken in April 2008 near Rutherford Beach, Cameron, LA.

Finding the elusive Yellow Rail

2009-11-03T05:19:00.000-08:00

Yellow Rails and Rice Festival 2009 from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

How do you find a Yellow Rail? One way would be to slog through a muddy field and hope one shows up. A better way is to sit up on a big, honking machine that's harvesting rice and watch for the rails as they are flushed by the combine. We got to do the latter last weekend at the first Yellow Rails & Rice Festival in Jeff Davis parish in southwest Louisiana. And the best part was...we actually got to see a Yellow Rail! An elusive bird at best -- this is one of the best ways to actually get to see one

Red-tailed Hawk eating lunch

2009-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Several family members recently congregated in California in the SF Bay area, and some of us spent the better part of one day out on the San Mateo coast. At Pigeon Point, as the fog was rolling in, I noticed a Red-Tailed Hawk swoop down off a telephone pole and land just out of sight, but fairly near. I hustled over to the area, turned the corner, and there it was -- just a few feet away. It seemed more concerned with its lunch than with me, so I got some great video of it as it ate. (Note the salt spray stain on the lens -- didn't see that until I was processing the video!)

Red-tailed Hawk eating lunch from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

California Birds -- Black Turnstone

2009-10-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

This was a new bird for me in January '09, but I got this great video in October when I visited again. The Black Turnstone is, of course, closely related to the Ruddy Turnstone that we'll see in Louisiana on the coast. The Turnstones are named for their peculiar habit of flipping stones and other objects with their bill to catch the critters hiding underneath. I have a video of that somewhere...will have to find it!

Black Turnstone - Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, CA from Jane Patterson on Vimeo.

This is a great way to go birding!

2009-10-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Kayaking 10.25.09 from Amy Shutt on Vimeo.

Little Mama

2009-05-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Found this Anna's hummingbird nest in California near my daughter's apartment. It was sheer luck that I found it. I watched the hummingbird flycatch and then fly into a large shrub. I noticed a small round shape...could it be? Yes, it was a hummingbird nest under construction. I've seen her add pieces to it over the last couple of days and as far as I can tell (vantage is difficult) there are no eggs in the nest yet. It would be fun to watch....alas, I leave California in a few days... Maybe I can persuade my daughter to monitor it...

Owls nesting in a planter! [live webcam]

2009-03-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

A pair of great horned owls chose to nest in a planter outside of the Brevard County Commission in Viera, FL and the eggs have hatched--there is even a LIVE owl cam .

Seems like a very odd place for an owl nest indeed!

I've only seen one chick, but maybe there are two or more?

Some of the best hummingbird videos I've seen

2009-03-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

This website has some of the best pictures and videos of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that I've seen yet! Be sure to watch the video of Russ handfeeding the hummers! Oh, how I want to do that!

http://e-hummingbirds.com/

By golly there are birds on that nest!

2009-03-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

I travel down Jones Creek Rd twice every week day to and from work. Behind the Presbyterian Church there is a large field and a small stand of woods, with a minimal tree line that separates the field from a subdivision on the other side along O'Neal Lane. In a Sweet Gum tree there is a hawk's nest. I think I found out about it last year, and checked it out last spring. I did actually see the female on the nest last year, but a couple of weeks later when I checked, she was gone, so I'm pretty sure they didn't fledge any young. This year, every day as I pass I glance at the tree to see if there's any action and I haven't seen any birds there. But the nest is so well maintained that today I decided to take a closer look.

So on my way home today from trying to video the Eagle's nest, I stopped. Much to my surprise, two birds were on the nest! The male left immediately and I didn't see him again. The female hunkered down and became virtually invisible without magnification. Fortunately I had some :-) She is hard to see in the pictures above (click on the picture to see them larger), but you can see her head, dark eye, and most of the top of her body if you look closely. Hopefully she is sitting on eggs and we'll see the nestlings soon!

Click here for a mediocre video of the hawk on the nest. Not too exciting at this point, but I'll be keeping a closer eye here on out!

Nesting action!

2009-03-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Exciting stuff going on in Downtown Baton Rouge! A birder friend that works in the Chase building reports that a Red-Tailed Hawk (pair?) is making a nest in a large communications tower just east of the Chase. The nest is smack dab in the center of the top of the tower, in between large disks. From underneath, the nest looks like a pile of sticks on top of a screen platform. It's a very protected location. Unfortunately, it will be very difficult for us to watch any activity here. If the nest is successful we might be able to see fledglings as they are about to fly....

And on the Kestrel front...the female Kestrel is back! I've seen her two days in a row on top of the State National Life building. If you hark back to last year, http://seejanebird.blogspot.com/2008/03/kissing-kestrels.html you'll remember the Kestrels that nested in downtown Baton Rouge. It was actually the third year I saw them. They fledged at least one baby last year. Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture before they moved out for the summer... So, I'll be checking often to see if the male is around, and *really* hoping that I can find the nest the year. In fact, our Kids Who Bird club is going to make a point of locating the nest if we can!

Here's a link to a nestcam for a Red-Tailed Hawk http://www2.fi.edu/hawknest.php nesting in downtown Philadelphia. She's laid two eggs so far and is incubating them. Not very exciting to watch at this point, but things should heat up soon!

Whooping cranes are dying...

2009-03-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

Sad article about the plight of the Aransas Whooping Crane flock:

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/story/424767.html

Got grubs?

2009-02-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

What's that in her mouth? Yeah, you got it...a big fat, juicy, grub! Click here to see her dig it out!

Pileated Woodpeckers in love

2009-02-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

This how to get the guy... Pileated style <-- (click here) The female Pileated just pulled out a nice juicy grub (see next blog entry) and you can hear the male calling in the background. He flies in to this snag and she moves out of the way and lets him have the good spot! How sweet is that?

An amazing little hummingbird!

2009-01-21T15:33:00.000-08:00

Hello, Beautiful!

There's the band! This little female Rufous hummingbird was first banded in my yard in the Winter of 2005-06! That means this bird is not only at least 4 years old, but she also has managed to find her way back to my yard from the west coast for 3 years in a row!

Nancy looks her over and takes measurements.

Rufous hummingbirds molt during the winter. One of this little gal's tail feathers came out while Nancy was checking her! You can see it in the next picture. Yes, I kept it :-)

Nancy checks her for fat. How embarrasing :-P

Nancy marks her with water soluble paint (Liquid Paper) so we can tell she's already banded. And I'll be able to tell her apart from any other hummers in my yard!

And then -- the Release! Hard to describe what a hummingbird feels like in the palm of your hand. Kind of like a feather with a heartbeat! Hopefully she wasn't too traumatized and will stick around for the rest of the winter...

The elusive Vermilion Flycatcher and a Bald Eagle nest!

2009-01-19T19:27:00.000-08:00

Spent a few hours at Sherburne South Farm today, trying to capture the Vermilion Flycatcher on video. I did actually see the male Vermilion Flycatcher...for about 13 seconds...and then I looked away to get my camera out and he took a hike. I circled that entire pond, including walking the length of the boardwalk, and never did relocate him. His lady, however (and it may be presumptuous to assume they're a couple) was much more cooperative and I did get some video of her.

To see her, go to http://seejanebird.com/Flycatchers --- look for FemVermFlycatchJan09.wmv

Other than that, the highlight of the day was the sighting of a Bald Eagle nest near the entrance to South Farm. It's probably a quarter mile from the road, so scoping is necessary. I observed one of the Eagles bringing food in as I was entering the property in the morning, and then again as I was leaving in the afternoon. I could see the head of the partner on the nest, but it appears to be a deep nest, so it will be difficult to see nestlings or fledglings (if they are fortunate to have any). Still -- quite a thrill!

For the eagles, go to http://seejanebird.com/Raptors -- look for SFEagleNest_011909.wmv

Chasing rare birds...

2009-01-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

Photo by Greg Lavaty

One of the fun things about birding is trying to find birds you've never seen before. When you first start birding, this is easy. Just about every bird you see is going to be new! But after a while, it gets more difficult, and usually requires travel, as different birds are found in different places. I've really enhanced my life-list with my recent trips to California, and I'm sure I'll continue to do so.

But every once in a while, a bird shows up at home that is unexpected. This is a real treat! Last year there were several state record birds in Louisiana. I got to see a couple of them (Gray Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher). There are a couple more special birds hanging around right here in the Baton Rouge area, and I was lucky enough to see two of them today.

The first was a Broad-billed Hummingbird. This bird is native to Mexico and Central America. Normally the northern most part of its range is southeastern Arizona! So for one to come this far east is pretty unusual! This particular bird is an immature male, but it's molted into most of his adult plumage by now and is looking pretty spiffy!

Click here to see a video of the Broad-billed Hummingbird

Photo by Greg Lavaty

The second rarity is an Ash-Throated Flycatcher. It was spotted close to the Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge during the Christmas Bird Count. Now, if I had seen this bird, I would have called it a Great-Crested Flycatcher because I'm familiar with them, this bird looks an awful like one, and the GCFC are found in this area. Yes, I know they migrate...but like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the occasional Green Heron or something I would have just figured it had decided to hang around for the winter. It's a good thing someone other than me found it! The Ash-throated Flycatcher is normally found in the west --the closest to us is West Texas -- but is a "rare but regular vagrant" to the east. I think if I had paid attention I would have figured out that it wasn't a Great Crested Flycatcher because it certainly didn't act like it. It stayed low to the ground for the most part -- GCFC are almost always up high. It even hopped along the ground at one point! It was quite entertaining to watch as it foraged. It tried to intercept some berries from a tree being guarded by two mockingbirds, but they weren't having any of it -- it was chased off repeatedly.

Click here to see video of the Ash-throated Flycatcher!

Missed one!

2008-11-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

Another view of one of my winter visitors. Can't tell if this is the banded bird or not, from this perspective.

It's Winter Hummer season!

2008-11-14T17:34:00.000-08:00

I already reported that I have two winter hummingbirds...both female Selasphorus Rufous/Allens. I thought I saw a juvenile male one day too, but the look was very brief and I haven't seen him again, so I didn't count him. But I've set up my birdcam to watch the feeder in the back and I now think I've had caught at least 3 different birds on camera. And today, after reviewing the latest pics, I realized that one of them is BANDED! The band is on her left leg. Nancy didn't band here last year, but she did the two previous years, so this is likely a returnee! I'm so excited!

Here are pictures of the three birds... You can click on the picture to see a larger version (and then use Back button to return to the previous page).

This is the first one I got pictures of. As you can see, she has white tips on her tail, with distinct dark bands next to the white. In this picture you can see her left leg, and she is not banded. We'll call her White Tips.

This is the next one to show up. She has no white tips on her tail, and she has distinctly rufous coloring to the feathers on her back, especially toward the tail. We'll call her Red Tail.

And this one....this is the one with the band! I looked back at my pics and I actually had a pic of her on Oct 7, but I didn't notice til today that she has the band on her left leg. Also, because of timestamps, I am fairly positive that she is a different bird than Red Tail -- her back and tail are much more blue green -- no distinct rufous coloring.

We'll just call her Amazing! :-)

Jefferson Island Rookery

2008-07-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

People know the famous Lake Martin rookery.... an area just outside of Breaux Bridge in south central Louisiana that supports thousands of nesting wading birds. It was a nature photographer's wonder world. The nests were within just a few yards from the road. The rookery mysteriously failed in 2005 and hundreds of nests were abandoned. The rookery has recovered a bit over the past couple of years but the birds have moved deeper into the lake, so they're not as easy to see and photograph.

Just south of Lake Martin there is another rookery. It's located near Jefferson Island plantation on Rip Van Winkle road near Delcambre (put that into your googler to find it). I visited it last year and it was allright...but this year was awesome! There were hundreds of birds...all the waders. I visited it twice during the season to see the birds at different stages. First time I saw White Ibis on the nest! Very very cool. Also has alligators, so once does have to watch their step...

Click here to see a panorama of the main islands of Jefferson Island rookery

And if you don't have a weak stomach, click here to see a gator having lunch

Gawky pink birds!

2008-07-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

It looks like time for these teenager Roseate Spoonbills to leave the nest to me. Don't you think they look big enough to get a job and support themselves instead of mooching off mom and dad?

click here to see ==> Teenager Spoonbills

And some more Spoonbills for good measure

Fox kits -- how cute are they!

2008-07-24T18:21:00.001-07:00

OK, so we'll get back to birds in a sec...

Wanted to show off these baby foxes... There was a park in Jackson Hole that was kind of sunken. There was a fence around it and in the bank that went down to the bottom of the park there was a den. And in the den there were foxes. Momma fox and 5 beautiful babies, fox kits. Such cute li'l kits.

Click here to see: Kits playing in the sun

Momma was letting them come out and play and practice hunting ground squirrels. One of the kits was a momma's boy. girl. kit.

Click here to see: Mom watching over them

A bird I won't see at home... Black-headed Grosbeak

2008-07-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

A bird of the western states...we won't find this one at home in Louisiana.

Video: http://seejanebird.com/Perching/BlackheadedGrosbeak.avi

The circle of life - Bear eats deer

2008-07-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

So while we were in Wyoming, we saw lots of wildlife. Want to know how to find wildlife in the Grand Tetons? Drive along the road and if you see a group of cars...stop! There's bound to be something good to see.

There was a big group at this stop...and it was quite a sight. They said the mama black bear was teaching the cub to hunt. The cub was enjoying the meal...but the meal wasn't quite...er, ready to be eaten. Don't watch this clip if you're squeamish.

http://seejanebird.com/Wildlife/Black_bears.avi

Visitors at the suet feeder

2008-05-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

(Click on any picture to see a larger version -- click BACK in your browser to return)

I set up my Novabird Birdcam to watch the suet feeder for the past couple of days. I thought I knew which birds were eating the suet, but it was interesting to catch them in action. By far, the most common bird on the feeder was the Downy Woodpecker, both male and female. And there may be young'uns in there too as I saw them feeding fledglings just this week.

In this one I actually got a two-fer. I'd bet it's an adult and a juvie.

The Downies seemed to be the only birds that will share with other species. The Carolina Wren would dare to venture a bite when the Downy was on the feeder.

Got some neat shots of the The Red-bellied Woodpeckers too -- Daddy, Momma, and Junior! He looks like a Bald-Headed Woodpecker!

In this last one, you can actually see how the Red-Bellied WP got its name -- although it's still stupid! They should have called him the Red Mohawk Woodpecker, don't you think??

My Woodpecker entourage would not be complete without the Red-headed Woodpeckers! Aren't they great? Can you tell which one's the female and which is the male?

Yeah, I have no idea which is which :-P They might both be the same bird! If you said the female is the one with her mouth full -- shame on you!

The Creepy Grackles like the suet, too. If only they weren't so darn, well, creepy!

What are YOU lookin' at??

The House Sparrows are steady visitors -- often in pairs. These may be adults and juvies too, come to think of it.

And then the Daddy HOSP.

The Mockingbirds are feeding their babies too -- noisy, raspy little buggers.

But this guy was a surprise on the suet feeder! I didn't know Blue Jays cared anything about suet.

meep-n-meep-n-meep...That's all Folks!

The Whimbrel

2008-05-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

Another cool shorebird.
The Whimbrel does his thing

Spinning and waggling birds!

2008-05-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

These were new birds for me...Wilson's Phalaropes. Love the way they stir up the mud to feed. They seem to use two techniques...

There's waggling...

And there's spinning!

Dickcissel sings

2008-05-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

You can tell it's spring when even the shyest of birds hops on a post and sings his little heart out.

Here is the wonderful song of the Dickcissel

The elusive Clapper Rail

2008-05-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

Rails are birds that are often heard and not seen. They live and hide and feed in the tall marsh grasses. In the spring, however, when they are feeding young, they seem to get more bold. Maybe they just have to get out of their comfort zone to find enough food to feed their large broods! A neat moment during the LOS weekend was seeing a pair of rails (probably King Rails?) try to move their brood of 10 chicks across the road! We stopped the car in the lane (it was not a busy road, thank goodness!) to watch them cross. One of the adults crossed, and a few of the chicks and then suddenly there was a car coming the opposite direction! The car didn't even slow down, but amazingly did not make pancakes out of any of the chicks. They all scurried back across where they came from though. It was a wonderful sight...and me without my camera!!!!

Here are some videos of Clapper Rails

Feeding young'uns (watch closely at the end for the fuzzy black chick!)

Why did the Clapper Rail cross the road?

Willet roll call!

2008-05-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Willets are common on the coast, working the shore. But evidently they have a protocol. It was quite amusing to see this Willet stand on a post and appear to call roll. He would holler and all the Willets in the area would respond.

One of the coolest birds ever!

2008-05-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Scissor-tail Flycatcher is just one of my very favorite birds. What one earth possessed nature to give the bird a tail like this?? This is the closest I've ever been to one and I'd never seen the wonderful colors before. This bird was drying itself off after some brief showers. One of these days I'll get a great video of the bird flying and you can see that tail in action!

Peeking at a Woodpecker

2008-03-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

One of my birding friends, Patti, sent me some fabulous pics of a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that she found building a nest hole. She said the tree was very near the road and it might provide a good video opportunity.

We headed over there last Sunday morning. It was a great morning, cool and bright, and the birds were singing wonderfully. We found the spot and sure enough, there was the woodpecker, busy making the hole. Patti said that a few days previous the entrance hole wasn't even large enough for these birds to enter and now the bird was completely hidden inside! Obviously these are birds on a mission! We only saw one while we were there, and believe it was the male. He'd peck, peck, peck inside the hole and then spend several minutes tossing out wood shavings..ptooey. Seems like he'd need to stop and eat or at least take a water break, but he kept right at it.

The videos are a bit shaky as I was using lots of zoom and shooting with the video camera held up to the scope, which is hard to do and keep in the right place. Still, it's fun to see him up close as he works.

I'm going to try something new and upload the video to BirdCinema.com and link to it there. Let's see how this works...

First-of-Season Ruby-throated Hummingbird

2008-03-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

The first male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird of the season visited my yard this year on March 8. He's all shiny and new, ready to impress the lady-birds! There's at least one female Rufous still around. I saw her sitting at the feeder this afternoon and he came up and challenged her. She just looked over her shoulder at him, shrugged, and kept on eating. Obviously there will be no hybridizing going on here :-)

Kissing Kestrels

2008-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Back in May of '06, I was in my office on the 11th floor of a building in downtown Baton Rouge when a movement caught the corner of my eye. It turned out to be a juvenile Kestrel (click there to see the blog entry) eating a house sparrow on my window sill! We got to watch him consume the whole bird, feathers, toenails and all. Last year I noticed the adult pair had returned but didn't see fledglings. This year, at the end of February, I noticed the pair was back.

They hang on out the antenna of a couple of buildings in downtown BTR, one of which is the building I work in. Because they are small birds, and far overhead, I'm sure they're not noticed by the folks on the street. However they can certainly distract me when I'm in a meeting on the 12th floor and one flies up and over!

Last Friday, when I left work, since I happened to have my camera and scope in the car, I decided to try to get some pictures. The parking garage is right next to one of the buildings that they regularly use. This put me perhaps 30-40 yards from the birds. I was able to observe them very well in the scope. In the hour that I watched, the male gathered four lizards for his lady bird and fed them to her. By the time, she got to the 4th (and perhaps there were others before that) she was full and just hung on the lizard for later.

Here are links to video of the Kestrels.

The first is a longer version which shows some close and longer range shots. The second is a shorter version which is more focused on the birds toward the end of the photo session (complete with lizard).

All of this is made even more interesting by the fact that American Kestrels are not supposed to nest this far south in Louisiana. I'll be looking for the nest in downtown BTR...maybe I'll be able to document the fledglings progress...

Caught in the act!

2008-02-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

I aimed my birdcam at a hum feeder in the backyard for a few days after I noticed I might have a new hummer... I could swear I saw a male Rufous/Allen's! Two of them spent the winter with me last year, but neither returned this year. On Sunday though, I saw a little rusty male fending the ladies of the backyard feeder. So I set up the camera hoping I'd catch a glimpse of him. No luck. But I do think I have at least 3 birds using that feeder.

The first one I seem to be sharing with my neighbors the Piersons. The bird is banded and was caught and marked in their yard this year. They live about 1/2 block a way (as the hum flies). Not sure at this point if she's new this year or was a returnee from another year. (click on each picture to see a larger version)

The second one is not marked, and you can see a dark spot on her back where the feathers are imperfect. Her coloring seems a little rustier overall.

The third one has a perfectly feathered back, no mark on her head, and she's very uniformly green.

It might also be possible to tell the birds apart from the front by looking at their gorgets but I don't know that I'd be able to match the fronts and backs of the birds!

I am going to put the camera up at one of my other feeders tomorrow to see if I can figure out if I have more birds. I've found one thing that helps is that I put scotch tape over the ports on the side of the feeder away from the camera so they can't hide from me!

Another rare flycatcher in Louisiana!

2008-02-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

so we went twitching today. Evidently in Britain when you chase a particular bird it's called "twitching". We chased after the Fork-Tailed Flycatcher that was found in south Louisiana. I'm not sure if it's the second record or the fourth record, but either way, it's a bird that does not belong here. It's native to either southern Mexico, Central America, or South America. Apparently this one got going the wrong way, found a bunch of other flycatchers to hang out with and is visiting us for a while. It was found with 17 Western Kingbirds and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Nice :-) Thanks to Winston, Karen, and Bob for making the twitching trip, and thanks especially to Bob for this nice photo.

Here's a video that shows the bird up close and personal

And some links to other pictures taken by Beth Wiggins

http://imageevent.com/bethann1952/forktailedflycatcherothers

A tale of Two Flycatchers.

2008-01-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

The First Flycatcher
Little Gray and Brown Bird

This past weekend was the Winter Louisiana Ornithological Society Meeting. The location was Alexandria, in central Louisiana. The standard protocol for the meetings include a reception and program Friday night, field trips on Saturday, and a banquet on Saturday night. Sometimes there are organized trips on Sunday morning as well. This particular meeting had several organized field trips with assigned guides -- actually more organization than I recall at other LOS meetings I've attended. So we signed up for Sat morning and afternoon and Sunday morning trips. And then the Gray Flycatcher came to town.

In the week before the LOS meeting, some astute birders in north Louisiana happened to notice a little Empidonax flycatcher that didn't quite fit the mold. Pictures were taken, discussion was had, and the conclusion was that this was a new State bird! A record--first Gray Flycatcher ever recorded in the state! The bird was located outside of Bossier City in north LA -- two hours beyond Alexandria for those of from Baton Rouge. How could we pass up the opportunity to see this bird?

Well, we couldn't. So my compadre Lainie and I headed out to see the bird on Sat morning -- foregoing the organized field trip. Took about 2 hrs to get there, and we spent another 2 hours locating the bird, filming the bird, and noting the other birds in the vicinity for the Winter Bird Atlas. Filming the bird involved entering the cow pasture, complete with suspicious cows, lots of cow patties and very damp fields. (I'm not sure permission has been obtained by birders to enter the property, so if you do, exercise caution and, whatever you do, don't leave the gate open!) The bird tends to work a short treeline -- sallying back and forth between small trees and even out to the field to perch on twiggy growth. He's being harrassed by Phoebes and Mockingbirds, but I saw him go after the Phoebe too, so it's a two way street!

Here's a link to a series of photos taken by the Boslers when they found the bird this weekend: Bosler's pics of Gray Flycatcher

I was also able to obtain some video of the bird. Now, something I failed to mention about the Saturday that we chased the bird was that it was COLD -- a very chilly, gray day. The landscape was very gray and brown...which made it very tough to photograph a little gray and brown bird! The camera doesn't seem to be able to distinguish the bird from its surroundings and focus on the bird. So...the videos are not great. There's one 2-second stretch near the end when the bird was only about 20 feet from me that's probably the best.

Video of Gray Flycatcher

The Second Flycatcher
A Bright Vermilion Bird!

The color vermilion is not used a whole lot. I'm sure people have trouble spelling it, and why use "vermilion" when "red" will do? Well, this little bird gives one a reason to use the word vermilion! There were dozens of Northern Cardinals in the immediate area of this bird, and I bet if he hadn't been there, people would have been impressed by the red birds. But the Vermilion Flycatcher puts them to shame -- he seems to just glow and reflect light! In fact, the homeowner who lives just across the street from the location he's chosen to over-winter remarked that she thought she'd been seeing a bit of contractor tape caught in the shrubs!

While this is not a rare bird, it's much more common in the southwest corner of Louisiana. According to the folks that found this bird, Vermilion Flycatchers have been found to overwinter in Central LA in small numbers. This one hadn't been reported yet though. If you want directions to find the bird, send me an email and I'll help you out...

And now...enjoy the Video of Vermilion Flycatcher

And more finches!

2008-01-28T14:30:00.001-08:00

I tried my new birdcam to capture pics of the Goldfinches. I made a couple of strategic errors. I now have 1908 pictures of Goldfinches from just over 1 day of photography! There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Lessons learned:

If you know you're going to get lots of pics (and I pretty much expected that they'd be there till the Thistle ran out!) don't set the exposure for every 10 seconds! The camera gives the flexibility for longer intervals...use it.

10 seconds is not really 10 seconds. It seems to take a pic every 12-15 seconds as evidenced by the timestamp. Interesting. Is it detecting the motion and then waiting 2 seconds to click the shutter? Or after it clicks, does it wait 2 seconds to reset its timer? Don't know how I'll figure that one out.

1900 pictures is a LOT of pictures to have to look through to find the "good" ones!!

Don't try to cheat and get too much on camera. I have two sets of thistle feeders and a hum feeder within view of the camera. Thought if I set it up to see all 3 (even tho I thought hum feeder was too far away for clear focus...and it is) I'd get some interesting shots. Instead I have 1900 shots that I wish were better composed. You can see most of one thistle sock on left clearly....and some of more distant socks on right...center of frame is blurry hum feeder and a safflower feeders. I need to make up my mind where I want to aim the camera and don't get greedy!

Goldfinches start early and end early! They arrive shortly after dawn, but seem to quit feeding by mid-afternoon. The last pic with birds in it on Fri was at about 3:20pm. There was still plenty of light for another 2 hours (those feeders are on the west side of the house) but there were no pics. Things picked up again on Sat morning at 7:06a.m.

Goldfinches can go through a lot of thistle! Lots debris on the ground...is it Thistle hulls or whole seeds? Overflow birds will pick through it, so I suppose there's whole seed. Lots of waste. Thistle is pretty expensive, so I'm kinda glad I'm not feeding them this way year round!

I liked this picture because unlike most of the others, the goldfinches are all looking at the camera!

My new toy -- NovaBird bird cam

2008-01-28T07:20:00.000-08:00

I got a new toy for Christmas. I actually got one for my dad, then decided he couldn't have all the fun, so ordered one for myself as well.

It's a 3MP camera mounted inside a waterproof housing with a motion-sensitive trigger. It also has nice features like a counter, the ability to date/time stamp your photos (or not, as you wish), a weatherproof battery pack, and a tripod mount. It does not come with an SD card, so you have to add your own. I'm sure that help keeps their cost down. I priced and compared motion-detection wildlife cameras (used mainly by hunters) with this and this was a good value for the money.

So...once you get it, you charge the battery pack for 24 hours. This is probably one of its detracting features...each time you recharge it's recommended you do so for 24 hours. Of course their solution is to buy a second battery pack. You set the time and date (instructions are pretty straightforward) and insert the SD card and turn it on. You also have some control over how often it takes pictures...10 seconds is the default but there are toggle switches for about 8 different settings.

For ease of moving the camera around, I mounted it on an extra tripod I had. I set it up the first time near one of my hummer feeders. Because the hum feeder was on a hook that swayed in the breeze, I got quite a few pics of an empty feeder. I deleted those, so I'll spare you :-) I then moved a feeder to the top of a pole and pointed the camera at that. Still got some "empty" pictures, but got a few good ones too. This is a series, so the bird stayed quite a few seconds to be photographed multiple times. Click on each picture to see the real detail!