Thursday, November 24, 2016

Crops & Clips: Marsh Wrens

Back home in Florida, we were treated to a very colorful sky about 7 minutes after sunrise on November 23. The sun had just touched the opposite shore. This is straight out of the camera. The image is not cropped or processed:

Sunrise plus 7 minutes SOOC 20161123

Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovering over Firebush (Hamelia patens):

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 03-20161119

Eastern Phoebe perching on a guard rail:

Eastern Phoebe 20161110

I enjoy the challenge of photographing LBBs (little brown birds), the smallest of which are the wrens. Seeing them requires patience and often long periods of watchful waiting.

I first sighted a Marsh Wren in Troy Meadows, New Jersey as a teenager back in May of 1949, when I participated in a "Big Day" with the Hackensack Audubon Society. It was then called "Long-billed Marsh Wren" to distinguish it from the diminutive prairie-dwelling "Short-billed Marsh Wren," which since 1982 has been known as the Sedge Wren. I would not see the latter species until November, 1951 when, at Moriches Bay and Inlet in Long Island,  I joined a group of birders from Long Island, New York, led energetically by Allan Cruickshank. (He passed away in 1974. Here is his obituary in American Birds). 

Group outings can produce large numbers of sightings. For a relatively new birder this can be quite overwhelming. The single day at Troy Meadows and environs yielded 23 new birds species to my life list, and the trip to Long Island added 15 species. I must admit that I do not have indelible memories of either of these wren sightings. Although the trips and places are still relatively fresh in my mind, some of the individual birds seem now to have been lost in the sea of discoveries. 

My more recent encounters with these species have been at a more personal level. Finding them took individual effort. With only two eyes to look for them instead of scores, and delightful long looks to enjoy not only their plumage and anatomical features as well as their habits, habitats and vocalizations, the experience is more meaningful and memorable.

This is my Marsh Wren "sit spot" in our local birding patch. It is conveniently situated near the lake next to a Pond Cypress. A young Pond Apple tree is visible to the left and the "Pine Bank" (a dense stand of Australian Pine) is in the distance across the lake. Two large clumps of Sawgrass are directly in front, and a large area of cattails, just to the right, extends out to the shoreline:

Marsh Wren sit spot HDR 20161119

While waiting for the wren, other wetland-associated birds may pop up, such as this Swamp Sparrow:

Swamp Sparrow HDR 01-20161122

It climbs a reed to get a better look at me..

Swamp Sparrow HDR 03-20161122

...and quickly exits:

Swamp Sparrow in flight HDR 20161122

In Illinois, I often caught snippets of the Marsh Wren's song or saw one weave in and out of the cattails in the distance. After taking up bird photography about 8 years ago I set a goal of capturing an image of every bird species I saw. 

My first close encounter with a Marsh Wren with camera at the ready occurred in September, 2014 in a cattail marsh in Geneva, Illinois. My photos aptly illustrate the connection between this species and its preferred habitat:

 Marsh Wren 01-20140929

Marsh Wren 2-20150831

Marsh Wren 03-20140929

This week I added the 169th species to the bird list for my neighborhood birding patch. Of these I have seen 162, and a few of the species reported by other observers are a bit suspect. This is the first photo of my local Marsh Wren (November 18, 2016):

Marsh Wren 3-20161118

I obtained better views the next day:

Marsh Wren 03-20161119

Marsh Wren 01-20161119

The Sedge Wren (11 cm long) is a half inch shorter than the Marsh Wren, which is 5 inches (13 cm) long. While I have seen a wintering Sedge Wren in Florida, it is a fairly common breeder near our second home in Illinois. It is usually found on dry ground such as a prairie, often next to or within sight of water. 

Very elusive, this little creature will not sit still for a photo. Here are a few of my favorite Sedge Wren portraits, all from Nelson Lake in Kane County, Illinois:

Sedge Wren 3-20090615

Sedge Wren 20100518

Sedge Wren 2-20100518

My latest image is a favorite as it best illustrates the wren's imitation of an Olympic parallel bar gymnast (Oct 18, 2016):

Sedge Wren 04-20161018

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone in the USA (and belated good wishes to our Canadian friends). I do not have a good turkey photo, but this week a Turkey Vulture obliged me by finding a dead squirrel on the sidewalk in front of our next door neighbor's home. I guess this bird was named because of its strong (?) resemblance to the real thing. (Click on the photo to navigate to some more rather explicit images of his feast):

Turkey Vulture 20161121

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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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Thursday, November 17, 2016

Contemplating Red-shouldered Hawks

The entrance to our humble birding patch is defined by a gate and chain-link fence. Royal Palms line both sides of the gravel road which leads to a wet prairies, woodlands and a lake:

Entry to West Miramar WCA 20161110

This is the view looking back down the road before sunrise:

Before sunrise to SE HDR 20160914

View of the lake on a murky morning this week, just before sunrise:

Murky Morning 02-20161113

This past year our Homeowners Association planted hedges of Firebush (Hamelia patens), a most welcome innovation. Their blooms attract wintering hummingbirds and also butterflies such as this Zebra heliconian:

Zebra heliconian on Firebush 20161113

A roosting Red-shouldered Hawk strikes a characteristic pose. It appears to be deep in thought, with head gently bowed, chin to chest. Its mind must be so far off, meditating, contemplating its place in the order of nature? Might I startle it into awareness by touching its red shoulder?

Red-shouldered hawk 2-20150820

Of course, this is far from the truth. The hawk is keenly aware of the surroundings. Sharp eyes are actually watching for any scant movement which might betray the presence of a prey item, whether insect, reptile, amphibian, small mammal or bird. Immobility and stealth are essential assets for a successful hunt.

Adult Red-shouldered Hawks vary from very colorful (as above) to rather pale. Those native to Florida tend to have a sun-bleached appearance, due to genetic variation rather than the effects of UV rays:

Red-shouldered Hawk 20090224

Red-shouldered Hawk 20090224

Immature Red-shouldered hawks also vary somewhat in the intensity of their streaked plumage, which they retain for about 18 months:

Red-shouldered Hawk 20090103

Red-shouldered Hawk Head 20090103

The red on the adults' shoulders shows up best in flight:

Red-shouldered Hawks 02-20150222

This juvenile Red-shouldered hawk exhibits a more useful identifying mark. The outer primaries are white at their base, creating a light band or "window" near its wingtips:

Red-shouldered Hawk Juvenile 20090111

I usually hear and see one or more of this species on our morning walks in the local wetlands. This is a handsome adult bird:

Red-shouldered Hawk 03-20160823

They prefer wetland habitats, and their diet varies by location. Amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates comprise about three-quarters  of their prey in southern states, but studies in Quebec, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Maryland have revealed a predominance of mammals. They also capture birds but are usually unsuccessful in such attempts.

One immature Red-shouldered Hawk currently favors an area along the entrance to our birding patch. It roosts in the tall Royal Palms along the sides of the road. Here it perches on a clump of the palm's fruit:

Red-shouldered Hawk HDR 01-20161108

Red-shouldered Hawk immature HDR 06-20161110

Red-shouldered Hawk immature 02-20161110

Red-shouldered Hawk immature HDR 05-20161110

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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Bittersweet morning at Sweetwater Wetlands

This past week we suddenly and unexpectedly traveled to southern Arizona. 

Saguaro Cactus in the desert outside Tucson:


Tucson desert HDR 20161103


Just before our planned return to Florida from our second home in Illinois we learned that MaryLou's brother Jack, who lived in Tucson, Arizona was terminally ill and had entered hospice care. We arrived in Florida on Sunday and on Tuesday morning, hoping to visit him before the end, flew to Arizona. It was dark when we arrived and drove directly to see him. He was in a nearly comatose state and we worried he would not make it through the night. 

We stayed in the Air Force Inn at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The next morning (Wednesday) we visited him again at 9:00 AM. We were gratified to find him to be quite aware of his surroundings. On the way to the hospice facility we stopped by the Sweetwater Wetlands, quite nearby. 

IMG_8387

We got there before 7:30 AM and briefly joined a scheduled walk conducted by the Tucson Audubon Society:

Birders at Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona 20161102

We only ventured a few hundred yards into the preserve but were rewarded with excellent sightings of a Cooper's Hawk...

Cooper's Hawk 03-20161103

...Anna's Hummingbirds:

Anna's Hummingbird documentation 2-20161103

Anna's Hummingbird 4-20161103

...and a flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds:

Yellow-headed Blackbirds 2-20161103

Yellow-headed Blackbirds 20161103

A Red-tailed Hawk alighted atop a power pole along the perimeter road:

Red-tailed Hawk 02-20161103

This Desert Cottontail ventured across the path. Its long ears help dissipate body heat:

Desert Cottontail 01-20161103

A highlight was this Red-naped Sapsucker, which I had seen when we lived in New Mexico, but it was my "first photographed" of this species:

Red-naped Sapsucker 03-20161103

We had to hurry off but planned to make another visit to Sweetwater early the next day.  We were surprised how much better my Brother-in Law appeared to be, and we stayed with him all morning and into mid-afternoon.

Jack's breathing was labored and his speech indistinct, but we conversed about current events in politics and particularly, sports. Jack is an attorney and had served as counsel for the Chicago White Sox baseball team. While he considered the Chicago Cubs to be his "number two team," he was avidly interested in seeing the Cubs in the final tie-breaking World Series championship game that very night (which they won). 

Back at our quarters the next morning we were up very early because of jet lag due to the three-hours difference in time. We received a call from Jack's caregivers advising us that he had passed away quietly some time between 4 and 5:15 AM.  Sad as this was, we were so grateful that we had one last chance to be with him-- much better than just coming out for a funeral.

We drove back to Sweetwater Wetlands and had time to be alone with nature. Although it was not nearly as "birdy" as it had been the previous morning, I captured photos of another "life bird photographed," the diminutive and reclusive Verdin:

Verdin 03-20161103

Verdin 04-20161103

I am fondest of my first Verdin photo. While not a "bird guide" picture, it captures its arid environment and the bird's relative size:

Verdin 01-20161103

That afternoon, hot and tired, we briefly visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum southwest of town. There were many visitors but few birds. Cactus Wrens were inviting subjects:

Cactus Wren 20161103

Cactus Wren 2-20161103

Butterflies were plentiful, among them a Clouded Sulphur...

Clouded Sulphur 20161103

...and a Common Checkered-Skipper:

Common Checkered-Skipper male 2-20161103

Storms threatened as we departed the Museum:


Arizona-Sonora Museum HDR 02-20161103

There was heavy rain Thursday night, but skies were clear for our early morning departure on Friday.  We had to lead a South Florida Audubon bird walk the next morning. On Sunday the weather was cool and clear, perfect for grocery shopping to replenish the larders after being away from home for six weeks. Monday provided a cloudy dawn over the local wetlands:

Pine Bank cloudy sunrise HDR  20161031  

Great Egret reflection:

Great Egret HDR 02-20161108

A fence along "The Road to Nowhere" at the north end of our birding patch:

Road to nowhere HDR 20161108

= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
________________________________________________

Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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