Steve's Birds: December 2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Brewer's Sparrows, Snow Creek, 12/28/17

At Snow Creek, an area just off the 111 at the PalmSprings line, a flock of mixed sparrows, mainly WCSP as usual, also had Chipping, Black-throated, California Towhee, and Lark, but of out interest to me were the Brewer's, the smallest of our Spizella genus. The Brewer's were hard to photograph, seemingly more sensitive to our presence than the other sparrows, and a few could have been Clay-colored because of bolder facial patterning. A few details, notice streaked nape Brewer (unlike clear gray of CCSP); overall gray above and below (unlike CCSP's usual buffiness); the third Brewer's photo could be taken for CCSP, but the conspicuous eye-ring seems Brewer's. Will be going back for closer examination of the sparrows (and other birds, too).

Brewer's Sparrow, Snow Creek, CA 12/28/17

California Towhee, Snow Creek, 12/28/17

Brewer's Sparrow, Snow Creek, CA 12/28/17

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Whitewater Red-naped Sapsucker,W Screech-Owl, Cal Thrasher 12/27/27

A few record shots from a beautiful day in the Palm Springs area, specifically from Whitewater Preserve:

Red-naped Sapsucker, Whitewater, 12/27/27

W Screech-Owl, Whitewater, 12/27/17

California Thrasher, Whitewater, 12/27/27

2 Red-necked Duck hens with hen L. Scaup, Whitewater WTA, 12/27/17

Monday, December 25, 2017

Palm Springs again, 12/24/17, Vermillion Flycatcher, Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird, at Parkview, 12/26/17.

Palm Springs again, 12/24/17, Vermillion Flycatcher, Chipping Sparrow, Wellness Park. First birds at Wellness Park were 40 Chipping Sparrows and WCSPs, then Ravens and Vermillion Flycatcher.

Vermillion Flycatcher, Wellness Park, Palm Springs,CA 12/24/17

Chipping Sparrow, 12/24/17, Wellness Park, Palm Springs CA

Thursday, December 21, 2017

American Pipit, SSSP, 12/21/17

American Pipit, SSSP, 12/21/17. In the main parking of Silver Sands SP, 12/21/17, a quite tame American Pipit:

American Pipit, SSSP, 12/21/17

American Pipit, SSSP, 12/21/17. In the main parking of Silver Sands SP, 12/21/17, a quite tame American Pipit:

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Horned Lark, Purple Sandpiper, PB Grebe, GCKI, 12/16/17

Horned Lark (one of 9), Purple Sandpiper (1 of 10), PB Grebe, GCKI, 12/16/17--A few Christmas Count birds. Also, and a Mondo Ponds GCKI (one of 3, one a spectacular male).

Pied-billed Grebe (with Mallards), 12/16/17

Pied-billed Grebe, W. Haven, 12/16/17

Purple Sandpiper, Merwin Point, Milford 12/16/17

Purple Sandpiper, Merwin Point, Milford, CT 12/16/17

Horned Lark, Sandy Point, W. Haven 12/16/17

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mondo Ponds, 12/17/18

Friday, December 15, 2017

Hen and drake Northern Pintails, Oyster River mouth, 12/15/17

Hen and drake Northern Pintails, Oyster River mouth, 12/15/17.

N. Pintail drake with Mallard drake & hen, 12/15/17

N Pintail drake& hen, 12/15/17, Yster River mouth

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Canada, Cackling Geese questions, 12/13/17

Canada, Cackling Geese questions, 12/13/17. Below, a few photos of geese at Jonathan Law High School pond. More discussion will come in the near future.

note contrast of heads and bills of the two geese in the middle of the photo

close-up of photo #2

Bald Eagle, videos, photos, Sandy Point, W. Haven, 12/14/17

Bald Eagle, Sandy Point, W. Haven, 12/14/17. While scouting for Christmas Count on 12/16/17, one of at least 2 adult Bald Eagles (and 3 sub-adults) at Sandy Point on a snowy 12/14/16. The eagles have been feeding--hence blood on the bill.