Right at Home

Have you ever been stuck at home, and thought, “I can’t wait to get out of here to go birding”? Well, I’m going to go with the old adage, “Stop and smell the roses”! Sometimes, if we just slow down and take a look around our own yard we can see so many things!

For example, this week I have discovered this little Yellow Rumped Warbler foraging around in a tree in my backyard. I have never seen a Warbler in my yard before!

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler

I find House Finches great fun to watch! I have noticed that they will sit at the feeder and break the shells on the blackoil sunflower seed, somehow in their mouth, without ever having to hold it. I haven’t quite figured out how they do it, but it is amazing! I notice Gold Finches do this also.

House Finch

They have been pairing up lately! I thought these two were cute, because it looked like they were “playing coy”, not looking at each other! (They were probably just wishing I would mind my own business!)

House Finches

Here are a few other birds I have seen lately around my yard!

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Carolina Wren

Northern Cardinals

Tufted Titmouse

American Robin

Mourning Dove

Red Tailed Hawk

I also find Carolina Chickadees great fun to watch! They flit around constantly and do not make it easy for photographers! I have noticed they will hit the feeder, grab a seed, and dart away to break it open and eat it, usually on a branch!

Two weeks ago this little guy spent quite a bit of time going from car mirror to car mirror, checking himself out! Perhaps it makes him attractive to females if he is attracted to himself! I finally had to back my car into the driveway so the mirror was in my view, then I spent a lot of time sitting on the porch snapping away, believe me I had quite a few blurs!

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

This week, I have also noticed a White Throated Sparrow hanging around. I think they should be gone by now, or migrating out pretty soon.

White Throated Sparrow

This one doesn’t have as bright of white on his/her head. I thought maybe it was a female, but my Sibley Guide to Birds says, that adults can range from a tan striped to bright white striped head, regardless of sex!

White Throated Sparrow

Squirrels are always so funny! They love to eat birdseed, suet, and well, just about anything a bird would eat! I constantly find them hanging upside down on the feeders, while eating sunflower seed as fast as they can!

Gray Squirrel

Of Course, it doesn’t always have to be about birds, I have caught sight of some other interesting things around my yard. This is one of the blooms on my Lilac bush.

Lilac Bush

This tree is in my backyard. I haven’t decided exactly what kind of tree it is, but I’m thinking a White Willow. It has pretty little white flowers on it in the spring, that the birds like to eat!

This fungus was growing on another tree. I’m not sure what it is, but thought it was pretty!

This guy was sitting on a planter! I again, don’t know what kind of bug he is but I thought he was interesting looking!

This little Rabbit has lived under a pile of brush for a few years now. I recognize him because of his right ear! I'm thinking he had an incident with a lawn mower!

Rabbit

Go out and take a look around your yard, you may be surprised at what you find!

Posted in: American Robin,Carolina Wren,Downy Woodpecker,Hairy Woodpecker,House Finch,Mourning Dove,Northern Cardinal,Red Tailed Hawk,thern Cardinal,Tufted Titmouse,Yellow Rumped Warbler

Red-eared Slider

Posted in: Red-eared Slider

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker

I got up close and personal with an immature Red-headed Woodpecker yesterday.  He was fine with me photographing and videoing him from about 10 feet away.  I think he was so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn't even notice me there.

I know this guy is an immature because I've been seeing him for some time and he has gone from having a completely brown head to a mostly red head now.  Most birds go through two molts a year, usually before and after breeding.  The spring molt is called the "alternate" molt because only certain feathers are replaced, namely the colorful feathers used to attract mates.  After a long summer of breeding, a majority of birds molt into their "basic" plumage, which is less colorful but helps camouflage the bird since nice bright feathers are no longer needed to attract mates.  Molting is important because it replaces old worn feathers that would not be suitable for traversing the hundreds of miles most birds fly in the spring and fall.

Here is what he looked like at the beginning of the month.  This photo was taken on April 8th...

And this is what he looks like now.  Almost all his head feathers are replaced, just the patch on his cheek and a few strays before his head will be completely red.

He was hammering away at the tree, throwing sawdust to the side and scarfing any bugs or seeds he could find.

I thought this shot was comical.  He was scooting up the tree and using his rectrices (tail feathers) to prop himself up.  All woodpeckers have stiff tail feathers that are used for propping themselves up while they climb trees.  Most birds replace their tail feathers starting with the innermost feathers and work their way out toward the outer tail feathers.  Interestingly, woodpeckers have evolved to do just the opposite.  They molt their outer tail feathers first and replace their central tail feathers last.  The reason for this is because their inner tail feathers are the strongest and are the main way woodpeckers move around on trees.  By molting them last they retain this ability until all the outer feathers are replaced and can compensate for their central tail feathers in keeping them propped up against tree trunks.

I was able to take a couple videos of him while he worked on the tree snag.  The footage is a bit shaky because I was hand holding the camera so I apologize if you get dizzy watching.  Extra points if you can name me some of the birds heard in the background.  I tell you what, be the first to name a bird you hear in the background and I will send you a free 4x6 print.  Leave a comment by clicking the "comments" button underneath the title of the post or by clicking here.

Posted in: Red-headed Woodpecker,video

Ospreys are rebuilding

Last night was a big night for storms in our area! Unfortunately, the Ospreys lost the top portion of their nest. I'm not sure if it just sunk down or if it blew away, but it was definitely damaged. Today, they were working on the rebuild! Poor guys, they've had such a hard time this year! I'm not sure if they had laid eggs yet, but I think it's good that they are working on it, instead of just abandoning it!

This is the nest today

Speaking of abandoning! I ran into Tom and Colleen Becker, local birders from Southern Indiana, on Sunday when I went to the Clark Cabin site to check on the Eagle nest. They had just spent about 2 hours with their scope set on the nest. They reported that even though they saw an Eagle, there were no signs of activity on the nest. I'm pretty disappointed about this, as I'm sure many will be. Tom said that sometimes it may take a pair of Eagles a few try's to finally get it right. We'll just have to wait until next year! Hopefully, they will hang around the area, so we can still enjoy their beauty!

This is the nest a few days ago when a 3rd Osprey was trying to hone in

Osprey

While I was at Shippingport, I saw several other interesting birds! So, I thought I would share! I saw a different looking type of hawk. I don't think I have seen this kind before. I have posted it to flickr, and asked for help with the ID. I will let you know as soon as I find out.

Hawk

Double Crested Cormorants spend quite a bit of time at Falls of the Ohio! Many days you can see them sitting on the weir in a line. When the water is down, they spend time on the rocks and fossil beds. Sometimes at Shippingport, I will see them swimming around in the bay near the locks, or doing a flyby!

Double Crested Cormorant

I also got to witness a Red Shouldered Hawk flying over me carrying a snake! It was pretty cool! She flew straight over to Sand Island, (the island across from Shippingport, closer to the locks) and through the trees. I'm assuming she had a nest over there. It wasn't very long until I started hearing the squawks of Red Shoulders!

Red Shouldered Hawk

A very big treat for me, was getting to see Caspian Terns! They were flying around and fishing in the bay. At first I thought they were gulls, but as I was photographing them, I realized they weren't Gulls at all! I can't say I have seen these kind of Terns anywhere other than the ocean!

Caspian Terns

You will probably hear a lot about Shippingport from me this summer. I started going there to watch the Ospreys last summer, but I have discovered it is a great place to see a wide variety of birds! Ryan met me over there last Sunday, and the place was dead! You know, like when you just hear crickets chirping! I'm sure he thinks I'm making this stuff up! LOL

Posted in: Caspian Tern,Double Crested Cormorant,Osprey,Red-shouldered Hawk,Shippingport Island

Streamside Salamander

This spring I’ve been following a local type of salamander called a streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri). They are not the most brilliantly colored amphibians out there, but many of the streams they call home are beautiful and clear.

Adult Streamside Salamander Underwater

Streamside salamanders typically lay their eggs on the bottom of flat pieces of limestone in clean, fishless sections of stream.

Streamside Salamander Larvae Well-Developed in Eggs

Right now many of our small streams are filled with newly hatched streamside salamander larvae. They look something like frog tadpoles, but unlike tadpoles, streamside larvae develop front legs first.

Streamside Salamander Larva

Posted in: Ambystoma,amphibian,barbouri,salamander,stream,streamside

Today's Birds

Migrants are trickling back into the area, poking around the willow buds along with the resident songbirds.  Today I saw Prairie, Yellow-throated, and Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Kingbird, Green Heron, and others, such as this little Field Sparrow below.  It was cloudy so I had to bump up my ISO, that's why the pictures might look a bit fuzzy. 

This Common Yellowthroat was pretty brave and approached within a couple feet.  He took a break from singing witchity witchity witchity to pose for a few pics.

Finally, my first Prairie Warbler of the year.  I love their song.  To me it kind of sounds like a sound effect from old video game.

Posted in: Common Yellowthroat,Field Sparrow,Prairie Warbler

Flowering Dogwood

Another one of my favorite trees is the Flowering Dogwood.  This one is recognized by almost everyone, with its large white (or pink) bracts, branching growth habit, and bright red berries in the fall.  It is a great for birds and wildlife and is one of the most commonly planted trees in residential areas because of its beauty in all seasons.

Posted in: Flowering Dogwood