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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The birds I’m counting are changing

Those huge flocks of six to seven thousand geese are now gone for another year.  It’s no matter that there are still snow storms going on up north, as the birds follow their own inner time table.  To them, it’s spring and they’re compelled to head north for the breeding season, just as I’ll be migrating north in another month (but not to breed, of course).

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Locally, the willets are beginning to pair up, and I heard their first love songs this morning as Lynn and I did the weekly waterbird surveys.  We’re getting pretty good as a team.  We started out with her just recording what I saw.  We’ve progressed to sharing the spotting duties, and she has streamlined the recording procedure.  I feel very confident that she could carry on the surveys next year if I don’t return to Anahuac.  There are few things more satisfying to me than passing on the bird study torch to someone willing and able to hone their skills. 

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As the season progresses, we’re seeing no geese, less and less ducks, and more and more shorebirds.  We had more than 750 dowitchers in just one of the study plots this morning.  This photo is just a small part of all the dowitchers that were there.  With them all resting and taking a siesta, it’s a little easier to estimate their numbers.  Of course, we have to count the black-necked stilts and northern shovelers that are mixed in as well.

After doing four of the survey sites, we decided again this week to take our lunch down at the end of the road to Frozen Point.  It was a nice warm day, so we could enjoy a true tailgate meal while we watched the brown pelicans fishing for lunch in Galveston Bay.  That was until a cow came galloping down the middle of the road.  It had somehow gotten out of the fenced marsh and was frantic to find its way back to the rest of the herd.  That herd of cows began following her along as she checked out the locked gate and trotted along the barbwire fence.  It was interesting to see how she would rub up against each section of barbwire checking for an opening.  She eventually turned around, headed back the way she came, and found the opening where she initially got through.  The whole herd appeared relieved that she had returned.  The rancher was notified, and I’m sure that fence will be fixed in short order before they all get loose.  Two of the strands of barbwire had rusted through leaving a large gap.

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On our way back to finish the last three sites, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye, and backed up the truck.  Two yellow-crowned night herons were skulking around in the reeds.  These are the first I’ve seen this year.

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As I tried to get closer, Lynn snapped this shot of me.  Of course I’ve got my camera plastered to my face. Winking smile

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One of them eventually flew off a short way down the ditch.  It posed for both of us, and I appreciated seeing its reddish knobby knees,big toes, and bright red eyes.

Lynn had seen a hooded warbler two days ago, so after finishing the survey sites, we headed for Jackson’s woodlot to see if any neo-tropic early migrants might be about.

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There were lots of yellow-rumped warblers flitting about, but they’ve been here all winter.  I did see a beautiful northern parula taking a bath in a puddle, but it didn’t hang around long enough for a picture.  We’re getting some south winds again, so maybe some more little birds will fly in over night.  I hope so.

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                                                                                 THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

22 comments:

  1. I just love all that you do and the bird photos. Being an extreme amateur, I was able to witness a heron nest raise 2 chicks right over our rv in Florida in February. bird droppings made a mess of our TT and truck but I loved watching them. Took some cell phone photos.

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  2. Those Night Herons are funny looking..but cute! :)

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  3. Love the night herons ... I'm always fascinated by their red eyes.

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    1. Judy, I tried posting a comment but it wouldn't go, so thought I would try a reply. Repeat....this was my first year seeing night herons and I loved so much their willingness to sit still for portraits without flinching. We saw a ton of white front and snow geese along the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff Arkansas last week.

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  4. Another very interesting post. I really enjoy looking at all the different birds Texas has to offer. I just read a blog where the gal went on a "listening" bird hike. She is learning how to name a bird by its call. Have you ever done anything like that?

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  5. This was my first year to see a night herons, and I was amazed at how still they sit, posing right up until the very last minute without getting the least bit ruffled about that big camera lens in their face. We saw huge flocks of snow geese and white fronts along the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff last week. I think all our Klamath Basin snow geese have flown north as of now, so they will be gone when I get home, but the white pelicans will be there for sure!

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  6. Lucky Lynn to be your understudy it's one job I'd like to have. Can't believe those night herons let you get so close. You must give off I Love You vibes more strongly than I do. Great pictures as always. Even warblers so sharp and clear. SIGH...........is my envy showing?

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  7. Beautiful pics of the night heron (that I have never seen) but the more I'm getting into 'shooting' birds I know the ones of those tiny, constantly moving, warblers are the most difficult. I have problems keeping them in my 'focus' when zooming in and than loose track of them completely!

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  8. Our yellow crowned night herons have just returned as well.

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  9. The night heron looks like a gawky teenager with those big feet and knobby knees!

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  10. What happened to the picture of the cow? Glad she found her way home safe. Lynn has sure learned your lessons. She got a great picture of you skulking through the reeds. Love your pictures always.

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  11. Now, were those long billed or short billed dowitchers?

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  12. I finally thought to make a Pinterest board of all your bird photos to use as a reference! Woo hoo!

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  13. I agree with you about it being very satisfying to have the assurance that someone can take on the surveys if you're not there next year!

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  14. What a beautiful post Judy.....I love the cow story! Pretty smart.....
    The night herons are awesome.

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  15. You took all those bird pictures, but where is the cow picture?

    You missed an opportunity to become known as "The Cow Lady of Blog Land". :cP

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  16. So many birds. You have such a depth of knowledge about them!

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  17. LOVED those Night Herons...so different than the Great Blue...smaller too, right?? How do you remember all those bird names..I guess we remember what interests us..I still remember the Levator Palpebrae Superioris (muscle that lifts upper eyelid)..I like A & P in college...wished I could have been a nurse...but THAT is another story..We saw a Bluebird here today in Texarkana..We don't see many of those birds in Sandwich, IL!

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  18. Some great shots, Judy. Fun story about the cow too!

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  19. I love the cow story - cows are a favorite animal of mine - I could feel her pain as I was reading. Great bird photos - I haven't seen a Yellow-crowned Night Heron yet - they're beautiful! Super photos as usual. :)

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  20. Just wondered if you had been hearing about this and any effects it might have in your area .... or the other sections of Anhuac.
    http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20140322-barge-leaking-oil-in-galveston-bay-after-collision-near-houston.ece

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  21. Nice Post.Thanks for Sharing this in your Blog

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