Monday, April 28, 2014
Palm Warbler
Interested in bird watching? Try a garden cemetery. Our nearby cemetery contains two ponds with abundant fish and invertebrates, trees and shrubs, so it's a haven for birds, especially migrating warblers. Today's find: beautiful palm warblers (Setophaga palmarum).
Friday, April 11, 2014
Eastern Phoebes and Brown-headed Cowbirds
The Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe) have returned from their winter grounds to breed. They are one of my favorite birds to watch as they perch then perform aerial maneuvers to catch insects on the wing. They seem to prefer the trees and shrubs that abut the wooded area and stream behind our home. Sometimes they will use the kids' pitchback as a resting spot, wagging their tails up and down before swooping off.
These monogamous little fly-catchers build their nests of mud and dried plant materials often on ledges with overhead cover. Last spring I came upon this phoebe nest while walking on a trail. It was built on the roots of a tree which had been toppled after a storm.
I've noticed quite a few brown-headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) around also. These brood parasites often choose phoebe nests as the location for their eggs.
Eastern phoebe |
Eastern phoebe |
Eastern phoebe |
These monogamous little fly-catchers build their nests of mud and dried plant materials often on ledges with overhead cover. Last spring I came upon this phoebe nest while walking on a trail. It was built on the roots of a tree which had been toppled after a storm.
The black arrow is pointing at the phoebe's nest |
Close up of the phoebe's nest made of mud, dried grasses, pine needles and moss |
I've noticed quite a few brown-headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) around also. These brood parasites often choose phoebe nests as the location for their eggs.
Male brown-headed cowbird |
Drab gray female brown-headed cowbird on left; male brown-headed cowbird on right |
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Vernal Pool Time
Wood frogs in amplexus |
Wood frog
We saw only male spotted salamanders. Females hadn't arrived yet.
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Male spotted salamander swimming away. Males have a noticeably swollen vent (cloaca). |
Spotted salamander under water |
Spotted salamander in leaf litter |
Can you spot the spring peeper in the reeds? See a close-up shot below. |
Male spring peeper calling |
Click below to hear my recording of the spring peepers. Happy Spring!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Hooded Mergansers
Two hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) enjoyed a late afternoon swim and a bit of fishing at the cemetery pond today. Females can be easily distinguished from males -- females are a warm orange brown with dark eyes while adult males in mating plumage are a striking black and white above and brown below. Adult males have yellow eyes. At first, I thought these two were females, but after looking at these photos enlarged, their eyes seem too light colored. I believe these are actually two immature males.
There's plenty to eat here, especially goldfish which gather in large numbers around the pond's many ledges.
Another frequent visitor is this great blue heron. Later, another heron arrived and awkwardly perched in a tree next to the pond but never joined in the fishing.
There's plenty to eat here, especially goldfish which gather in large numbers around the pond's many ledges.
Another frequent visitor is this great blue heron. Later, another heron arrived and awkwardly perched in a tree next to the pond but never joined in the fishing.
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