Carolina Wren Nest

I opened the grill at work that gets used every once in a blue moon and found this Carolina Wren nest inside. Carolina Wrens are known to nest in random places like mailboxes and inside garages. It looks like this nest was abandoned because there were still three eggs inside. 

Posted in: Carolina Wren nest

Red Crossbills in Louisville

This years winter season has been phenomenal for the sighting of rare birds. Cave Hill Cemetery has been the winter home for two species of Crossbills. White-winged Crossbills and Red Crossbills were seen by many local birders starting in November. Fortunately for us, the Red Crossbills have stuck around! Crossbills haven't been seen in the Louisville area since the 1970's. For a great explanation as to why we are seeing Crossbills in Louisville, check out Ryans' previous blog post about the Finch Superflight !

Female Red Crossbill taken in November

Since the Red Crossbills have been feeding in the tops of the Hemlock Trees, getting good pictures has been rather difficult. The picture above was digiscoped with my iPhone. It is probably the best shot I have gotten thusfar.

Male & Female Red Crossbills feeding in Hemlock Trees at Cave Hill Cemetery

If you look closely at the above picture you can see five Red Crossbills feeding in the Hemlocks. If you can't find them all, click on the picture to go to my flickr page, where I have them outlined!

I am providing a link to some great pictures of the Red Crossbills taken by Brainard Palmer-Ball. When you get to his flickr page, scroll to the right to see a nice series of five pictures!

Female Red Crossbill taken in January 2013

Here is a great article and video about Red Crossbills from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Posted in: Cave Hill Cemetery,Jefferson County,Louisville Kentucky,Red Crossbill

iphone 5 Wallpapers

Hopefully you're getting an iphone 5 for Christmas because I just put together a pack of six awesome wallpapers.  If you already have one it is simple to change your wallpaper image.  To download an image, first click the image to open the gallery, then right-click and select View Image.  Right-click again and select Save Image As to download it.  Then go to Settings > Wallpaper and navigate to the Photo Library.  Your downloaded wallpaper should be there and all you have to do is click Set and you are done.  Or download the wallpaper pack here.  If you like the wallpapers be sure to tell your friends to come to LouisvilleNaturally.com to download them.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Eastern Kingbird

Mourning Dove

Sunlit Grass

Thistle

Yellow Sweet Clover

Posted in: Black-crowned Night Heron,Eastern Kingbird,iphone 5,Mourning Dove,Thistle,wallpaper,Yellow Sweet Clover

Sparrows Continued

The spot where I've been photographing sparrows continues to be productive with different species.  Amazing how a small patch of weeds can bring in so many different birds.

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile)

Although not a sparrow, this Carolina Wren was mixed in and posed for me while I photographing the sparrows. 

Posted in: Carolina Wren,Savannah Sparrow,Song Sparrow,White-crowned Sparrow

Ring-billed Gulls

I was able to get up close and personal with a couple Ring-billed Gulls yesterday.  These birds are beginning to come back to the Louisville area as they overwinter nearby on the Ohio River.  The best place to see Ring-billed and other gulls is at Falls of the Ohio in Indiana.  Bring a birding scope or a couple quarters for the coin operated binocular viewers, as the birds are often out a ways over the river.

Posted in: Ring-Billed Gull

Lapland Longspurs and More

More good cold weather birds showed up in Louisville today.  This time it was a flock of Lapland Longspurs, a small sparrow-like bird that often travel in mixed flocks with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings.  They get the name "Longspur" from their long hind claw on their foot.  They belong to the family Calcariidae which includes other longspurs and Snow and McKay Buntings.  The family Calcariidae recently separated from the sparrow family Emberezidae after DNA tests confirmed they were genetically different enough to form their own clade.

On top of seeing 50+ longspurs today, I also got the privilege of seeing a Bald Eagle and a flock of Sandhill Cranes fly over. All in all a pretty good day for birds.

Posted in: Lapland Longspur

Louisville Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting, and More

If you read my post from earlier today about the finch superflight (and if you didn't you can find it below) then you'd know we are expecting some interesting birds this winter.  Well, seems they are already here.  Today I saw a single Snow Bunting and a flock of around 50 American Pipits at the landfill.

Snow Bunting

American Pipit

Yesterday, several people got a good look at a Snowy Owl on the outskirts of the airport by I-65 and Preston Highway.  The bird couldn't be relocated today, but Eddie Huber was able to get a great pic before it left.

Can't wait to see what turns up next.