Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

A first ever Broad-Tailed Hummingbird made his debut in our back yard on 11/22/2011. He stayed for a day then was gone with the wind.

Much to our delight, another Broad-Tailed Hummingbird arrived on 3/9/2012. Are these two hummers the same? I don't know but it is fascinating watching this little fella sporting around the sugar water feeder in our back yard. Erik Johnson's Louisiana Winter Hummer Report documents fourteen Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds in our state this winter so we feel truly blessed to see this little western guy with his big tail on two occasions. Hopefully he will hang around for a while and will remember us in the future.

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Checking out a flower in our garden.

Saturday Night Fever - You Should be Dancing Yeah!

Check out the pose below. Could this little guy be the reincarnation of John Travolta who starred in Saturday Night Fever (1977)?

A true story of our backyard discotheque. :)

Out of nowhere lady Broad-Tailed Hummers swarmed to our back yard and gathered round the rose bushes as the King of Disco hovered in preparation of performing his aerial version of John Travolta's Saturday Night Fever. The King's mastery of movement was sensational taking disco to a new level. He owned the air space and dazzled the ladies with his spiraling, twisting moves complete with raised wings. Not to be outdone by even Michael Jackson, the King threw in an occasional moon walk along with his XXX rated hip and pelvic gestures. A few faint lady hummers put their tiny wings to their forehead and toppled backward from their perches as the King of Disco's performance was entirely too hot for them to bear. All hummers joined in a little line dance in conclusion of the King's sensational performance. A great time was had by all. The King of Disco took a bow and slowly flew off into the sunset. There is already talk of him being nominated for an Academy Award after his spectacular performance.

Good to the last drop. Could it be Maxwell House? Check out this image for an up close and personal look.

It will be fun planting winter hummer plants in our yard this spring. Hopefully some winter hummers will find these plants and stay a while.

Migration Hopefuls This Spring

Neotropical songbirds are among the most beautiful birds in the world. What treasures will the 2012 migration bring this spring? This Easter Egg Hunt on steroids will soon be upon us with Golden Eggs everywhere. Birders are among the friendliest people I know and a delight to be around. They are eager to share with others pointing out birds thereby perpetuating their passion for birding. As the days grow warmer and the vegetation begins to green a sense of excitement is in the air anticipating their arrival.

The birds pictured below are not the only ones I wish to see this spring however it wouild be especially delightful to catch a glimpse of them.

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This Black-Whiskered Vireo was sitting in a tree calling at Peveto Bird Sanctuary my first year birding. I had no idea of its ID at the time but was ecstatic after examining its picture at home discovering what it was. Hopefully one will surface this spring but if not its memory lives on through its picture..

We were awestruck and dumbfounded one morning as we first stepped foot in Peveto. This brilliant colored male Western Tanager with his flaming red head flew by. What a great start for the day! Wouldn't it be nice if another showed up this spring?
 

There is something about a Canada Warbler you just never grow tired off. I haven't seen many but look forward to seeing them again.

A recluse Mourning Warbler hopped up from the bushes yielding a picture one day at Peveto. I've never seen one that much in the open. Hopefully another will be around soon.

A Lesser Nighthawk resting on a limb is always a sight to behold. This one was in the tree right in back of Dave's Pond at Peveto.

The Northern Parula is not a review list bird but it is one you just never grow tired of seeing.

The Swainson's Hawk is not a neotropical songbird but is one of my favorite hawks and I love seeing them. My favorite hawk is the Harris's Hawk. I've seen one at a distance a few years back sitting atop a utility pole on Highway 90 close to Rayne, LA. Hopefully a Harris's Hawk will surface one day and will be close enough for a picture this fall.

Best of luck this Sprng! :)

Grackles With Attitudes

Grackles have a bluish, purplish, iridized sheen to them at times and some really have attitudes!
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"Don't look at me in that tone of voice!!!"

"Okay, now listen to what I have to say!!!"

Two Different Review List Birds in One Picture

A light rain and the fog set in as I set out this morning heading to Oilfield Miller Road where Paul Conover made a fantastic find of a Lark Bunting and a Green-Tailed Towhee. I had thoughts of turning around, heading home and trying another day due to the weather but decided against it.

I arrived at Oilfield Miller Road, parked my truck on the side of the road and waited. Just as I stopped there was movement to the north side of the road past the ditch. Several Coyotes sped by appearing to be in pursuit of something although I didn't see what it was.

Sparrows were gathered on the road in front of my truck. What kind were they? I reached for my binoculars and discovered I left them at home. I thought to myself, "Perhaps I should have stayed home?". I quickly looked in my back seat for my camera. At least I hadn't forgot it.

While watching for the Lark Bunting and Green-Tailed Towhee some White-Crowned Sparrows moved in. Hopefully this was a good sign of things to come.

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All of a sudden there were two birds on the ground on the north side of the road. I shook my head in disbelief and had to pinch myself to believe what I thought I saw was really what I saw. What started out as a not-so-good day all of a sudden became an INCREDIBLE DAY! The Green-Tailed Towhee and the Lark Bunting were on the north side of the road sitting on the ground mere inches apart. I was glad I had my camera because this would be hard for anyone to believe.

Both hung around for a few mintues and posed for pictures. The Green-Tailed Towhee is one striking bird.

The Lark Bunting got a bit nervous and flew up in a bush nearby. It was spectacular to see! Great finds Paul and thanks for sharing and posting to labird.

On the way home a discerning Red-Tailed Hawk was perched in a tree watching out for a meal.

I considered heading to the casino but changed my mind.

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Miller Oil Field Road did not produce the Lark Bunting or GT Towhee from noon to 4 PM today. As a consolation there were five Yellow-Headed Blackbirds on the north side of Miller Oil Field Road about 1/2 way between Turf Grass Road and Oilfield Road hanging around the cows feeding on hay.

It is still hard to believe that a blackbird exists with a yellow head.

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Where's Waldo?

These guys are quite easy to pick out aren't they?

A little closer. Left-click to enlarge.

Goldfinches Gone Wild

Where are the Goldfinches? They were everywhere in my back yard today in SW LA, Sulphur. There were approximately eighty American Goldfinches.

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A lot of American Goldfinches can crowd on a few limbs.

They were squabbling at the thistle sock feeder filled with year-old thistle..

They were sitting on top of the feeder.

They were sitting at the feeder. This is the 'Feeder Bully'. No other American Goldfinches would come near him.

They were feeding on the ground. Pictured is but a portion of the large group. It is hard to believe it or not there are twenty American Goldfinches in this little group.

They are indeed some pretty birds.

An Eastern Bluebird flew up to see what all the ruckous was about.

Night Herons

Why are these guys called 'Night Herons' while they are often active during the daytime? Their name can be misleading. Even though these recluse guys often hunt at night they are not exclusively nocturnal as they are often seen feeding during daylight hours.

Black-Crowned Night Herons

The Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Herons look far different from the adults but they are cool-looking in their own right. This one was sitting motionless in a tree just above the water's edge.

What do you think of the way his feet and toes are wrapped around and locked onto the branches in the tree?

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A bit closer. This guy looks sort of stocky and hunch-backed roosting in the tree. The Night Herons have it together. By primarily resting/roosting during the day and feeding at night, they avoid competition with the Herons that feed in the same area during the day.

Once this little guy reaches adulthood he will transform into this magnificent bird with its distinctive plumage. What a clever name, 'Black-Crowned Night Heron' :)

This opportunistic feeder with his dagger-like bill appears more than capable to take care of any unsuspecting fish or critter in range.

Yellow-Crowned Night Herons

The next two pictures are juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Herons followed by an adult Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.

Young Yellow-Crowned Night Herons have the same bulky black bill as the adult but their plumage is different as you can see. Also their legs are a bit longer and they stand with a more upright posture as compared to the young Black-Crowned Night Herons.

Here is an adult Yellow-Crowned Night Heron looking for a meal during the daylight hours. Why is it named a 'Yellow-Crowned Night Heron' when it has a white crown? Its crown is white for most of the year except for breeding season when its crown turns yellow.

Eastern Wood - Pewee or Western Wood - Pewee?

I came upon this Pewee at the same place on two different occasions at Peveto about an hour apart in 2011. This one differs drastically from the countless Eastern Wood-Pewees I've seen over the years. Check out the pictures below. Do you feel this Flycatcher is an Eastern Wood-Pewee or a Western Wood- Pewee?

Some extremely knowledgeable birders from LA that I trust emailed me. The word is that without hearing a vocalizaton it is impossible to ID this bird with 100% confidence.

Regardless of the ID, it was fun seeing this Flycatcher and hoping it would be a Western Wood - Pewee. Perhaps next time the Pewee will vocalize casting no doubt as to its ID.

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Close-ups of the above two images. Left-Click to enlarge.

This Eastern Wood - Pewee was at a different location on a different day. What do you think of this one with his crest raised? Was he trying to impress a 'lady Pewee' close by?

Closing pictures for 2011

The Lionel Derouen Road area not far from Cameron-Prairie NWR is a great place for Sandhill Cranes. Their red foreheads and white cheeks were prominent as they foraged through the fields in incredible numbers. You couldn't miss hearing their loud, rattling call that carries far and wide.

Water sprayed in the air as the puddle ducks slapped the water with their wings launching themselves in the air at Pintail Loop.

A slender, agile Merlin was perched on a limb watching for a meal.

A striking Vermilion Flycatcher with his vivid red color and contrasting black eyestripe was perched on a limb watching for 'fly-bys' when he gave us a backward glance. This little 'Coal of Fire' is nothing less than spectacular to see and is certainly one of my all-time favorite birds.

A male American Kestrel was perched on the Cameron Prairie NWR sign at Pintail Loop clutching a freshly caught Savannah Sparrow in his talons. He grew nervous and after a minute and flew off with his catch to dine in privacy.

A Ross's Goose posed for a picture.

A majestic Brown Pelican, our state bird, is always a pleasure to see.

The Sandhill Cranes with their outstretched necks and long legs trailing behind them flew off as the day came to an end. It was if they were saying, "Goodbye 2011" and see you next year.

American Kestrel

Who likes the small colorful American Kestrel aka 'Sparrow Hawk'?

This little girl was hovering in the air by rapidly beating her wings while scanning the field below for prey.

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She dove down, plucked a grasshopper from the field, flew up and lit on a nearby utility wire.

She transferred the grasshopper to her left claw and inspected it closely. Are all Birds of Prey ambidextrous?

The two black spots on each side of the nape of her neck are interesting. It is theorized they serve as a false set of eyes to help serve as protection from potential attackers.

Down the hatch!

This cute little speedster also hunts by perching. She was interested in something below as she stretched out to get a better look.

It was delightful watching this American Kestrel go about her merry way. She remained on her elevated perch watching intently for prey below as I drove away. What a wonderful way to end the day!