RED-FOOTED FALCON near Katama, Massachusetts on August 12, 2004.
Here the bird is hovering like a Kestrel while hunting over the airfield. This bird was photographed at the Katama Airport on Martha's Vineyard. This bird represents a 1st North American record!
RED-FOOTED FALCON near Katama, Massachusetts on August 12, 2004.
Even at this great distance, the reddish-orange legs of the perched bird are noticeable. This bird was photographed at the Katama Airport on Martha's Vineyard. This bird represents a 1st North American record!
On June 10th, 2004 Jason Horn, Dave Wilton and I rented a car and drove the 28 hours down to south Texas to see the Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush that was found in the town of Pharr on May 27th. We left Thursday morning and arrived at the spot around noon on Friday. We spent the rest of Friday enjoying excellent looks at the bird. Saturday morning, we went to Sabal Palm Grove Audubon Sanctuary and got great looks at three Yellow-green Vireos and the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. North of the sanctuary, we watched a pair of Tamaulipas Crows with three young and a pair of Aplomado Falcons chasing a White-tailed Hawk out of their territory. Sunday morning, we did a 'river watch' at Salineno and found a female Muscovy Duck with ten young and another one that flew upriver. At Chapeno, several Red-billed Pigeons and a Gray Hawk put on a show; and a stop in Zapata produced a pair of White-collared Seedeaters. That afternoon, we headed back home, stopping along the way at San Antonio's Friedrich Park to see Golden-cheeked Warbler. We arrived back in Pennsylvania late Monday night. The following five photos were taken during this trip.
GREATER ROADRUNNER near Salineno, Texas on June 13, 2004.
Note the fairly long bill, slender body, long legs, large feet, and very long tail. This bird was photographed along the dirt road at the northwest end of the town. Scaled Quail, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Verdin, Cactus Wren, and Pyrrhuloxia were also seen there.
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER at Zapata, Texas on June 13, 2004.
Note the male's white collar, tiny bill, white wing patch, and rounded tail. This bird was photographed at the pond by the Zapata Library. Other birds seen here included Eurasian Collared-Dove and Black-chinned Hummingbird.
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER at Zapata, Texas on June 13, 2004.
Note the dark head, the tiny yet thick bill, the small white wing patch, the rounded tail, and the small area of dark smudges just below the throat. This bird was photographed at the pond by the Zapata Library.
BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH in Pharr, Texas on June 11, 2004.
Note the longish legs and the distinctive orange eye ring and bill on the black head. This bird, photographed in a Pharr resident's backyard, represents a 1st United States record! A Clay-colored Robin was also seen there.
BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH in Pharr, Texas on June 11, 2004.
Note the distinctive orange eye ring and bill and the black head contrasting with the brown back. This bird, photographed in a Pharr resident's backyard, represents a 1st United States record! A Clay-colored Robin was also seen there.
AUDUBON'S ORIOLE at Salineno, Texas on February 11, 2003.
Note the drab yellow body and the black hood and wings. This bird was photographed at the feeders near the Rio Grande River. Other birds seen here included White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, Lincoln's Sparrow, Hooded and Altamira Orioles, and American and Lesser Goldfinch.
BLUE MOCKINGBIRD in Pharr, Texas on February 10, 2003.
This Mexican skulker was photographed while coming to grapefruit in a Pharr resident's backyard. It rarely came into full view, staying hidden in the brushy undergrowth except for the few moments that it fed on the grapefruit----quite a contrast to our Northern Mockingbird.
CLAY-COLORED ROBIN at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Texas on February 9, 2003.
This view doesn't show the bird's streaked throat, but I was happy at just being able to see this bird after missing it on two previous trips to the area. This bird was photographed at the trailer loop section of the park.
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER in Edinburg, Texas on February 9, 2003.
Note the yellow stripe on the crown bordered by black and the all-yellow breast. This tropical warbler was photographed on the University of Texas - Pan American campus. It fed in the trees near the sundial by the Health & Physical Education Building.
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER in Edinburg, Texas on February 9, 2003.
This profile view shows the broken eye-ring, unmarked wings, and the yellow stripe on the crown. This tropical warbler was photographed on the University of Texas - Pan American campus. It fed in the trees near the sundial by the Health & Physical Education Building.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER at Covington Park near Big Morongo Valley Preserve, California on June 3, 2001.
This striking male was photographed at the baseball field area. It didn't seem bothered at all by all of the people using the park that day. A male Phainopepla was also seen by the park.
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER at Idyllwild County Park Nature Center near the town of Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains, California on June 2, 2001.
This male was photographed at the feeder area located directly behind the park's Visitor Center. Other birds seen here included Anna's Hummingbird and Mountain Chickadee.
COMMON POORWILL near Big Bear Lake, California on June 1, 2001.
I finally got to see this bird after hearing them on several occasions in a few different states. This bird was seen sitting on Polique Canyon Road. Despite slowly creeping up to within 3 feet of it, it never flushed. I took this photo using the car's headlights and slowly backed away, leaving the bird right where it was found.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in the San Gabriel Mountains, California on May 31, 2001.
This bird was photographed at the Blue Ridge Campground near Wrightwood. Other interesting birds present at the campground included "Red-shafted" Flicker, Mountain Chickadee, and Western Bluebird.
"BELL'S" SAGE SPARROW in the San Gabriel Mountains, California on May 30, 2001.
Although Sage Sparrows are typically difficult to see, this bird sang from a perch on a sage-covered hillside, giving us excellent views. This bird was seen along Road 3N17 near the junction of Highway N3.
GREEN-BREASTED MANGO near Concord, North Carolina on November 26, 2000.
This picture of this Central and northern South American bird was taken on a very dreary day, but still shows the downcurved bill, cinnamon mark on the throat, and the dark green stripe down the belly. This immature bird was only the 8th record for the United States!
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI in Homestead, Florida on June 13, 2000.
The area where this bird was photographed used to be a housing development. Hurricane Andrew took out the homes, leaving only the streets surounded by high grass and brush. Then, several Smooth-billeds claimed it as their home.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE near Lake Kissimmee, Florida on June 12, 2000.
This bird was seen floating and wheeling around just above the treetops along Route 60, just west of the southern end of the lake. This is one of my favorite raptors.
LESSER SANDPLOVER near Charlestown Beach, Rhode Island on July 26, 1999.
At the time of this sighting, this bird was known as a Mongolian Plover. This was one of only a handful of eastern North American records. The fact that this Asian bird was still in breeding plumage at the time was an extra bonus.
KELP GULL near Sandgates, Maryland on February 19, 1999.
The bird was seen behind the Sea Breeze Restaurant. This bird, although widespread in the Southern Hemisphere, represents one of only a handful of North American records!
NORTHERN LAPWING near Bridgehampton, New York on January 29, 1995.
Note the wide breastband, facial markings, and distinctive crest plumes. This bird was present in a farm field with several Killdeer. This Eurasian species occasionally strays into the Northeast.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at Mercer County Park near Edinburg, New Jersey on October 1, 1984.
The long tail feathers help give this bird its appeal. Since I had never been west of Kentucky at this time, this was my first look at this neat bird. It was surprisingly tame.
GREAT GRAY OWL near Colebrook, Ontario on January 14, 1984.
This bird was perched right alongside Route 6, north of Amherst Island. Other birds that were seen on this Amherst Island trip included Boreal Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Shrike.